The long-awaited Google Pixel Watch was finally unveiled at this year’s Google I/O, though the company was particularly cagey about its specifications. We didn’t actually get to hear a whole lot, aside from the fact that it was also going to be launching alongside the Pixel 7 series. Now, though, a new report from 9to5Google suggests that it’s going to pack the Exynos 9110, a chipset that launched four years ago.
While obviously it’s frustrating that Google isn’t packing the latest Exynos W920 chipset in its first smartwatch, there are likely reasons as to why. The most likely reason is that the Pixel Watch has been in development for a long, long, time. The company has been planning it since the very first Google Pixel smartphone, and rumors again picked up steam in 2018 ahead of the Pixel 3 series launch.
Given all of that, it’s very possible that this is being developed on older hardware because it’s technically an older device. As 9to5Google reports, the Pixel Watch began development on Android 9 Pie. If Google eventually switched to the Exynos W920, it could have delayed development even further.
It’s not all bad, though. The Exynos 9110 is built on a 10nm process, packing two Cortex-A53 cores. That means it’s more efficient than Qualcomm’s latest offering, and will hopefully pair nicely with the reported 300 mAh battery. For reference, Qualcomm’s latest wearable chip is the Snapdragon Wear 4100 Plus, produced on a 12nm process and packing four Cortex-A53 cores.
Really, the only issue in the case of the Pixel Watch is that it likely won’t be able to compete with the best of Samsung, with a Galaxy Watch 5 series expected to launch sometime before the Pixel Watch will. The Galaxy Watch 5 will likely pack, at minimum, an Exynos W920 which means that it’ll still beat the Exynos 9110, though probably not by a huge amount in real-world usage.
While it would be nice to have the latest and greatest chipset in Google’s first premier smartwatch outing, processors aren’t everything. We learned as much with the Google Pixel 6 series and how Google Tensor remained competitive against the current generation of chipsets thanks to Google’s optimisations, despite being based on a theoretically weaker Exynos chipset. We’ll be waiting to see if the rumors are true, and if so, what Google can pull off with an older chip.
On Wednesday, Google officially confirmed that it was making a Pixel Watch, but the provided preview was light on concrete specifications as availability is still some months away. 9to5Google has now learned that the Pixel Watch is powered by an Exynos chip that originally debuted with the Samsung Galaxy Watch from 2018.
According to a source, Google’s Pixel Watch is using the Exynos 9110, a Samsung chip that was first released in August of 2018.
Late last year, we reported that the Pixel Watch was mostly likely using a Samsung chipset. Many assumed that Google would be leveraging the just-announced Exynos W920 found on the Galaxy Watch 4. This would have given the Pixel Watch the benefit of the latest performance and efficiency associated with a 5 nanometer chip and Corex-A55 cores.
Instead, the Exynos 9110 is built on a 10nm process with two Cortex-A53 cores. This is similar to the Snapdragon Wear 4100+, though that Qualcomm chip is 12nm, which is, in turn, less efficient. With the launch of the W920, Samsung touted “CPU performance around 20-percent and ten times better graphics performance than its predecessor.”
Google is most likely using the older chip because the Pixel Watch project began some time ago. When early development on the Pixel Watch started, a time when the 9110 was new, it was based on Android 9 Pie before later switching to Android 11.
By the time the Exynos W920 was available – assuming Samsung is already selling to third-parties – switching chipsets might have delayed the Pixel Watch’s development and launch too much to warrant a core component change. As of what we know today, there’s nothing to suggest that is happening.
Nevertheless, it’s a shame that this long-awaited Pixel device is not using the absolute latest specs after all this time. The Exynos 9110 was first used on the original Samsung Galaxy Watch, which was released in Q3 2018. It’s also found on the 2019 Watch Active and Active 2, as well as the Galaxy Watch 3 from August of 2020. Due to Tizen, it’s not possible to make battery or performance comparisons.
Of course, the chipset is not everything. For that, we can even look at Google’s own Pixel 6, which bases its Tensor processor on a technically outdated chip compared to the latest Snapdragon offerings. Equally important is how Google optimizes the hardware. The big question is how this old chip impacts battery life. We previously reported that Pixel Watch would have a 300mAh battery.
