It’s almost time for Google’s biggest event of the year: the annual I/O developer conference. We’re getting at least two smartphone announcements featuring the Pixel 7a and Pixel Fold this year along with the official introduction of Android 14, as well as details on the Pixel Tablet and maybe some info on the Pixel 8 series.
The big event will kick off Wednesday, May 10 at 10am PT (2pm UTC) at the Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View, California and will be streamed live on YouTube. As usual much of the intrigue surrounding the new devices has been lost thanks to the myriad of leaks, but we’re still excited to see if there will be any surprise announcements on stage. Here’s a summary of what to expect at I/O 2023.
Android 14
Google I/O is essentially a developer conference, so it’s only fair to start with the next iteration of Android. Android 14 will focus on refinements and improving security. Based on information provided in the developer previews and two beta releases, Android 14 will offer improved resource management, improved support for tablets and foldable devices, and more accessibility features. We can also expect more customization options that are based on the material you design.
In terms of security, Android 14 will block the installation/sideloading of older Android apps developed before Android 6.0 Marshmallow. Google is also implementing system-wide security improvements, including runtime receivers and dynamic loading of read-only code to prevent any possibility of code injection. Credential Manager and Passkey support is also integrated to simplify user authentication and password management.
Android 14 will introduce the option to share selected photos and videos with apps, as well as the option to completely decline sharing that information. Users will also have a back arrow for easier navigation with a color and theme-matched look. Android 14’s direct share prompt will offer improved direct share goals which should be more useful for users.
Google will share even more of the user-focused features of Android 14 on stage, and according to the roadmap, the consumer-ready version should arrive around August/September.
Fold pixels
Google’s first foray into the world of foldable phones is set to finally see its big moment with the announcement of the Pixel Fold. Based on rumors, Pixel Fold will offer a similar design to Oppo Find N and Find N2 with a landscape format internal screen measuring 7.6 inches. The main panel is expected to be an OLED with a 120Hz refresh rate and some noticeable bezels. The cover display will reportedly be 5.8 inches. The dimensions of the Pixel Fold are 158.7 x 139.7 x 5.7mm (8.3mm including the rear camera bump).
Google Pixel Fold
We expect Google’s Tensor G2 chipset at the helm along with dual 12MP camera sensors on the back and dual 8MP front-facing modules for the main and cover screen. The Pixel Fold will reportedly launch for $1,799 in the US and is expected to go on sale June 27.
Pixel 7a
The Pixel 7a is one of the more leaked devices in recent memory, so we have a pretty solid idea of what to expect. Essentially the Pixel 7a will be a slightly smaller version of the standard Pixel 7 with a cost reduction applied to the cameras and materials of the device.
Google Pixel 7a in blue
Rumors point to a 6.1-inch OLED display with FHD+ resolution and a 90Hz refresh rate. The phone is expected to carry the same Tensor G2 as the other two Pixel 7 phones along with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. The back of the Pixel 7a will house a dual camera system with a 64MP main camera and a 13MP ultrawide module. Expect a 13MP front module up front. We will likely see a 4,300mAh battery with 18W wired charging and wireless charging, which would be a first on the Pixel A series.
Pixel 7a is expected to launch at $499 in the US and the phone is already confirmed to be available from May 11 in India and hopefully other regions as well.
Pixel tablets
The Pixel Tablet was first unveiled at last year’s Google I/O conference and then again at the Pixel 7 launch in October, so we can finally expect it to go official this time around.
It is expected to feature an 11 inch LCD screen with a resolution of 1600 x 2560 px, premium design and the Tensor G2 chipset. Google wants the Pixel Tablet to have more use cases, which is why it’s also launching a charging speaker dock that turns the slate into a smart speaker/Nest Hub device. We’ve also seen rumors that the Pixel tab will support stylus input and 18W wireless charging.
Wildcards: Pixel 8 preview, Pixel Watch 2, new Pixel Buds
As has been the case with previous Google events, we got to see some first-hand information and teasers for the next-generation Pixel phones: the Pixel 8 series, as well as information for the Pixel Watch 2 and the new Pixel Buds. Outside of the smartphone world, we also expect more AI announcements from Google with a formal introduction to Bard – it’s CharGPT’s rival.
Start a new Thread