Google in 2024: The Highlights, Setbacks, and What to Expect in 2025
As we bid farewell to 2024 and look toward 2025, it’s an ideal time to reflect on Google’s performance over the past year. From groundbreaking AI developments to product launches and software updates, Google made significant strides in many areas. However, as with any year, not everything was perfect. Some products missed the mark, and some initiatives didn’t quite live up to expectations. In this article, we’ll explore the major hits and misses from Google in 2024, and give you a glimpse into what we can expect from the tech giant in 2025.
Google’s Major Wins in 2024
1. The Google Pixel 8a: The Affordable Champion
Google’s year kicked off with the launch of the Google Pixel 8a, a mid-range smartphone that captured the attention of tech enthusiasts and budget-conscious consumers alike. As we reviewed the Pixel 8a, we were impressed by how Google managed to balance price and performance, making it one of the best budget-friendly smartphones on the market. With a smooth user interface, reliable cameras, and excellent software integration, the Pixel 8a quickly became a favorite for anyone looking for great value in a smartphone.
In a competitive market, the Pixel 8a stood out as a budget-friendly option that didn’t sacrifice essential features. Google managed to deliver a great user experience at a price point that didn’t break the bank, earning it the title of our “favorite bargain phone” of 2024.
2. The Google Pixel 9 Series: A Step Ahead
Following the success of the Pixel 8 series, Google Pixel 9 took things to the next level. The Pixel 9 phones—particularly the Pixel 9 Pro—received rave reviews for their solid designs, performance, and AI capabilities. With improvements in battery life, camera functionality, and display quality, the Pixel 9 series cemented its place as one of Google’s most successful flagship lines to date.
The Google Pixel 9 Pro, in particular, stood out for its advanced camera features, sleek design, and overall premium experience. It received a 4.5-star rating in our review, and it’s easy to see why. The addition of AI-powered photography tools made the Pixel 9 Pro’s camera one of the most impressive on the market, making it a great option for both casual photographers and tech-savvy users.
3. Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold: A Bold Step into the Foldable Market
Among the standout hardware hits of the year was the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Google’s ambitious foray into the foldable phone market. While foldable phones are still a relatively niche category, Google’s foldable offering managed to strike a fine balance between form and function. The Pixel 9 Pro Fold offers the best of both worlds: when folded, it’s a standard smartphone, but when unfolded, it’s a large-screen tablet. This dual functionality, coupled with powerful hardware and a high-quality display, made the Pixel 9 Pro Fold one of the most innovative devices of the year.
While the device comes with a high price tag, the combination of cutting-edge technology and foldable design made it a hit for early adopters and tech enthusiasts who want the best of the latest in smartphone innovation.
4. AI Advancements: Google’s Leap in Artificial Intelligence
Google made significant strides in artificial intelligence in 2024. The launch of Gemini AI, along with Gemini chatbots, saw Google continue to compete at the cutting edge of AI development. With its AI-powered tools, such as Google NotebookLM (which creates AI-generated podcasts) and Google AI Search, Google continued to push the boundaries of what’s possible with AI.
These advancements were particularly notable with Google Gemini, which rivaled other AI tools in the market, such as OpenAI’s GPT models and Apple’s AI initiatives. Google’s Gemini models were integrated into various apps and services, including Google Search, Gmail, and Google Maps, making everyday tasks easier and more efficient for users.
5. Software and App Updates: A Smarter Experience
Alongside its hardware launches, Google rolled out a constant stream of software updates to improve the user experience across its ecosystem. These included enhancements to Google Maps, such as incident alerts and filters in Gmail to streamline user workflows. The Android 15 update brought a host of improvements to the Pixel devices, ensuring that Google’s flagship phones remained competitive throughout the year.
In addition to the hardware updates, software enhancements were a core aspect of Google’s success in 2024. AI features like smart call screening and the Theft Detection Lock proved to be extremely useful, adding an extra layer of convenience to everyday phone usage. These features showcased how Google is integrating AI into its software, allowing for a more intuitive and seamless user experience.
The Google Misses of 2024
Despite many successes in 2024, Google also faced some notable challenges. Let’s take a closer look at the misses from the year.
1. Gemini AI: A Rough Start
While Gemini AI made a splash in 2024 with its innovative tools and features, it wasn’t without its flaws. One of the biggest issues arose early in the year when Google had to pull image generation capabilities from Gemini after it produced inaccurate and offensive images. This was a reminder that while AI is incredibly powerful, it is still prone to errors, and developers need to tread carefully when implementing such tools.