For comparison, the Fossil Gen 6 has a similarly-sized battery and chipset (though at 12nm) and is officially said to get 24 hours, which is what we’ve also found. That’s also on Wear OS 2, which is supposedly less efficient on battery. Another consideration is how Google somewhat implied that the Snapdragon 4100+ is not enough to run Wear OS 3. Specifically, Google said that – “in some limited cases” – the user experience on existing 4100+ watches on Wear OS 2 will be “impacted” after the upgrade. It’s unclear if this impacts the Pixel Watch in any way as it’s launching with Wear OS 3 out of the box and should be fully optimized.
9to5Google’s Take
The Pixel Watch should launch this fall with the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro. It’s likely that Samsung will release its second-generation Wear OS device before then, and rumors have already said there will be a bigger battery, as that was a criticism compared to the Tizen wearables that came before. For those who want the absolute latest and best specs, the presumed “Galaxy Watch 5” might be the better purchase, to the Pixel Watch’s detriment. That said, Google’s software additions, like on Pixel phones, could provide a significant counter, and the Pixel Watch will presumably excel in health and fitness due to Fitbit.
Ben Schoon and Kyle Bradshaw contributed to this post
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With some Pixel 6 owners still facing issues, it seems that the Pixel 6a will use a different in-display fingerprint scanner for biometric security.
The removal of the capacitive fingerprint scanner would likely have been less irksome if the optical in-display scanner wasn’t so finicky and unreliable for many people. Updates have helped to improve the overall performance and accuracy but it’s worth noting that this has not resolved problems for every Pixel 6 or 6 Pro owner out there. In most cases, it will work, but multiple finger scans are needed before you can unlock your device effectively.
Thankfully, Google’s Rick Osterloh confirmed to Android Central that the Pixel 6a is set to use a different in-display fingerprint scanner than the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro. While this sounds great in principle, it’s not clear just yet if we’ll see a better quality or more accurate scanner on the Pixel 6a. Instead, it could simply be an alternative that helps keeps costs low on the $449 smartphone.
That said, we have high hopes for the device and if the Pixel 6a packs a faster, more accurate scanner than it’s more expensive counterparts, it could be a major plus point. Given that in-display scanner tech can vary from brand to brand, we do not expect Google to drift too far away from an optical reader. Samsung utilizes ultrasound in it’s flagship lines but offers optical in-display fingerprint readers on devices such as the Galaxy A-series smartphones.
Android Police previously noted that the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro currently utilize a Goodix fingerprint scanner for biometrics. This is the same firm that provides OnePlus devices with the same device security tech. It’s not clear if Google will source fingerprint scanners for the Pixel 6a from other manufacturers or if a different model will be used moving forward. Let’s just hope that it unlocks every single time you try to use it — something that can’t often be said of the flagship Pixel 6 or 6 Pro right now.
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Google announced its long-awaited Pixel Watch on Wednesday, furthering the tech giant’s expansion into hardware. The company teased its first smartwatch during its Google I/O conference but plans to reveal more details closer to the device’s fall launch.
The watch has a domed circular design, runs on Google’s Wear OS smartwatch software and includes some Fitbit health-tracking features. Google didn’t announce a price but said it will be sold as a premium product.
The Pixel Watch represents Google’s first major step into the smartwatch market, which saw shipments grow by 24% in 2021, according to Counterpoint Research. Google is a newcomer to this market. Rivals like Apple and Samsung lead the market and have been selling smartwatches for years. The company sees its new smartwatch as crucial to building its Pixel brand into a full ecosystem of products similar to those offered by Apple and Samsung, spanning phones, tablets, wireless earbuds and smartwatches.
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“You have your Pixel phone, you have your Pixel Buds, you have YouTube Music,” said Ramon Llamas, a research director for International Data Corporation, a market research firm. “And now all of a sudden, you see this more than we have in previous years, a much clearer head-on competitor to Apple.”
