As Apple prepares to confirm what everyone already knows about the upcoming iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Pro and AirPods, Google is preparing a little surprise to highlight the Pixel brand name on the same day as the world welcomes what Apple will no doubt promise is “the best iPhone we’ve ever made.”
Join The Google Party, Google Store promotion (image: store.google.com)
Of course, Google has its own launch event for a new family of smartphones. The “Made By Google” event takes place on October 4 in New York… far enough away from Apple’s “Wanderlust” iPhone launch to not risk the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro being overrun by headlines about the new iPhone 15 family.
But Apple is not getting September 12 all to itself; there’s a Google Party planned for the iPhone 15 launch day, at least in Europe.
The Google Store is asking everyone to join the Google Party from midnight on September 12, when the company promises to “unwrap birthday discounts… RSVP for early access. Get news, offers, cart reminders, personalised emails, and surveys from the Google Store.”
The invite graphic includes three wrapped shapes, but it doesn’t take much thinking to spot a Pixel smartphone, a Pixel Tablet and a Pixel Watch hiding under the wrappers. Given that it’s just a month until new versions of the Pixel smartphone and Pixel Watch are announced, there could be some significant discounts or bundling offers to clear out stock. As for the Pixel Tablet, the more Android tablets that reach consumers. the better for the community and the addressable audience beloved by developers.
A recent Google Store offer in Japan saw prices on the Pixel 7, 7 Pro and 7a smartphones, alongside the Pixel Tablet, Pixel Buds, Pixel Buds Pro and Pixel Watch, receive a 25% discount. Expect something similar from Google over the next 24 hours.
Will it take away any momentum from Apple’s upcoming launch? Probably not in terms of reporting and coverage, but if it keeps the Pixel name in the same frame as the iPhone, the association will do the brand no harm in the run-up to its launch in October.
Now read the latest details on the upcoming Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro…