Ahead of its release sometime later this year, Google just provided an early preview of the Pixel 7 at its I/O 2022 keynote. While the company didn’t reveal much in the way of detailed specs or components, Google did show off the Pixel 7’s design which is retaining the prominent camera bar that debuted on the Pixel 6. For 2022, one improvement for the Pixel 7 is a new frame made from recycled aluminum, which now extends seamlessly across the camera bar.
As before, the standard Pixel 7 will feature two rear cameras, while the more premium Pixel 7 Pro will get a triple camera array. Meanwhile, on the inside, the phone will pack a second-gen Tensor chip designed to enhance a range of features including speech recognition, photos, videos and security. And to top it all off, the handset will debut alongside Android 13, which is slated for release sometime later this autumn.
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Unfortunately, there’s no word yet on pricing or an official launch date, so stay tuned for more info as we get closer to the fall.
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You won’t have to wait much longer if you want to check out some of the Android updates that Google plans to roll out later this year. The company revealed at its I/O 2022 developer conference today that the second public beta of Android 13 will be available starting today.
Google said it designed the latest version of the OS around three big themes: doing more with your phone at the center; going beyond the phone to other devices like tablets and watches; and making all those devices work together in harmony.
You should expect privacy and security upgrades, along with more ways to personalize your device with the likes of app icons. There’s a big focus on Android tablets this time around, with features such as a new taskbar at the bottom of the home screen and redesigns for more than 20 Google apps, including Messages, Maps and YouTube Music.
It was already expected that Google would release the second beta this month as it moves towards a final Android 13 release later this year. The first beta, which followed two developer previews, was mostly about behind-the-scenes backend improvements, though there were some welcome UI updates, such as a refreshed media playback box.
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By this point, we all know what to expect from Google’s “a” phones: Last year’s hardware for a much lower price. In that respect, the Pixel 6a isn’t a huge surprise. The phone, which was announced today at Google’s I/O 2022 keynote, is powered by Google’s first “Tensor” AI chip, just like the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro before it. It will cost just $449 when it hits shelves on July 28th. But unlike the previous Pixel 5a, which was a slightly boring rehash of the Pixel 4a 5G, Google’s new mid-range phone actually offers some useful upgrades.
For one, the Pixel 6a offers the same unique two-tone case as the Pixel 6, something that helps it to stand out in the crowded field of boring smartphones. Google also shrunk the screen down to 6.1 inches, whereas the 5a had a 6.34-inch display. Because of that decision, along with smaller enclosure materials, Google says it’s roughly the size of the Pixel 5. If anything, it’s nice to have a modern Pixel phone that’s a bit more compact for smaller hands.
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Most importantly, though, Google’s Tensor chip delivers all of the same features as the more expensive Pixels. There’s support for 5G, Titan M2 security and enough speed to power complex tasks like Google’s Live Translate. According to Rick Osterloh, Google’s SVP of Devices and Services, the Tensor chip is a “big deal for a phone at this price.” It’s certainly more impressive than the aging Snapdragon chips mid-range phones are typically stuck with.
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The Pixel 6a features dual rear cameras, just like the 5a, but now there’s a 12 megapixel ultrawide sensor alongside the 12-megapixel main camera. It still has the same 8MP front-facing camera as before, but we’re hoping Google’s upgraded software can do more with that lens this time. Pixel 6a comes with an enhanced version of Google’s Magic Eraser photo editing tool, and its Real Tone feature will also better capture the nuances of skin tones.
Google says the Pixel 6a will receive five years of security upgrades, making it a solid investment if you don’t plan to upgrade too often. It will be available in charcoal, chalk and sage cases, and you’ll be able to pre-order Pixel 6a phone on July 21st.
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For a few months now, Google has been talking about Android 12L, an upcoming version of Android that’s focused on making the OS work better on larger-screen devices like tablets and foldable phones. Thus far, most of those changes have focused on interface tweaks, but today at Google I/O the company had some news about making apps perform better on larger screens, too.
Google says more than 20 of its apps will be redesigned and optimized for tablets, something that should automatically make Android taps a lot more useful. Among those are YouTube Music, Google Maps and Messages. YouTube Music has a redesigned now playing screen that takes advantage of the extra screen space, while Messages has a multi-column view to quickly jump between different conversations. Google also says that third-party apps like Facebook, TikTok and Zoom will soon be updated to be better optimized for large screens, too. If Google can get more big developers like these on board, the Android tablet ecosystem should benefit greatly.
Google also says that there are 270 million active users already using large-screen devices, so there’s a decent number of people who’ll be able to take advantage of these updates immediately. To find them, Google Play is getting a large-screen redesign as well that will highlight apps built for tablets.
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After launching a new version of Wear OS in collaboration with Samsung last I/O, Google is back with more updates. At this year’s I/O developer conference, the company unveiled features coming to Android 13 and a new Google Wallet, as well as emergency SOS coming to Wear OS. Google also shared that there are now three times more Wear OS devices this year as there were last year and that new devices from Samsung, Montblanc, Mobvoi and Fossil are coming.
Google didn’t provide much detail about those devices, though it did later say that more third-party apps were also coming to Wear OS, including SoundCloud and Deezer. Samsung published a blog post sharing that Galaxy Watch 4 owners can soon download the Google Assistant for “faster and more natural voice interactions, enabling quick answers and on-the-go help.”
The Galaxy Watch 4 will also get voice control for Spotify via the Assistant, allowing them to change songs using their voice. Samsung promised that more Google apps and services will be optimized for Galaxy Watches later this year.
Google also unveiled the Pixel Watch, which, unsurprisingly, will run the new Wear OS. It will also feature deep integration with Fitbit for better activity tracking, though other details on the device were sparse as the company prepares to actually launch it in the fall.
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Google Wallet is coming back as a standalone feature, the company announced at its I/O 2022 keynote today. Wallet will be the place to store digital versions of cards and other personal documents, while Google Pay will remain the place for contactless payments. Wallet will store payment cards, transit passes, memberships, tickets, airline travel information and vaccine passports, among other documents. You’ll be able to make payments in-store with Google Wallet anywhere Pay is accepted.
Google will start rolling out the new Wallet to Android and Wear OS devices in the coming weeks. The company has plans to add digital IDs and driver’s licenses to Wallet later this year.
Here’s how Google product manager Dong Min Kim describes some of Wallet’s non-payment features: “If you saved your boarding pass for a flight to Google Wallet, it will notify you of delays and gate changes. When you head to a concert, you’ll receive a notification on your phone beforehand, reminding you of your saved tickets. Wallet also works with other Google apps — for instance if you’re taking the bus to see a friend and look up directions in Google Maps, your transit card and balance will show up alongside the route. If you’re running low on fare, you can tap and add more.”
Since going live in 2011, Google Wallet acted as a storage space for digital cards and as a hub for sending and requesting money. Google essentially killed Wallet in 2018 when it consolidated its digital payment services under one app, Google Pay. The company revamped Google Pay in late 2020 as it attempted to compete more directly with services like Venmo, but there was no word about a separate Wallet at the time.
Rumors about a revamped Wallet dropped in April, so today’s news isn’t a complete surprise.
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