The announcement comes more than a year after Google’s acquisition of Fitbit closed in January 2021. While the Fitbit team is driving the development of the Pixel Watch, Google isn’t planning to merge the two product lines, according to Rick Osterloh, Google’s senior vice president of devices and services.
The Pixel Watch and Fitbit’s lineup of devices will instead complement one another, says James Park, Fitbit’s founder who now leads Google’s wearables division. Those who care about having more traditional smartwatch features like LTE support in addition to health tracking would likely opt for the Pixel Watch, while the Fitbit Charge would be ideal for consumers who care more about fitness and battery life.
“The great thing about combining Pixel and Fitbit is that we’re able to collectively offer these different devices,” Park said in an exclusive interview with CNET’s Scott Stein ahead of Google I/O. “People can pick and choose what’s best for them.”
Familiar Fitbit features like Active Zone Minutes, which measures the amount of time spent in certain heart rate ranges during exercise, will be available on the Pixel Watch. Like many of today’s smartwatches, the Pixel Watch will also track sleep and heart rate.
The company expects to add more Fitbit functionality in the future. “Over time, the Pixel Watch will have the most advanced health sensors,” Park said. “And we’ll be selective on how all those features come across the entire portfolio.”
Unlike the Pixel Watch, which will be Android-only, Fitbit’s products are compatible with iPhones too. Park said the company doesn’t have any plans to discontinue support for iOS users on Fitbit products. “It’s really important for the Fitbit lineup,” he said.
The Google Pixel Watch on a person’s wrist
Google
Popular Google apps like Maps, Wallet and Google Assistant will be part of the Pixel Watch, along with refreshed software that should feel “fluid” and “easy to navigate,” according to the company. The watch also has customizable bands and a tactile crown similar to the one found on the Apple Watch.
For Google, launching a new hardware product like the Pixel Watch isn’t necessarily about selling the most units, according to Tuong Nguyen, a senior principal analyst at market research firm Gartner. It’s about keeping people using Google’s apps and services, giving them a more prominent role in our lives. It’s a strategy that’s worked well for Apple.
“The hardware is like a delivery mechanism,” said Nguyen. “And we should, at least maybe in the short to medium term, focus more on what it can do.”
The company didn’t announce pricing, availability, feature details, battery life or other hardware specifics like the watch’s processor, health sensors or display type. These questions will likely be answered in the fall closer to the watch’s release.
Google already holds some influence over the smartwatch market thanks to its ownership of Fitbit and to its Wear OS software platform, which powers watches from Fossil and Samsung, among others. Google will be both a partner and competitor to these smartwatch makers once the Pixel Watch debuts. By launching its first smartwatch, Google will also have an opportunity to showcase what the ideal Android watch experience should be like, just as its Pixel phones do for Android smartphones.
The company is best known for its ubiquitous search engine and digital services, but it’s made a bigger push into hardware in recent years. The Pixel Watch will join Google’s current lineup of phones, smart home gadgets like thermostats and connected speakers, the Pixelbook Go laptop and Chromecast streaming devices. It’s also just one of several new hardware products in Google’s pipeline. The company announced on Wednesday the Pixel 6A and Pixel Buds Pro, both of which will be launching in July. It also previewed the Pixel 7, which will arrive in the fall, and a new Pixel tablet coming in 2023.
Google today previewed its first smartwatch ahead of a fall launch alongside the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro. In doing so, Google made note of how the Pixel Watch “requires an Android 8.0 or newer phone,” while foregoing any mention of iPhone support.
Wear OS 2 watches have long required “phones running Android 6.0+ (excluding Go edition) or iOS 13.0+.” The Galaxy Watch 4 had the same minimum Android requirement even as Samsung uses its own Galaxy Wearable companion app.
Compatible with Android 6.0 or higher, RAM 1.5GB above
Samsung
According to the fine print on the 16-second Pixel Watch “first look” clip, Android 8.0 Oreo from 2017 (compared to 2015’s Marshmallow) is required. In practical terms, excluding Android 6, 7, and 7.1 does not really exclude that many prospective Pixel Watch owners.
Meanwhile, Google makes no mention of iPhone support for the Pixel Watch. This is similar to how the Galaxy Watch 4 was the first Wear OS device since 2015 to not be compatible with iOS. It remains to be seen whether this will also be the case for new third-party watches running Wear OS 3 later this year.
