As you all know the Google Pixel 8 Pro is one of my daily drivers and FNTCASE has sent some cases over to check out for the device and if you want to check out other reviews from the company they have plenty of cases for other brands, recently we checked out some cases for the iPhone 15 pro.
Again the company has sent two cases that will suit two different people one that is clear and one that is dual layered and both offers great protection all round. Again both cases do a great job and feel good in the hand offering extra grip all ports are accessible and you can wirelessly charge the Pixel 8 Pro with one having Magnetic full drop protection.
Check out the video review below for more where we take a deep dive into both cases.
Pixel 8 Pro Dual Layer Shockproof Protective Phone Cover with Anti Slip Textured Back Cell Case
Non-Slip Textured Design: Our innovative Google Pixel 8 Pro case features a non-slip textured design, providing a confident grip and preventing accidental drops. Stay worry-free while experiencing the stylish and secure feel of your phone.
Double-Layer Heavy-Duty Protection: Take your phone’s protection to the next level with our dual-layer heavy-duty case. Built to military-grade standards, it offers unparalleled defense against drops, bumps, and scratches, ensuring your Pixel 8 Pro remains safe in all situations.
HD Tempered Film: Immerse yourself in the brilliance of your Pixel 8 Pro’s display with our HD tempered film. Enjoy enhanced clarity and touch sensitivity while keeping your screen pristine and free from unsightly scratches and smudges.
Higher Than Camera Protection: Capture picture-perfect moments without worry, thanks to our case’s elevated camera protection. The lens is shielded from potential damage, allowing you to focus on taking stunning photos and videos with your Google Pixel 8 Pro.
Pixel 8 Pro Phone Case: Magnetic Full Drop Proof Protection Cell Phone Case
Only compatible with Pixel 8 Pro
With a built-in magnetic loop to strengthen the magnetic connection, this Pixel 8 Pro case is magnetically compatible with all Qi-certified magnetic chargers, magnetic wallets, and car mounts. No matter how shaken it is, your magnetic phone case will not fall off
It features a touch-sensitive built-in screen protector that protects your screen from scratches, cracks, and impacts.
The Pixel 8 Pro case is made of high-quality hard PC, flexible TPU and built-in screen protector.
The slim and lightweight design ensures better grip and comfortable holding.
The ZAGG Luxe case for the Google Pixel 8 Pro is a case for those who want it kept simple does the job and protects their expensive phone and this case does all that and looks well on the device keeping it clean and to the point, the usual cutouts are all there for the device with a raised lip on the front and larger corners giving it the protection required alongside the camera bar protection on the back of the device and hides it quite well not allowing dirt to get trapped in the corners like other cases do.
The back of the case has nice grip too and overall the simple design here is what stands out and the keys are sorted also with tactile buttons that work really well, the device can be placed either face down or rear down and you can still charge you Pixel 8 Pro wirelessly which is great and there is no interruption on any ports including the charging ports which in some cases all cables will not sit in correctly and this has happened with many devices in the past with me having the charge port to thin on the case.
You also get 10ft drop protection which is a standard there days with phone case and the material used is softer and better than harder materials form my past experiences with cases and this absorbs shock better.
Overall this is a good choice of case if you are in the market for one or plan to pick up the Pixel 8 Pro in the near future, check out the full video review below for more.
Drop Resistant up to 10ft| 3m: Luxe has been tested and proven to protect your phone from drops up to 10 feet (3 meters).
Antimicrobial Treatment: An antimicrobial agent with properties built in protects your case by inhibiting the growth of odor-causing bacteria and guarding against degradation from microorganisms.
100% Recycled Content : Luxe is made with 100% post-consumer recycled content.
Lightweight, Flexible Design: The lightweight Luxe case fits easily in your pocket and comfortably in your hand.
Limited Lifetime Warranty: ZAGG warrants the product against wear and damage during the lifetime of the device for which the product was purchased.
Tudia Products again are one of the first to drop some decent cases for the all new Google Pixel 8 series and there is two that you can pick from, one is their standard Merge Grip case and they also have a case that has a magnet built in which makes it MagSafe compatible which is excellent news for those who may cay both Android and iOS devices like me and makes them all work together with accessories.
The cases are built Rhino Technology and can take drops galore and do not add much built to the phone, I have been using the companies cases for some years now and almost always end up with their case on my phone full time in between testing other cases as we do.
