It’s that time of the year where Google kicks off the developer conferences of the year w/ Google I/O 2019. We’re expecting some new software updates which we don’t really have a lot to go on this year but something else as well. It looks like Google is back to unveiling hardware at I/O. This go round we got a lot of possibles w/ a few definites of what to expect. Let’s dive into it all.
Pixel 3a/3a XL
We’re expecting a cheaper version of the 3rd-gen Pixel w/ the Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL. Based on everything we’ve seen in regards to leaks & rumors, it will be the same Pixel but w/ a mid-range processor inside and cost way less.
The Pixel 3a will have a 5.6inch display w/ 3000 mAh battery while the 3a XL will have a 6inch display w/ a 3700 mAh battery. Both will offer a Snapdragon 670 CPU, 4GB of RAM, starting at 64GB of storage, a 12.2MP rear-facing camera + 8MP front-facing camera, fast charging, rear fingerprint readers, Active Edge sensors, and running Android 9.0 Pie w/ Screen Call, NightSight, & more features.
Being cheaper, it won’t offer wireless charging though. Rumored pricing has it starting at $399 for the 3a. This would be a sweet device as long as they fix the issues that still plague some Pixel 3 owners.
Nest Home Max
Are you ready for a bigger Google Home Hub? Well, that’s what this is supposed to be. The name might be a bit confusing but Google’s Home Hub branding will change into Nest Home starting at I/O moving forward.
So instead of the smaller 7inch Google Home Hub, this will be a bit larger w/ a 10inch HD display. It will be a Nest-focused smart display w/ stereo speakers and a built-in Nest Cam (armed w/ motion + sound alerts) for Google Duo video calls. So w/ these beefier options, don’t expect it to cost near that $150 retail price point of the smaller one.
More Android Q Details
We already have a few versions of the Q beta out in the wild for consumption. We hope Google will shed some more light on the new features coming to the OS via update.
We already improved sharing shortcuts, improved privacy control for apps, and app-based settings panels. We have yet to see dark mode, system-wide chat bubbles, or improved/more secure face detection either. These are the just features we know about as Google may have some in the tuck to reveal. Previously, Google opened the public beta to other devices at I/O so we may see them do the same here.
Google Stadia
Google’s new game-streaming service, Stadia, was unveiled at GDC earlier this year but there are still plenty of unanswered questions about it. We still don’t know about pricing, how fast will my Internet speed need to be, or what kind of games will be available to play on it? We’re hoping they would use I/O to address some of the missing pieces and add more details about it.
Assistant/Auto/Chrome OS/TV/Wear OS updates
With their AI-powered Duplex already implemented in certain areas, we expect Google to add more AI features to Assistant to do even more. While Google Assistant support has already been added to Android TV, Android Auto, and Chrome OS, we do expect Google to add more abilities/features to these services. We can expect more Android integration in Chrome OS as the other services will get some sort of update as we’re unsure about the features at this time.
Google’s developer conference kicks off next week on May 7th at 1PM EST/10AM PST. You can watch the livestream here. We’ll be live at I/O this year reporting live from the conference on the west coast.
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