Another issue came with AI Overviews in Google Search. An infamous incident occurred when Google’s AI mistakenly recommended glue as a pizza topping after pulling information from a satirical Reddit post. This error led many users to disable the AI Overviews feature. Thankfully, Google worked to address this issue, and the feature has since improved. However, it’s a reminder of the growing pains that come with developing powerful AI systems.
2. The Pixel Watch 3: A Disappointing Upgrade
The Google Pixel Watch 3 was another area where expectations didn’t quite match reality. While the Pixel Watch 3 was a decent upgrade from its predecessor, it failed to make the significant impact that many had hoped for. The watch didn’t introduce many exciting new features, and many users felt that it was overshadowed by more established players in the wearable space, such as the Apple Watch and Fitbit (which is now under Google’s ownership).
Despite receiving positive reviews for its design and fitness tracking capabilities, the Pixel Watch 3 felt like a missed opportunity for Google to push the boundaries of what a smartwatch could do, especially after acquiring Fitbit. Many Fitbit fans were left wondering why Google wasn’t leveraging the full potential of the Fitbit brand within the Pixel Watch lineup.
3. Product Cancellations and Retirements
Google also faced some criticism for its decision to cancel or retire certain products in 2024. Among the casualties were Google Podcasts, which was shut down, and the Google Chromecast series, which was discontinued in favor of the Google TV Streamer. While the new Google TV Streamer has been generally well-received, the move raised concerns about Google’s commitment to the Chromecast brand, which had previously been a popular and innovative product.
Perhaps the most disappointing news came regarding the Google Pixel Tablets. After the success of the Google Pixel Slate, many were hoping for more tablets in the Pixel lineup. However, it now seems that Pixel Tablets are not part of Google’s plans for the foreseeable future, much to the disappointment of tablet enthusiasts.
What to Expect from Google in 2025
Looking ahead to 2025, it’s clear that Google will continue to focus heavily on AI and further integration of these tools across its ecosystem. Here are some of the key trends and products we expect to see in the coming year.
1. Continued AI Integration
AI will continue to be at the forefront of Google’s efforts in 2025. Project Astra, a cutting-edge AI project, has already been teased, and it’s likely that we’ll see more of it in the coming year. AI agents that can take over multiple computing tasks are expected to become a major part of Google’s strategy in 2025. We can expect even faster and more capable AI models, integrated deeply into Google’s apps and services.
Additionally, Gemini will likely see further improvements and deeper integration into Android 16. This could mean smarter AI that has more control over apps, making your Google devices even more intuitive and user-friendly.
2. Android 16: A New Era of Mobile OS
We’re also looking forward to the arrival of Android 16, which is expected to launch between April and June 2025. Early developer previews are already available, and while no major new features have been confirmed, there will likely be several exciting updates as the year progresses. Android 16 will introduce new features and improvements to keep Android ahead of the competition, especially when it comes to AI-powered functionalities.
3. Google Pixel 10 and New Mid-Range Devices
One of the most anticipated launches of 2025 will be the Google Pixel 10, which is expected to arrive sometime in the middle of the year. Although exact details are still scarce, early speculation suggests we’ll see at least four variants of the Pixel 10, including a Pro version. Additionally, the Pixel 9a is expected to be released as a more affordable option, likely featuring several design and performance upgrades over the Pixel 8a.
4. Possible Pixel Watch 4 and Nest Smart Home Updates
While there has been little information about Pixel Watch 4, it’s possible that Google will push forward with a new version of its smartwatch in 2025. However, the future of the Google Nest smart home series is more uncertain, as the Nest Hub has not seen significant updates in recent months. Updates to Nest devices would be a welcome addition to Google’s growing portfolio of home tech.
5. Google I/O 2025
Expect Google I/O 2025 to be a major event where the company unveils its plans for the future. The conference, usually held in May, will provide insight into Google’s AI advancements, software updates, and hardware products for the rest of the year.
Conclusion
2024 was a year of both triumphs and challenges for Google. The company made significant advancements in AI, launched innovative hardware like the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold, and rolled out impressive software updates across its ecosystem. However, setbacks with Gemini AI, Pixel Watch 3, and product retirements like Google Podcasts and Chromecast left some room for improvement.
Looking ahead, 2025 is shaping up to be another exciting year for Google, with advancements in AI, the release of new devices like the Google Pixel 10, and continued efforts to refine its software and hardware ecosystem. Whether you’re excited about the AI revolution or the next-generation Pixel devices, one thing is for certain—Google’s impact on the tech landscape will continue to be felt well into the future.