This comes as an interview with Fitbit founder James Park on Wednesday said that the company’s smartwatches and trackers would continue working with iOS. Park didn’t have anything to say about the Pixel Watch and iPhone, but that lack of support does give Fitbit a cross-platform differentiator.
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The culmination of Google’s $2.1 billion acquisition of Fitbit is here, with the Pixel Watch officially coming later this year with a fully integrated Fitbit experience. What does that mean for Google Fit? We’ve been curious to know for a while, but it seems Fitbit and Google Fit only have plans to co-exist.
In an interview with the folks at CNET, Fitbit founder James Park answered a few burning questions regarding Fitbit’s first foray into providing its health software for hardware that lacks its name. In case you missed it earlier today, the Google Pixel Watch will ship with Fitbit as its health suite, complete with sleep tracking, heart rate tracking, active minutes, and more.
But a big question around this has been what happens to Google Fit with Fitbit in the picture. After all, the two apps essentially have the same goal, and Google Fit has run the show on Wear OS for years as the platform’s go-to health suite. Apparently, Google has no immediate plans to shelve Fit, Park says.
I think for now, Google Fit and the Fitbit app are just going to continue as is — I don’t think we want to interrupt the experience for either set of users. Both user groups, which are fairly substantial, like the app they are using for a variety of reasons. For now, we don’t see any reason to change that.
It’s been quite clear for a while that Google hasn’t fully figured out what to do with Fit and Fitbit, with products like the Nest Hub 2nd Gen and its Soli-powered sleep tracking sitting in limbo for a while as a result. But it seems, for the time being, this is the situation we’re going to stick with, for better or worse.
Park’s interview brings up some other interesting tidbits about the Pixel Watch experience with Fitbit. He said that Fitbit wants to “bring as much of the benefits of Fitbit to Pixel” as possible, and that “it’ll work both ways” with Google services plugging into the Fitbit experience. As far as sensors go, Park couldn’t share exactly what the Pixel Watch will offer, but that the “goal is to bring the most advanced sensors across the entire portfolio.” Previously, we noted that it appears the Pixel Watch shares its health sensors with the Fitbit Charge 5.
You can read the full interview for more of Park’s thoughts on the Pixel Watch and how it ties into Fitbit, and our coverage for more information about the Pixel Watch itself.
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Google has unveiled a new-and-improved version of the Google Pixel Buds called the Google Pixel Buds Pro that are going on sale for pre-order on July 21 2022.
Like the Apple AirPods Pro, Google has equipped its latest true wireless earbuds with multipoint connectivity that allows them to pair with multiple devices simultaneously, active noise cancellation with a passthrough transparency mode and, coming later this year, spatial audio support.
That said, Google has its own tricks that even Apple doesn’t have: the Pixel Buds Pro will still offer live translation for over two dozen languages and come with the Google Assistant built-in that will allow you to control your smart home.
Even better, they’ll only cost $199 / AU$299 (around £160) when they become available to everyone on July 28.
Analysis: Finally, a pair of Pixel Buds we can get behind
(Image credit: Future)
The Pixel Buds have always been a decent option for Pixel phone owners, but didn’t exactly set the world of true wireless earbuds ablaze. Lacking active noise cancellation and sound performance, Google’s earbuds were just very mediocre.
With the Pixel Buds Pro, Google seems intent to change that opinion with a slew of new features, a revamped design and, of course, active noise cancellation.
The Buds that Google debuted at Google IO are slightly larger than their predecessors – a result of Google including more microphones and a larger battery inside the casing. While they’re bigger, Google says its team has done its homework to make sure that they’re still comfortable to wear for hours on end thanks to a new sensor that measures pressure build up in the ear canal.
The extra comfort will be crucial to Google convincing us that the Pixel Buds are ready to take on their Apple-made alter egos, as will their support for spatial audio that Google says won’t be ready until later this year.
Should Google get everything right with the Pixel Buds Pro, Android fans will have a new de facto pair of earbuds to go with their new Google Pixel 7.