You have dual layer drop protection with a soft TPU edge and this is what I like about these cases and then you have the additional grip factor the case offers which is why these have become one of my favourite case makers over the years for my phones.
You have raised edges front and back to protect the screen and camera array do the device can be placed face or back down and knowing it will not get marked on a flat surface.
The back of the case is anti- slip with extra grip so you can be sure your device is safe in your hand and on the surface it is left on. The cases are magsafe compatible and gesture compatible and the keys also work really well and overall makes these cases on of the first you should look at if you are picking up any of the new Pixel devices this year, they also cater for other brands and of course older Pixel devices.
Check out their range of Pixel cases here and the rest on offer here, then check out the video review below.
Otterbox is a well known case brand who has protected devices for many years and we of course tried and tested many which have been popular here and on our YouTube channel. So we went and bought our own commuter case for the Google Pixel 7a and check it out.
The case itself is of course robust and has a dual layer and all corners are protected on the device itself, the edges offers a nice grip whilst the back of the case is up for discussion being mostly slippy with two rubberised parts either side which is also grippy, the keys are slightly raised and work well and the front of the device has a decent lip tapering off either end to protect the screen face down. The case does allow wireless charging which is great and works fine. The camera lens is certainly well protected here and the device can be placed down on its rear of face without worrying about the screen or camera lens being marked. All ports are accessible and the charging port has a protective flap to ensure no dirt or dust gets in, check the video below for a close up look what you get for your money and stay tuned for more case reviews for the Google Pixel 7a
Features
Lasting antimicrobial technology helps protect case exterior against many common bacteria*
Case is infused with silver-based additive that continually blocks microbial growth
Made with more than 35% recycled plastic
Thin, pocket-friendly case slips in and out of pockets easily
Dual layer, soft inner slipcover and hard outer shell absorb and deflect impacts
Wireless charging compatible
Secure grip for confident handling
Port covers block dirt, dust and lint from getting into jacks and ports
Raised edge protects camera and screen
DROP+ | 3X as many drops as military standard (MIL-STD-810G 516.6)
New Pixel means new case and yes more to come but today we have the Original Pixel case for the new 7a and it is a nice one and will be welcomed by users of the new phone and we have tried it out and we like it alot..
It is a case and after all so it will be a short review and you can see more in the hands on video below and what to expect when you pick your up from the store in which there is several colours to pick from matching your device which is nice. This case will offer protection for your device all round and has a nice lip around the front too making it blend in the the front of the screen and also gives you additional grip which again is welcome, all ports are accessible and you can still use wireless charging with the case on. The keys are excellent too and have good travel and makes using the keys better in my opinion.
Your charging cables should be fine and the speaker ports are also clear so you have no interruption of functionality here at all. The only one downside I can see is perhaps the same as last year is dust building up at the end of the camera bar if kept in pockets and so on but no huge deal it can be cleaned off with a cloth.
Materials
Case made with over 35% recycled plastics based on product weight
The external portion of the case’s power and volume buttons is made of 100% recycled aluminium
Case has a polycarbonate shell made with 75% recycled plastics
Extra protection, edge to edge.
Featuring durable, stain-resistant silicone material and raised edges, the case helps to protect your phone in all those ‘oops’ moments.
Thoughtfully made. A smooth feel.
It’s made with over 35% recycled plastics, and the soft silicone puts premium comfort in the palm of your hand.
The Pixel 7a has been launched and we have been testing it the last week or two and of course we steered clear of the leaks and of course we remain leak free on our site and take word from the horses mouth as they say and that is how it always has been here and will remain that way and we leave others who cant help themselves for clicks to do that. We have had the phone for almost 2 weeks so you could say this is an early review and we will look at it again in a few months time.
So yes as mentioned we have been testing the device in our hands and right now I can tell you this device is going to fly off the shelves with the price it comes in at and even some pixel 7 owners might feel a bit peeved even going by what is being said on social media when it comes to the specs on this phone, I am a Pixel 7 owner and it has been my daily driver since launch and it still working a treat and the Pixel devices are known for getting better over time and that much is true but the 7a is going to be a phone to watch and it is now my daily driver but in a smaller package how does it fair out against its predecessors.
