Here’s Every Gadget Google Announced At I/O 2023
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Google unveiled a trio of gadgets and new software and AI initiatives at its opening keynote at its annual developer conference, Google I/O, on May 11.
More specifically, Google announced the Pixel 7a, Pixel Fold and Pixel Tablet. All three, of course, are powered by Android and round out Google’s hardware ecosystem.
Ahead we’re breaking down all the details about each device and tell you when and where you buy the new gadgets.
Pixel 7a: What You Need to Know
Google announced the $499 Pixel 7a. It’s a slightly smaller and less capable version of the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro, that’s more affordably priced. And better yet, it’s the only device Google announced today that you can buy right now and get delivered shortly thereafter.
The Pixel 7a has a 6.1-inch display that now boasts an up to 90Hz refresh rate (up from 60Hz on the Pixel 6a). On the back of the phone is a dual camera setup made up of a 64-megapixel main camera and a 13-megapixel ultra wide camera. Both should deliver crisp, vibrant photos that you can frame in unique ways. There’s also a 13-megapixel front-facing camera that enables the Pixel’s Face Unlock feature to unlock your phone with facial recognition.
I’ve been using the Pixel 7a for over a week now and found it to be worth every penny of the $499 price tag. You can read my full review on TheStreet here and if you’re already sold it’s up for order immediately. Over at Amazon you can even score a $50 gift card for free with the purchase.
- Pixel 7a in Snow, Charcoal or Sea with $50 Gift Card ($499.99 at Amazon)
- Pixel 7a with 5G mmWave in Snow, Charcoal or Sea ($549.99 at Verizon)
Or if you’re looking for a killer deal on a Pixel phone, Google also announced that the Pixel 6a is staying in the lineup at $350. You can see our review of the Pixel 6a on TheStreet.
Pixel Fold: What You Need to Know
Google’s first smartphone with a foldable display is here. Well, almost. The Android maker announced the $1,799 Pixel Fold during the opening keynote. It’s a phone we’d seen in various leaks and rumors over the last few months, including Google pre-announcing the phone last week.
The Fold opens like a book, just like Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 4. There are two different displays. One on the outside that measures 5.8-inches, and an inside display that’s 7.6-inches. You can think of the front screen as a standard phone, where you can quickly send messages, browse Instagram, or check your e-mail.
But for those times when you want to multitask or watch videos on a larger screen, you just have to open the Fold and the tablet-like display is waiting for you. Google is promising most in-house apps as well as a couple dozen third-parties will be optimized for the larger screen. Similar to Z Fold 4, you can split the screen as well.
The Fold comes with 12GB of memory and either 256GB or 512GB of storage. It’s powered by the same Google Tensor G2 processor that’s found in every current generation Pixel device such as the Pixel 7a, Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro and the Pixel Tablet (more on that in a minute).
Unliked Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold line, Google’s not shying away from the camera capabilities of the Pixel Fold. On the back of the phone is a 48-megapixel main camera, a 10.8-megapixel ultra-wide angle camera and a 10.8-megapixel telephoto camera.
The front-facing camera is 9.5-megapixels, and, finally, there’s an inner display camera that comes in at 8-megapixels.
Google will begin taking preorders for the $1,799 Pixel Fold soon and is throwing in a free Pixel Watch with each preorder. Google didn’t reveal the launch date of the Fold, however Verizon will start taking preorders starting June 20, with deliveries slated to start a week later, on June 27. So we have to imagine that Google will start shipping the Fold around that same time.
If you’re after a foldable now and don’t want to wait till June, we’d consider the Galaxy Z Fold 4, which you can see our review of here.
Pixel Tablet: What You Need to Know
Last but certainly not least is the Pixel Tablet. That’s right, Google’s making a return to Android-powered tablets. They’re taking a different approach this time, though. The $499 Pixel Tablet is more than just a large Android phone, as was the case with the Nexus 7 years ago.
Instead, Google spent the last few years optimizing Android for foldable phones and tablets, and has 50 of its own apps ready to take full advantage of the Tablet’s extra screen space. It’s powered by the Tensor G2 Chip—the same powering the Pixel 7 trio and the Pixel Fold—and features a vibrant, 11-inch screen with stereo speakers and long battery.
And when you’re not using the Pixel Tablet, Google includes a Charging Speaker Dock that magnetically holds the Tablet in place. As its name implies, the dock will charge the tablet and double as a speaker, providing 4x the bass when the tablet is docked.
Additionally, the Tablet will work more like Google’s Nest Hub smart display, allowing you to watch shows, Cast video or music from your phone to the tablet, or control your smart home devices.
If you like taking your Google Meet calls from a tablet, the Pixel Tablet has a cool trick you’ll want to try: You can replace your background with various 360-degree backgrounds. Meaning you can hold up the tablet and spin in a circle and to the participants in the meeting, it’ll appear you’re surrounded by your background.
You can preorder the $499.99 Pixel Tablet right now, with deliveries currently scheduled for June 20.
- Pixel Tablet in Rose, Hazel, or Porcelain, 128GB ($499.99 at Amazon)
- Pixel Tablet in Rose, Hazel, or Porcelain, 256GB ($599 at Amazon)
Prices are accurate and items in stock at time of publishing.