With less than 30 minutes before I/O 2022 is set to begin, an official render of the Pixel 6a has leaked.
Evan Blass tweeted out a picture of the Pixel 6a with its dual-camera (12.2MP dual-pixel wide + 12MP ultrawide) array in a pill-shaped configuration. Magic Eraser, Real Tone, and Face Unblur are supported, while there’s up to 4K 60FPS video recording on the rear camera.
Otherwise, it looks like the smaller Pixel 6, though everything looks less sharp and more rounded.
There’s a 6.1-inch 60Hz display with 20:9 aspect ratio that’s protected by just Gorilla Glass 3, while there’s always-on display (AOD) support as usual. The bezels are slightly thicker. It’s powered by a Google Tensor chip, as we reported, with 6GB of RAM and Titan M2 for security. Meanwhile, there’s an under-display fingerprint sensor.
The 4,306mAh battery (with fast charging offered) is rated for “over 24-hour battery life,” or up to 72 hours with Extreme Battery Saver. Other notable specs include Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) and 6E (6GHz) with MIMO and Bluetooth 5.2 with “dual antennas for enhanced quality and connection.” There are stereo speakers and two microphones.
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We have spotted the Chromecast with Google TV running on the Android 12 operation system on Geekbench along with more details.#GoogleIO https://t.co/EAMfrjR2UBMay 11, 2022
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OK, so this could be big. Mysmartprice has apparently spotted a Chromecast with Google TV device running on Android 12 on Geekbench.
Given that the existing 2020 model of the device still runs on Android TV OS 10, this listing likely means one of two things — either Google is testing the current version so it can get an upgrade to Android 12 later this year, or there’s a new Chromecast with Google TV model coming soon.
Both seem plausible, but we heard rumors in January that a new Chromecast with Google TV could be coming later this year, so for now let’s say that the latter option seems more likely.
That said, owners of the existing model would presumably hope it’s the former, as Android 12 support could bring a host of new features including 4K UI support and refresh rate switching. Hopefully we’ll find out soon either way.
(Image credit: Waqar Khan/Let’s Go Digital)
Google has long been rumored to be working on a Pixel Fold device to go up against Samsung’s best foldable phones, and it’s possible we could see a glimpse today of Google’s first foldable. Or at the very least we could learn more about new foldable phone software features in Android 13.
Meanwhile, Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 4 is expected to debut in August, and today some new Galaxy Z Fold 4 renders have appeared that show off the design from all angles.
Google I/O 2022- Google is expected to launch the Pixel 6A 5G Smartphone- Google may tease the Pixel Watch + Wear OS 3- What’s New in Android 13 + Upcoming Features- Android 13 could get a new Beta (Beta 2) + We may see A13 Beta for Non-Pixel Devices#GoogleIO #Android13 pic.twitter.com/6whz35l3sKMay 11, 2022
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TechDroider has a quick summary on Twitter of what to expect at Google I/O 2022 today, and it lines up with what we’ve heard. This includes the launch of the Pixel 6a phone and a possible tease of the Google Pixel Watch. So even though the watch may be shown today for the first time, it may not ship until the fall.
The tweet also says that we may see Android 13 Beta 2 rolling out and a build of Android 13 for non-Pixel devices. However, we would caution loading the beta on your primary phone.
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide/91mobiles/OnLeaks)
If the Google Pixel 6a debuts today it will inevitably be compared to the new iPhone SE 2022. And that’s because both Google and Apple will be vying for having the best cheap phone on the market. Well, the best cheap phone under $500.
Our Pixel 6a vs iPhone SE 2022 preview shows you how these phones are stacking up so far based on rumors and our iPhone SE 2022 review. Apple’s phone is a pint-sized powerhouse, but the Pixel 6a should have a much larger display (6.2 vs 4.7 inches), an ultra-wide camera (the iPhone SE has just one) and a smoother 90Hz display.
Stay tuned for more info.