In the unboxing and walk through below we go through the device in better detail but out of the box the build quality is excellent and on par with the Pixel 7 which I still also use on a daily basis and it is just a smaller footprint in size overall yet built to last and better than I had expected being the a series. Some small differences overall but nothing out of kilter when you place both devices side by side as you will see in the video below.
Size matters for some and the Pixel 7a hits the sweet spot for me I am not a huge fan of big devices like I once was and since I started using this it hits the spot for me, given you have less screen estate it is not important and for me and how I use my phone on the go and when at home I can use a bigger device for media consumption as during the day it is business and I like to have a phone in my pocket that is not to intrusive or weighty.
The Pixel 7a is the same productivity tool and comes packed again with the same tools on board and is great for multitasking and for those like me who use their device for multiple tasks during the day not including social media and emails etc it flies along as before with no signs of being sluggish and for me worked a treat just as my Pixel 7 still does today and for those who need a device that is capable and offers such tools as the Pixel 7 does the 7a will be a worthy investment.
The Pixel 7a comes with a decent screen with a 90hz refresh rate again a thing that people nitpick at and the 120hz refresh rate that should be a standard which is an argument for another day as most people cant tell the difference. We also get a 6.1-inch (155 mm) 20:9 aspect ratio FHD+ (1080×2400) OLED at 429 PPI and Smooth Display (up to 90Hz)
The camera, again a powerhouse and I have had some time to test this out this time around before my review and again it is simply excellent and for a point and shoot you cant beat it. You can decide from the image gallery below with day and night images videos and more. The front facing camera offers 13 MP, 1.12 μm pixel width , ƒ/2.2 aperture, Fixed focus 95° ultrawide field of view photo unblur, magic eraser, night sight, face unblur, real tone, top shot and much more. The video is again great offering 4K video recording at 30/60 FPS and 1080p video recording at 30/60 FPS, The front camera offers 4K video recording at 30 FPS 1080p video recording at 30 FPS.
Other features include – Cinematic Pan, Slo-mo video support up to 240 FPS , 4K time lapse with stabilisationAstrophotography time lapse , Optical image stabilisation, Fused video stabilisation, 4K Cinematic Pan video stabilisation
4K locked video stabilisation, 1080p active video stabilisation, Digital zoom up to 5x14 , Video formats: HEVC (H.265) and AVC (H.264).
Security wise we have got the usual with face unlock and this works really well as does the fingerprint scanner which has been a bit troublesome over the years but seems fine now and the same for my Pixel 7 you also can avail of the old fashioned patter, pin or password but most today prefer the bio-metric approach.. Lastly we have a 4300 mAh and for me lasts almost a day given I am a power user it will get most through the day this time round though we have wireless charging which has been a bugbear of previous a series devices but now finally solved.
1. Built to perform and priced just right
Meet Pixel 7a, engineered by Google. The Google Tensor G2 chip makes it fast. The Pixel Camera takes amazing photos and video. Pixel 7a features are rated highest in security. VPN by Google One protects your online activity (available to new eligible users, three months of Google One included, then €1.99 per month, recurring billing, cancel anytime)And the battery lasts all day,3 and charges wirelessly. The smooth 6.1-inch display,4 with up to 90 Hz refresh rate, is super responsive. With 8 GB of RAM, switching between apps is quick and efficient. And it all makes Pixel 7a more helpful throughout the day.Pixel 7a starts at only €509. And it’s available in Charcoal, Sea, Snow and Coral (Google Store exclusive).
2. Beautiful and durable inside and out
Pixel 7a is Google’s most durable A-Series phone yet. And it’s as beautiful as it is durable. It’s colourful and sophisticated, with a smooth, sleek back and a metal frame and camera bar. Pixel 7a can handle water and dust with IP67 protection.5 The display is scratch resistant, featuring Corning® Gorilla® Glass. And it’s made with recycled aluminium, glass and plastic.6
3. Tensor G2 the brains
Google Tensor G2 is the next-gen processor that’s custom-built for Pixel. It’s the same chip that’s in Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro, powering Google’s advanced machine learning and speech recognition, and Google’s AI for improved audio on phone calls, great battery life, and amazing photo and video quality. It makes Pixel 7a faster, more efficient, more secure and even more helpful.7
4. Great photography made simple
With an upgraded dual rear camera system and Google Tensor G2’s advanced image processing, Pixel’s camera makes photos perfect, every time. It’s easy to take amazing pictures in low light with Night Sight. You can even fix your blurry photos, whether they’re new or old, or remove distractions with a few taps in Google Photos with Magic Eraser and Photo Unblur.8 All skin tones are represented beautifully and accurately with Real Tone. Pixel 7a includes Super Res Zoom for clear close-up portraits from far away. And for the first time on the A-Series, Long Exposure adds motion, texture and energy to your photos.
