Google announces Google Clips, a camera that knows when to snap photos

Google has just dropped a whole bunch of new hardware, but perhaps the most surprising was the new Google Clips camera.

It's a small, GoPro-sized camera that's meant for taking photos quickly and easily, without the need for you to even press the shutter button. 

As with everything announced at the Pixel 2 launch event, Google was at pains to emphasise just how much "machine learning" goes on inside the Google Clips camera.

In this instance, Google's algorithms are clever enough to tell it when to capture footage, and it's then capable of pulling out key stills.  The functionality looks similar to what Google already does with its Photos app, albeit without the need for you to tell it when to take a photo at all. 

That said, the camera does include a physical shutter button, for those that want to occasionally take direct control. 

Design-wise, Google describes the camera as weighing 'almost nothing', and it's equipped with a physical clip so you can attach it to objects to allow you to take better photos. There's no viewfinder on the camera itself. 

The camera will cost $249 when it launches at a time that's to be announced; pricing for other regions is also to be confirmed. 

• You're going to need something to edit all the smart photos you're going to take with Google Clips. Check out our list of the best free photo editors.