Get your game face ready… 🤩🕹We teamed up with @Firebase on #IOPinball, a #GoogleIO game that is open to anyone to play and share throughout I/O! Can you get the high score? 👀Start playing 👉🏾 https://t.co/lASj2dge54 pic.twitter.com/ZFpKzI4Yp0May 11, 2022
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What better way to pass the time between now and when the Google I/O 2022 keynote begins than a little pinball? The developer Flutter has teamed with with Firebase to released #IOPinball. This Google I/O game is open to anyone to play, and it actually plays well on my MacBook Pro.
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)
With Google’s Wear OS 3 expected to get some stage time at Google I/O 2022 today, you may be wondering if your Android watch can run the software. Our Kate Kozuch has put together this handy Wear OS 3 smartwatch eligibility guide so you can check.
(Image credit: Front Page Tech)
That prototype leak was just one of the many around the new Pixel Watch; keeping up with them has been almost a full-time job these past few months.
Fortunately, you don’t need to wade through hundreds of articles in order to know what to expect, because we’ve pulled together the 5 biggest Google Pixel Watch rumors so far in one handy primer.
(Image credit: Android Central)
The Google Pixel Watch is a strong candidate to be revealed at I/O 2022 today, bringing to an end a lengthy wait for the company’s first wearable.
While we don’t know for sure what it will look like or what its specs will be, we have a pretty good idea due to a multitude of leaks over the past few months.
The biggest of these, a couple of weeks ago, came when a Pixel Watch prototype was reportedly left in a restaurant. Yes, really. Assuming the images are genuine, it looks to be an attractively curved smartwatch with a near-bezel-less design and a couple of hardware buttons on the side.
(Image credit: Shutterstock)
If you want a stealth candidate for a Google product to make news at I/O, look no further than Maps, one of the software giant’s more popular programs. Maps has made frequent appearances at I/O keynotes over the years, as the crowd seems to get fired up by a helpful app gaining even more features.
Off the top of my head, the past few I/O keynotes have seen Maps add Google Assistant, adapt an incognito mode and work AR-guided navigation into Live View. What could be on tap for 2022? Your guess is as good as mine, but I’d predict something that leverages all that data Google’s collected about people and places to fuel some new Maps capability.
There’s one hardware rumor that I don’t think will pan out for Google I/O 2022 and it involves the supposedly imminent launch of the Pixel Buds Pro.
A few weeks back, leaker Jon Prosser said that the Pixel Buds Pro were set to debut soon, and even listed some colorways the wireless earbuds would appear in. Prosser didn’t specifically mention I/O in his tweet, but at the time, the developer conference seemed soon enough to fit the bill.
Google Pixel Buds Pro coming 🔜Real Red, Carbon, Limoncello, FogMay 3, 2022
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There’s only one problem with that line of thinking — we haven’t heard many details about the earbuds themselves. And that’s usually as good a sign as any that a launch won’t happen any time soon. The more rumors you hear about a product, the closer you are to a launch, at least in my experience.
Then again, given my experience with tech predictions, don’t be surprised should Sundar Pichai stride to the Google I/O stage today sporting a pair of Pixel Buds Pro.
(Image credit: Google)
As for potential Tensor powers, I tackled that topic a few weeks back when I wrote about the Pixel 6 features I hope to find in the Pixel 6a. Let’s just say that Magic Eraser — the tool for one-tap removals of unwanted objects and people from photos — had best make the grade.
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)
To my way of thinking, there are two intriguing things about the Pixel 6a, which may or may not show up at Google I/O today. For starters, what will adding the Tensor chip to the Pixel 6a enable the budget phone to do? And how does the Pixel 6a stack up against the Samsung Galaxy A53?
The answer to the first question probably helps supply the answer to Question No. 2. Should it arrive now, the Pixel 6a appears at a time when it’s the Samsung phone that can claim to be better value among Android handsets, at least if our Galaxy A53 vs. Pixel 5a face-off is anything to go by. The Pixel 6a has its work cut out for it to topple the A53, and Google’s usual expertise with photography will only go so far.
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)
My colleague Jordan Palmer has been spending a lot of time with Android 13, and he goes into today’s keynote hoping that Google addresses a thorny issue — just what exactly third-party apps can track about you on Android.