5. Wireless charging and all day battery
Pixel’s Adaptive Battery can last over 24 hours.9 It learns your favourite apps, so it doesn’t waste power on ones that you rarely use. Turn on Extreme Battery Saver, and the battery can last up to 72 hours.9 And your Pixel charges wirelessly with a Pixel Stand or any Qi-certified device.
6. Highest rating security features
With Google Tensor G2 and the Titan M2 security chip, Pixel is built with multiple layers of security to help keep your personal info safe.10 Face Unlock and Fingerprint Unlock quickly and easily unlock your phone with just a glance or a tap. With a VPN by Google One, Pixel will help protect your online activity no matter what app or web browser you use (available to new eligible users, three months of Google One included, then €1.99 per month, recurring billing, cancel anytime).2 And Pixel comes with at least five years of security updates, so your phone gets even more secure over time.11
7. AI features with so much help
Pixel is more helpful than ever. Phone calls are smoother with clear calling. At a Glance shows you useful info at the right time, like the weather or when it’s time to leave for your flight. With voice message transcription, you can read audio messages. And Assistant voice typing lets you type with your voice.12
8. Gets better with age
Pixel gets Feature Drops – automatic software updates with new and improved features, tips, tricks and more. So your Pixel just keeps getting better.13
9. Get the best of Google with Pixel
Pixel 7a includes three months of YouTube Premium (then €11.99 per month) and Google One Basic 100 GB Plan (then €1.99 per month) to help you get the most out of your new Pixel (available to new eligible users only, recurring billing, cancel anytime).14 Google One keeps your photos and files safe with 100 GB of storage and automatic phone backup. And with YouTube Premium, you can enjoy YouTube videos and music without ads, in the background and offline.
10. Made for Google for all that you doPixel phones, tablets, watches and earbuds are engineered by Google for personalised help throughout your day.15 So you can save time, live better and do more of the things that you enjoy. Take stunning photos and easily edit them. Track your health and fitness with the power of Fitbit on your Pixel Watch. Enjoy immersive entertainment at home and on the go. And manage your smart home devices from anywhere.16
The all new Pixel Watch comes with several types of bands to chose from which is a good start, you of course get a band with the watch but you can pick from several others there with various materials and price points, the choice is yours, We have the Pixel Watch Stretch Band and it has to be said it is pretty comfortable to wear as I have for a few days.
It is a simple operation to change out the bands after you fiddle around with it and like any other band replacing it will get easier but first time a bit of a pain however that is just me and now it is on and all is good, you will need to be careful picking your wrist size so do check what is available on any given bands you might look at and measure your wrist beforehand, I have the Xtra large one which worked well for me.
One thing to add is do not do this over a table or a solid surface as the watch face is rounded and may get scratched and hopefully there will be some kind of accessory soon to avoid this happening, we will look into more bands down the road so stay tuned for more things Pixel on techbuzzireland and of course Youtube
The Pixel Buds Pro have just landed and today we take a first look and impressions of the latest earbuds as we have not had long enough to give our full thoughts all thanks to logistical issues which is becoming a nightmare for many folk depending on where you reside, So I have had these for two days and been using them constantly and so far the results are good.
You will note a new design here which is nice and they fit well in the ears too and they look nice in the colour too LemonGrass, the design has changed however they still fit nice and snug and will not budge and have not fallen out yet on me after quite heavy testing over the last two days.
The app once again is present and certainly enhances the user experience as expected with multiple options to enhance the audio experience we once again have ANC which this time has improved and decent bass and in general so far all the audio attributes have been good and enjoyable be it listening to music or watching movies. The gesture controls are also excellent so far I have to add. One thing missing but being updated is the full EQ suite which I hope arrives sooner rather than later.
You of course have transparency mode and Google assistant built in of course and if you want some more you can have your messages and emails read out to you which I think is really cool. For those who need more you have also got multipoint connectivity so for me this works really well working both on chromebook and phone and makes them a practical tool too. The case is slightly larger too and we also have wireless charging on deck.
