Google’s annual I/O conference is coming up next week, and the internet is awash with rumors and speculation about the new products set to launch.
At last year’s I/O (Input/Output) conference, software was king. Google announced Duplex — the AI-powered automated phone call system — as well as updates to Android, Gmail, and Maps.
This year, though, we’re expecting hardware to be the main attraction, with new cheap Pixel phones set to be announced, and possibly some new Google Home products. Here’s everything we know about the new products so far.
New, Cheaper Pixel 3a, 3a XL
There have been so many leaks about cheaper versions of Google’s Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL phones, it can be hard to keep up.
So here’s what we know for certain:
Google has phones due for release
Back in March, Google SVP Hiroshi Lockheimer, shared some photos he took with an unreleased phone.
I got to see Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard’s office from the 60s yesterday, it was super cool! But…
I took pictures with an unreleased phone 📱📷🤐 so I probably shouldn’t share them here. 😝
The offices looked like this ⬇ https://t.co/fPE7um3gyv
— Hiroshi Lockheimer (@lockheimer) March 30, 2019
This confirmed the speculation that Google would have some new phones for us before the launch of the successor to the Pixel 3.
The new phones will be called the Pixel 3a and 3a XL
Google somewhat dropped the ball in April, accidentally adding the two new phones to its online store.
This leak confirmed a load of spec information about both phones:
- The 3a will have a 5.6-inch 1080×2220 display, while the 3a XL has a 6-inch display with a 1080×2160 resolution
- The 3a will use the Snapdragon 670 processor with 4GB of Ram, while the 3a XL will use the Snapdragon 710 processor
- The 3a will use a 12Mp camera, along with the same camera software from the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL
- Both will run Android 9 Pie
You can read a full run-down of the leaked info here
The Pixel 3a will be available in white, purple, and maybe black
According to prolific phone-leaker Evan Blass, the Pixel 3a and 3a XL will be available in a very light lilac color — the first time we’ve seen the color on a Google phone.
In purple. pic.twitter.com/hgcC1V7zxK
— Evan Blass (@evleaks) April 26, 2019
Blass’ tweet also confirms that the new phones will look basically the same as the older Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL.
What don’t we know?
At the moment, we don’t know how much the two phones will cost — although we’d speculate somewhere around $550 for the Pixel 3a and $650 for the Pixel 3a XL.
We also don’t know exactly when they’ll hit the shelves. The Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL hit the shelves roughly a week after they were announced in October, so we’d expect a similar initial wait after the announcement next week.
Find out more – Read our full Google Pixel 3 XL review
New Google Home Products
The info we have on new Google Home products is a bit more speculative — but we know something, or perhaps some things are coming.
In an earnings call with investors, Google’s CFO Ruth Porat said “We are pleased with the ongoing momentum of Assistant-enabled Home devices, particularly the Home Hub and Home Mini devices and look forward to our May 7 announcement at I/O from our hardware team.”
So, what will be in this announcement?
There have been rumors that Google will announce a new 10-inch version of its Home Hub — set to be called the Nest Hub Max. It’s not clear why Google would want to begin offering smart hubs under the Nest brand when the Google Home brand is already up-and-running, but that doesn’t mean Google wouldn’t do it.
There have also been reports that the existing 7-inch Home Hub would also be rebranded as the Nest Hub, just to confuse customers even more.
Either way, a 10-inch Home Hub would be a nice rival to the excellent Lenovo Smart Display.
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