If you read Jordan’s Android 13 wish list, you’ll find that he thinks the solution to what ails Android lies in Apple’s approach to the same issue with its iPhones.
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)
Google I/O is traditionally Android’s coming out party, with Google showing off its upcoming software update during the I/O keynote, and kicking off a beta process that culminates in a release of the next version of Android toward the end of summer.
Android 13 may well launch in the same time frame later this year, but you can already get the first beta of this software update, provided you have a Pixel phone. Nevertheless, we’d expect Android 13 to get a big showcase during today’s keynote, especially if Google wants to talk up any features that haven’t gotten much attention yet.
Good morning, and welcome to Tom’s Guide’s Google I/O 2022 live blog. We’ll keep you up to date on all the latest news from the conference as it happens — so bookmark this page and check back regularly.
This coming week could introduce us to the Google Pixel 6a, if rumors about Google’s launch plans for its next budget phone are to be believed. Google’s hosting its annual Google I/O developer conference starting on Wednesday (May 11), and a lot of Google watchers believe the Pixel 6a will be one of the stars of the event’s opening keynote.
Google Pixel 6a rumored specs
Screen size: 6.2-inch OLED Refresh rate: 60Hz or 90Hz CPU: Tensor Rear cameras: 12MP main; 12MP ultrawide Front camera: 8MP Battery size: 4,800 mAh Wired charging speed: 30W
Introducing a lower-cost version of its Pixel phone during a developer conference isn’t out of character for Google. After all, that’s where the original Pixel A-Series phone, the Pixel 3a, made its debut in 2019. And a number of signs have emerged strongly suggesting a phone launch is imminent, not the least of which is the Pixel 6a showing up recently at the FCC for regulatory approval.
Should the Pixel 6a arrive as expected, it’s coming into a crowded market for affordably priced midrange models. Apple has already introduced the $429 iPhone SE (2022), which undercuts the price of the currently available Pixel 5a by $20. There’s also the matter of Samsung’s Galaxy A53, which actually edged out Google’s current budget flagship in our Galaxy A53 vs. Pixel 5a face-off. So the Pixel 6a has some work cut out of it, if Google wants this to be the sub-$500 phone we recommend.
Fortunately, Pixel 6a rumors suggest that Google’s not sitting back on its laurels. A number of big changes are rumored for the upcoming phone, and if those rumors pan out, the Pixel 6a could rapidly rise up the list of best cheap phones.
Here’s what you need to know about what’s potentially coming to the Google Pixel 6a ahead of that phone’s launch, and how likely that change is to happen.
1. A brand new processor
Previous Pixel A-Series phones have used Qualcomm’s Snapdragon silicon, usually from the chip maker’s 6- or 7-series lineup of midrange chipsets. They’ve delivered solid if not spectacular performance, but nothing that’s caused previous models to really stand out.
That could change with the Pixel 6a, which is in line to get the same Tensor system-on-chip that Google included with last fall’s Pixel 6 phones. Tensor isn’t necessarily a powerhouse itself, trailing the A15 Bionic that Apple uses in the latest iPhone SE in benchmark testing. But Tensor comes with a dedicated machine learning core that drives many of the unique capabilities found on the Pixel 6.
(Image credit: Google)
These ML-inspired features include the Pixel 6’s ability to screen incoming calls and transcribed dictated text messages on the fly, even with the correct punctuation. Should Google add a Tensor chipset to the Pixel 6a, those capabilities would be available in the budget phone, too. And that would give Google a leg up on the Pixel 6a’s sub-$500 competition. Right now, we’d be willing to bet that the addition of Tensor to the Pixel 6a will be the budget phone’s most noteworthy feature.
2. A new design
The processor inside of the Pixel 6 wasn’t the only thing to change about that phone. The Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro also sport a distinctive look, with a horizontal camera bar that stretches across the width of the phone. Admittedly, it’s not a universally loved look, but it certainly helps the latest Pixel flagships stand out amid a sea of fairly identical smartphones.
Pixel 6a dummy unit with the Pixel 6’s horizontal camera bar (Image credit: Fathom Braceles / xleaks7)
The past three iterations of the Pixel A-Series phone haven’t been known for their looks, either, but that could change should Google introduce a Pixel 6-inspired make-over to the Pixel 6a.
