Google Store

With a relative lull until the next wave of product launches, the Google Store is starting to show reviews and ratings. An early effort, it’s not clear where the reviews are being sourced from as you can’t leave them directly on the site.

The Nest Secure was discontinued in October, but Google promised to keep supporting the alarm system. Besides software updates, this includes manufacturing more Nest Detect sensors, which are now available again in the Google Store.

As we’ve reported and spotted, Google’s next wireless earbuds are the “Pixel Buds A.”  The launch of a presumed cheaper model should not impact the second-generation pair launched a year ago. That said, the Pixel Buds are no longer available in Oh So Orange.

Back in January, Google told us that it would release a “new lineup of security cameras for 2021” following the Nest Cam IQ Outdoor going out of stock. The Nest Cam IQ Indoor is now similarly sold out.

For some time now, the US Google Store has offered an affordable refurbished option for a few select products, including the Nest Cam Indoor and Nest Protect. Today, the Google Store has gained three more refurbished options in the US, the Nest Learning Thermostat, Nest Wifi, and Nest Hello.

Following the completion of Google’s buyout of Fitbit, the company’s own storefront made it pretty clear what was coming. Fitbit watches and trackers would be sold right alongside Pixels and Nest gear. Now, that’s official. Fitbit smartwatches and fitness trackers are now available for purchase directly from the Google Store.

The Pixel Slate was announced in October 2018 as Made by Google’s first tablet and flagship, touch-only Chrome OS device. After two years, the Pixel Slate is now out of stock and discontinued in the three countries it launched in.

As revealed at the start of this month by an inadvertent retail listing, Google is ending Verizon’s exclusivity on the Clearly White Pixel 4a 5G by releasing an unlocked model. Featuring Sub-6 5G connectivity, it retails for $499 today in four countries.

The Home Max, and Mini, launched in 2017 as the first expansion of Google’s smart speaker lineup. After three years, Google has officially discontinued the Home Max as inventory is depleted.

With the launch of the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL in 2018, Made by Google also released a pair of USB-C earbuds for $29.99. After two years on sale, the Pixel USB-C earbuds are no longer available for purchase from the Google Store.

Back in September, Google released an mmWave model of the Pixel 4a 5G that was only available at Verizon. Besides the cellular radio providing access to faster speeds, it’s available in “Clearly White,” though that color is now coming to the unlocked Pixel 4a 5G.

Google’s Nest security camera line has remained unchanged for the past three years. The Nest Cam IQ Outdoor was the last new product announced, but it has been out of stock in most parts of the world for the past several weeks.

The majority of Google’s apps are free (and more than usable with ads), but the company has built up a number of paid service tiers — led by YouTube — in recent years. The Google Store is now prominently advertising those offerings with a dedicated “Subscriptions” landing page.

Earlier this month, Google discontinued its three-year-old premium Assistant smart speaker after announcing a smaller alternative in September. The Google Home Max is now surprisingly in stock on the US Google Store.

In late October, Google released a statement committing to continued software support for the Nest Secure. As part of that, it promised that more Nest Detect sensors would be coming by the end of 2020, but the Google Store will no longer be hitting that deadline following a delay.

It looks like that you will soon be able to officially buy Pixel Buds compatible foam earbud tips directly from the Google Store after a listing inadvertently went live ahead of time on the online storefront.

Google’s primary Black Friday-Cyber Monday deals have passed, but the official US (and Canadian) store now has a rare $20 discount on the Pixel Buds. This is a limited offer that’s only available until Sunday.

Last September, Made by Google started offering refurbished products at slightly discounted prices. The two initial offerings went out of stock quite a long time ago, and the US Google Store is now expanding the refurbished lineup to include Nest smart home products.

Over the years, the Google Store has offered refurbished models of some of its best hardware, such as the 2017 Pixelbook. Today, the Google Store has added a new batch of refurbished hardware, including 2018’s Pixel 3.

Last month, Made by Google surprisingly launched its cheapest phone in a new color stateside. The Barely Blue Pixel 4a is now coming to Japan later this month.

Google’s two budget “a” phones this year are universally praised and highly sought after. The Pixel 4a launched first in August, while the 4a 5G followed with the Pixel 5 this fall. With the holiday shopping season under way, a change to the Google Store reflects how the premium version of this year’s 4a series is getting much more prominent billing.

With a 2TB (or higher) Google One subscription, you get 10% back on all Google Store purchases. It’s supposed to arrive 30 days after an order has shipped, but Pixel 5 pre-orderers have yet to be credited. Google told us today that Pixel 5 Store credits will be available by Friday.

Last Sunday, Google kicked off Black Friday week by discounting the Pixel 5 to $649. The first-party US store looks to be having a hard time keeping them in stock as the Pixel 5 has been intermittently sold out over the past 24 hours.

With the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL in 2018, Google released a first-party wireless charger. Since then, it has remained compatible with Google’s flagship phones and added new software features. For Black Friday, the Google Store has aggressively discounted the Pixel Stand by 50% off.

Black Friday is fully under way and Google is pushing older Pixel owners to upgrade to the Pixel 4a 5G with a notable trade-in promotion. The US Google Store has significantly increased the trade-in value of older Made by Google devices for this one phone.

Like last year, the Google Store kicked off 2020’s Black Friday deals in two stages. Some of the offers — including those for the Pixel 5 and Nest/Home speakers — went live on Sunday, and the rest are now available.

With the Pixel 5 officially launching in the US and Canada today, the Google Store is rounding out its 2020 phone launches by making the Pixel 4a (5G) available for pre-order in the US.

For its 2020 phone lineup, Made by Google is leaning especially hard into “5G,” often referring to the two devices as “#Pixel5G” on Twitter. The company is now taking that a surprising step further with the Pixel 5 $5G sweepstakes.

This year, Google’s flagship phone launched in the Asia-Pacific and Europe two weeks before US and Canadian availability. Ahead of the Thursday release stateside, the Google Store has started charging Pixel 5 buyers for their pre-orders and removed the ability to cancel.

By adding a long sought after remote and being quite affordable, the Chromecast with Google TV is one of today’s highlight announcements. In fact, the Google Store has sold out of the streaming dongle’s “Sky” and “Sunrise” colors.

In addition to picking up the Chromecast with Google TV, Nest Audio, Pixel 5, and 4a 5G today, the Google Store started offering hardware “packages” that provide a discount when buying multiple Nest products simultaneously. 

The new Pixel 5 is Google’s most affordable flagship in a while, a considerable jump down from the $799+ Pixel 4 series. If you’re looking to swap from the Pixel 4 to the Pixel 5, though, trade-in values aren’t too hot.

We are less than 24 hours away from Launch Night In and have already seen some last-minute leaks. The latest comes from the Canadian Google Store, which this evening briefly revealed how Chromecast with Google TV buyers in that country will get six months of free Netflix.

Google was first incorporated on September 4, 1998, but the company has long marked that occasion on September 27. Like last year, Google Stores around the world are celebrating the 22nd birthday with discounts and various offers.

The Pixelbook was announced as Made by Google’s first laptop in October of 2017. It has since been followed by the Pixel Slate and the Pixelbook Go. Three years later, the Pixelbook is now out of stock on the Google Store.