Over the years, Google I / O has largely focused on software that affects the Google universe. From Android to ChromeOS to Google Network Assistant, Google I / O is basically a developer conference. Yes, event hardware has been announced and even distributed in the past, but this is the exception: it is not the norm.
In 2019, Google chose to introduce the Pixel 3a, but although this phone set the trend for annual updates of the Pixel 4a and Pixel 5a in the coming years, these subsequent phones were not announced at the I / O. And yes, Google announced the original Google Home of Google I / O 2016 and also distributed Chromebook Pixels to everyone in 2013, but apart from these few examples, I / O hardware has been few and far between each year.
And that can be expected, right? After all, this is a software developers’ conference, not a hardware event. Still, every year we hope that Google will finally take the lead in Apple’s WWDC and start using this big, very public event to announce at least a few of the products that best represent this software. And every year we are usually disappointed.
This year, more than anyone I can remember, there is a lot of noise about the hardware created by Google, which “seems likely to start” in Google I / O, and every minute I become more skeptical as the main note approaches. We’ll have our answers in about a day, but for now we’re all wondering if this will be the year Google uses this big stage to announce a few products that – frankly – shouldn’t be running until October for a hardware event. That said, let’s look at all the possibilities from the most to the least likely to appear in my opinion.
Most likely: Pixel 6a
Of all the things that go into Google’s hardware portfolio, the Pixel 6a makes the most sense to get Google I / O’s attention. Pixel 3a was announced on Google I / O and the fact that it is an integral part of the hardware for Android, Chrome and Google Assistant makes it very easy for Google to connect to join this event. All the leaks are there and it is clear that this phone is approaching the market, so I / O makes a lot of sense.
Somewhat likely: a message about Pixel Watch
The Pixel Watch is just as excited and as expired as the Pixel 6a, but the connections aren’t as deep. Of course, there may be a section in the main note about Wear OS, and people will lose their minds if Google just annoys Pixel Watch, but I don’t think that’s a preconceived conclusion yet. There are still rumors that we will at least see a joke or a message this week, but I could also see Google holding this until the fall.
Possible, but unlikely: a new Nest Hub
The new Nest Hub is supposed to be a detachable device that could be a wild new form factor for Google’s home hardware, but the lack of recent activity or leaks around it makes me doubt it will break Google’s I / O 2022 coverage We heard a report in March about this device, but not much since. No matter how much we see a leak of major editions from Google, I would expect a little more action around it, and it just wasn’t there. Possible? Sure. probably? Not exactly.
Unlikely: Chromecast with Google TV HD
Similarly, rumors of a Chromecast with Google TV HD have not been very common since it was unveiled in January. This lowered but cheaper Google TV device will probably do well when it arrives, but I could see Google release this in a post on The Keyword and just send it to stores over time. I would be surprised to see much of the announcement of any event for this device, so taking up most of my time in Google I / O is unlikely at this time.
Unlikely: Pixel Buds Pro
Finally, we have Pixel Buds Pro. While I’m 100% excited to hear that Google is working on an appropriate upgrade to the buggy Pixel Buds, it’s very unlikely that a product we haven’t heard of until last week will be released on a non-hardware specific event. I may be wrong, but time is simply off and the headset is simply not related to the software hardware you would expect to see at a developer conference. Without going through things like Bluetooth SIG and FCC, it’s unlikely to see Google even mention these headphones until the fall.
There is so much about Google I / O that is exciting every year that has nothing to do with hardware, and we look forward to seeing what Google is announcing in this year’s version. As always, there are many sessions and a few key notes that will probably be full of all sorts of software updates, so the next few days will be very busy here. The first keynote speech starts at 13:00 EST / 10:00 PST and you can watch along with everyone else on YouTube or on the Google I / O 2022 website. We will be there for sure!
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