This is more than wishful thinking on our part. Leaked dummy units and renders suggest the Pixel 6a is taking its design cues from the Pixel 6. And that would certainly be consistent with how Google had handled the look of its past budget phones, drawing on the more expensive flagships for inspiration. As with the Tensor chip rumor, we think this one’s likely to happen.
3. A bigger battery compared to the Pixel 5a
It’s been a long time since a phone from Google landed on the best phone battery life list. The Pixel 5a certainly missed out last year, turning in an average result on our battery test, in which we have phones surf the web until they run out of power. The Pixel 5a lasted for 9 hours and 45 minutes when we tested it. A good time is closer to 10.5 hours, while a great time hits the 11.5-hour mark.
Pixel 5a (Image credit: Tom’s Guide)
We won’t know if the Pixel 6a can improve on the Pixel 5a’s performance until we get a chance to test the phone. (And, of course, Google needs to announce the phone first.) But one rumor suggests that Google’s taking steps to bolster battery life on its budget phone. Reportedly, the Pixel 6a will feature a 4,800 mAh power pack.
That would be a modest upgrade over the Pixel 5a’s 4,680 mAh battery. But assuming better power-management features from the Tensor silicon, even a little increase to battery size might help the Pixel 6a outlast its predecessor.
You should be able to charge the new Google phone more quickly at least. That same rumor promising a bigger battery also points to a boost in wired charging speed, from 18W to 30W. That’s a little harder to believe, just because Google might prefer to differentiate between its flagship and budget devices.
4. New photo features
First some bad news about the cameras on the Pixel 6a — they’re not changing much the Pixel 5a’s. Unofficial specs at this point claim that the Pixel 6a will feature a 12MP wide angle camera and a 12MP ultrawide angle lens; those compare to 12MP and 16MP sensors for the Pixel 5a. The megapixel count on the ultrawide angle may be rumored to drop, but pixel size could increase for the Pixel 6a, which means the phone will be able to let in more light for sharper pictures.
Magic Eraser in action (Image credit: Google)
Even if that’s the only hardware change to the Pixel 6a’s cameras, things still should be all right, since the Pixel 5a ranked among the best camera phones, particularly for a device that costs less than $500. The real benefit would be the Tensor-powered photo features that appear on the Pixel 6a, such as the Pixel 6’s Magic Eraser tool for removing unwanted objects or people from the background of photos. Other Pixel 6 photo features like the Motion Mode blur effect may not make their way to the Pixel 6a, some leakers claim. We hope that particular claim is off the mark.
5. A fast-refreshing display
This potential Pixel 6a is up in the air, with different leakers backing different rumors. In the one corner, you have rumors that claim the Pixel 6a’s display will feature the same 60Hz refresh rate as the Pixel 5a. However, another rumor has picked up steam as we get closer to the Pixel 6a launch, claiming that the new phone will pick up a 90Hz refresh rate, just like the Pixel 6. The Pixel 6 Pro would continue to be Google’s only phone with an adaptive 120Hz screen.
It’s hard to tell which rumor has it right at this point. Boosting the refresh rate on the 6a would give it a leg up on the iPhone SE, which uses a traditional 60Hz panel, while also trying to keep up with the Galaxy A53 and its 120Hz screen.
On the other hand, you can see why Google might want to reserve a fast refresh rate as a feature for its flagship devices, especially if the Pixel 6 is going to remain $120 more expensive than the Pixel 6a. In other words, stay tuned to see which direction Google goes with its display.
Pixel 6a outlook
Assuming rumors of a Google I/O launch aren’t off the mark, we won’t have to wait long to see which of these key Pixel 6a rumors will become a reality. We’ll also be watching closely to see if Google holds the line on the Pixel 5a’s $449 price with its new phone.
Pricing rumors suggest that the Galaxy 6a is likely to cost the same as its predecessor, which would mean that it would also match the price of the Galaxy A53. The iPhone SE would continue to be the lower cost option, but as the above features would imply, there’s more to the Pixel 6a than just its likely sub-$500 price tag.