A full review will be along soon with a closer look at the app of course and more on the experience too so stay tuned for that and check out the unboxing below and side by side comparison to the Pixel buds A series.
Pixel Buds Pro techbuzzireland
10 things to know about the Pixel Buds
1 – Premium sound with Active Noise Cancellation
Google Pixel Buds Pro create a quiet foundation so your music can shine. Active Noise Cancellation with Silent Seal™ adapts to your unique ear shape, and the earbuds fit in your ear canal to maximise the amount of noise blocked. Rather than using an off-the-shelf active noise cancellation solution, Pixel Buds Pro use an integrated system developed by Google, with a custom processor, custom algorithms and custom speakers.
2 – Never miss out on bass with Volume EQ
With many earbuds, bass disappears when you lower the volume, leaving your music sounding tinny and weak. Pixel Buds Pro bring full and rich sound at any level with Volume EQ,1 dynamically adapting to your listening volume and making subtle tweaks to the frequency curve. For example, when you lower the volume, Pixel Buds Pro increase the bass while ensuring that mid and high frequencies are balanced.
3 – Stay present with Transparency mode
Use Transparency mode for the moments when you don’t want to be fully immersed, like when running or crossing roads. Pixel Buds Pro process a wide range of frequencies with low latency to keep the audio sounding natural and in sync. This custom integration lets sound enter in real time, so you can keep on moving almost as if you weren’t wearing earbuds.
4 – Multipoint connectivity
Pixel Buds Pro can automatically change sound sources from one device to another. Easily go from listening to music on your phone to answering video calls on your laptop without needing to manually switch Bluetooth devices.. Multipoint connectivity helps you automatically switch between compatible devices including Android, iOS, tablets and laptops.
5 – Crystal clear calls
Get crystal clear calls even in loud and windy places, thanks to beamforming mics, a voice accelerometer and wind-blocking mesh covers. Pixel Buds Pro use bone conduction to analyse vibrations near your jaw area to pick out your voice so you can be heard loud and clear wherever you are – whether you’re on a noisy street or at home with loud roommates.
6 – Elevated design
Listen in comfort and style with your Pixel Buds Pro. With premium coatings, a soft matte texture and a two-toned design, they sit flush in your ears. The pebble-like case feels comfortable in your hand and easily fits in your pocket. Pixel Buds Pro come in four colours: Charcoal, Fog, Coral and Lemongrass
Because everyone’s ears are shaped differently, Google scanned thousands of ears to create a design that’s comfortable for as many people as possible. Sensors constantly measure the pressure in your ear canal so the earbuds can actively relieve it and stay comfortable. Eartips in three sizes ensure that your earbuds can be customised to best fit your unique ear shape.
7 – Hands-free help
Talk to Google Assistant hands-free to start your workout music, send a quick text or even get live translation – just say ‘Hey Google’ and stay focused on what’s in front of you while on the go.
8 – Touch controls make it easy
Important controls are a touch away, so you don’t have to pull out your phone. Tap your earbud once to play/pause or answer calls, twice to skip a track or reject calls, three times to rewind, and simply swipe horizontally to increase or decrease the volume. To switch between Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode, just touch and hold.
9 – Water and sweat resistant
Pixel Buds Pro are water and sweat resistant, so rainy days and sweaty workouts are no problem.
10 – Battery life and wireless charging
The custom processor is tuned for power efficiency so you can get more out of your battery. Get up to 7 hours of listening time on a single charge with Active Noise Cancellation on, and up to 20 hours with the charging case. Plus, charge them wirelessly with Pixel Stand or other Qi-certified chargers.
A 5-minute charge in the case gives you up to 1 hour of listening time with Active Noise Cancellation on.
Just this week we were showing the new phones for “Android Purist” right after the official unveiling.
But today we learnt something about them that was completely omitted during the presentation and even on the official specs page from Google. Come to think of it there was a few more things left out..
Both the Pixel and Pixel XL come with IP53 (Water and Dust Resistance)
Apparently this was clarifed by Google to Droidpolice, but we wonder why they skipped it during the presentation.
Although this is good, don’t get to exited about it, IP53 doesn’t mean you can go and start filming underwater shots with your phone. Actually, it is only protected against little rain and some dust ingress.
Which is not bad but I’d be careful anyway to not get near water with these two.
What do you think of this? Will this make you get into the Pixels wagon?Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
