Google Pixel 5, 4a 5G, Chromecast with Google TV announced at Launch Night In

Google has announced a suite of new devices, and tech fans are particularly excited about one feature that can solve an annoying problem on your phone.

Google has unveiled two new smartphones designed to showcase the best of its Android mobile operating system – including one new feature no other phone has that tech fans have been praising.

The new Hold For Me feature uses the Google Assistant to wait on the line for you if you get put on hold, and will let you know when a real person comes on the line.

The feature will be available on the new Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5 before being added to older Pixel phones as well, and some people can’t wait to get their hands on it.

Dawgggg, the Google Pixel will wait on hold for you and tell you when someone comes on the line.

No more "we're experiencing higher than usual call volume" 🔥🔥🔥🔥

— Tukach Shakur 🇳🇬 (@its_kachi) September 30, 2020

As somebody who has spent more than 12 hours on hold with FedEx alone this year, the “hold for me“ feature of the Google Pixel 5 is definitely a big draw!

— Zach Anner (@Zachanner) September 30, 2020

Holy crap "Hold for Me" feature on the Pixel looks amazing. It can wait on hold for you and send you a notification when someone picks up. THIS is the type of future thinking and helpful stuff I love. #LaunchNightIn

— 𝘽𝙪𝙩𝙩 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙤𝙣 (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧ (@ChrisMySass) September 30, 2020

Hold for Me will be clutch!! @madebygoogle

— SpecTechularGadgets (@GadgetsSpec) September 30, 2020

This is why I can't leave Android. Google is adding a "Hold for me" feature on Pixel phones that let Google assistant literally sit on hold for you and will alert you when someone comes on the line...my god

— 🍙eddie p🍙 (@eddiepearson) September 30, 2020

My fav new feature announced at #LaunchNightIn is Hold For Me. Listening to bad elevator music while stuck on hold? Google Assistant listens for you and notifies you when someone – a human – is on the line and ready for you. Brilliant! @Google #Pixel #Pixel4A5G #Pixel5

— Andrea Smith (@AndreaSmith) September 30, 2020

Google fans seem torn over the phones themselves, however, with some praising the value offered by the Pixel 4a but a little less enthused about the new Pixel 5, which occupies the middle ground between mid-range and flagship – where compromise lives.

Being an early adopter of all Google Pixel phones, I'm just not convinced to flip my 4XL for the #Pixel5. I was so much looking forward to it and had higher expectations...

— Mo Moghaddas 🚀 (@MoMoghaddas) September 30, 2020

Google pixel de mal en peor 👎

— Potassium Cyanide (@efecto_k) September 30, 2020

5 features the Google Pixel 5 needs

🔋 Long battery life (Pixel 4’s big shortcoming)
📸 The best camera (Google is good at this)
📱 Newer look (Pixels have been 1 step behind)
💬 Better messaging app (Allo wasn’t it)
💰 Affordable price (recent Pixels = a great value)

— Matt Swider (@mattswider) September 30, 2020

I think my next phone is definitely going to be between the Google Pixel 5 and the Google Pixel 4a 5G... I just don't know which to get. Is the price difference worth it for the 90hz display, bigger battery, better build quality and wireless charging on the 5? 🤔

— Millz 🎀 (@iMillzy) September 30, 2020

Others argued that the reason to buy a Pixel phone was because of its software, and that hadn’t changed.

The thing with Google Pixel phones is that not everything is about specs it's about the software and the experience, I rather have a Pixel 5 with Snapdragon 765G than a Samsung with Snapdragon 865 🤷🏻‍♀️

— Vane 🐯 (@vanefootball7) September 30, 2020

I’m switching to Google Pixel 5 , sorry Apple , I’m waiting for your improvements next year ..
Yes for #TeamPixel #pixel5 @madebygoogle

— Наджи (@najiabukhassira) September 30, 2020

Google also announced a new Chromecast with Google TV, a software suite that aggregates your subscription streaming services into one interface, similar to Apple TV.

Google previously had a similar product called Android TV, as many have noted on social media, but general consensus appears to be that the switch to Google TV on Chromecast will be welcomed.

We knew this, but Android TV is now Google TV. Chromecast with Google TV is the first Google TV device.

— David "my burrito pop is dishwasher safe" Ruddock (@RDRv3) September 30, 2020

Goodbye Android TV. Hello Google TV.

— Zachary Anderson (@EzTech231) September 30, 2020

Google TV seems cool, Google can pull data from multiple services and provide you with recommendations

— Arjun Nemani (@therealNemani) September 30, 2020

I liked the new Chromecast with Google TV. Google is really good at making affordable products like (chromecast, nest mini etc.) and really bad in making expensive products like the Pixel 5. I don't know how long it would take for them to become a real iPhone competitor. 😅

— Techster | News Updates (@beingtechster) September 30, 2020

I’m ready for Google TV and the new Chromecast 🙌🏾 @madebygoogle

— UrAvgConsumer (@UrAvgConsumer) September 30, 2020

Google also announced it would follow Amazon’s lead in improving its smart speakers with the announcement of the redesigned Nest Audio, designed to create a cheap and effective multi-room audio system with the added support of Google Assistant for voice commands.

Some viewers questioned whether people would actually buy the speakers, while others who already owned Google speakers said they couldn’t wait to upgrade.

I get that Nest Audio is replacing the aging Google Home design, but did anyone buy these bigger speakers? I always assumed people stocked their homes with the smaller Echo Dot or Google Home Mini speakers.

— Roger Cheng (@RogerWCheng) September 30, 2020

I have a Google Home and TBH I'm tempted to get this Nest Audio. Great price, bigger sound, looks good.

— Sascha Segan (@saschasegan) September 30, 2020

The new devices were announced at an online event like most other tech announcements have been this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, though some thought virtual announcements from Apple, Samsung, Microsoft and others had Google beat.

Watching the Google Pixel 5 launch. Am I the only one who finds it uncanny-valley style creepy that Google employees are reading scripted lines about intimate time they've spent with their children to sell a phone on behalf of a multi-trillion dollar global corporation?

— Nadim Kobeissi (@kaepora) September 30, 2020

My 2020 Virtual Tech Event Power Rankings

Apple WWDC
Apple September event
Microsoft Surface Duo reveal
Samsung Fold event
Google Pixel event
OnePlus AR event
Samsung Unpacked

— Marques Brownlee (@MKBHD) September 30, 2020

Google Pixel events are always the Nicholas Cage acting choices of events.

— Rene Ritchie (@reneritchie) September 30, 2020