Mike Peterson
Google has announced a number of new products and software at its annual I/O conference, including the long-rumored Pixel 6a, the Pixel Watch, a pair of Pixel Buds Pro with Active Noise Cancellation, and new versions of Android and Wear OS.
After months of rumors about a first-party Google smartwatch, the company has officially released the Pixel Watch. The device is essentially the Android version of the Apple Watch, with swappable bands, heart rate monitoring, and a sleek rounded case with a rotating crown. Unlike Apple's wearable, it sports a circular design.
The device largely serves as a showcase for Google's new Wear OS 3 operating system. The new update brings more Fitbit activity tracking integration, as well as improved navigation and performance, support for third-party app widgets, and broader customization for smartwatch manufacturers.
The Google Pixel Watch will come in Black, Gray, and Gold color ways. It will debut in the fall.
Pixel 6a
Alongside the Pixel Watch, Google has also unveiled its latest midrange smartphone, the Pixel 6a. The 6.2-inch device uses the same Tensor chip and general aesthetic as the flagship Pixel 6, but retains a 12-megapixel camera instead of the Pixel 6's high-end 50-megapixel setup.
Along with its new design and improved processor, the device also sports an under-display fingerprint sensor, faster mmWave 5G support, and no headphone jack.
The Pixel 6a will ship running Android 13, the latest iteration of Google's smartphone operating system. Android 13 brings incremental changes to the platform, including an expansion of Google's Material Design philosophy and improved media playback controls.
Additionally, Android 13 also introduces support for Google's answer to spatial audio, additional privacy features to lock down user data, and quicker Bluetooth pairing for connected headphones.
The Pixel 6a will be available to preorder on July 21. It will retail for $449.
Pixel Buds Pro & More
Google also unveiled new Pixel Buds Pro earbuds that bring active noise cancellation to the company's lineup of headphones. Like Apple's AirPods Pro, the device also sports a transparency mode that allows users to hear what's going on around them.
The company says the Pixel Buds Pro will last 11 hours on a charge, or seven hours with ANC enabled. They'll also support connectivity and automatic audio switching with a range of Android products.
They will retail for $199 and become available for preorder on July 21.
Additionally, Google also gave a sneak peek at a new Pixel tablet coming in 2023 and a pair of AR glasses — though it offered very few details about the latter device.
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15 Comments
That's what I call a border. The round shape is already inefficient, with this huge bezel....
Google basically looked at the Apple Watch and asked, "how can we copy it's design without being obvious?" And their answer was "oh let's just make a round Apple watch"!
Why even buy into this knockoff ecosystem?
At least their watch isn’t a knockoff as far as design goes.
Always sad to see how other companies are still playing the “make it the same but give it a twist” game when it comes to designing their devices. You can see apple’s design solutions through all of the accessories. Why can’t a company as big as google actually differentiate and offer something new.