Google I/O 2022 Unveils Pixel 6a, Pixel Watch, and New Earbuds
Google shifts focus to hardware at I/O 2022, revealing the budget Pixel 6a phone, its first-ever Pixel Watch, and the noise-canceling Pixel Buds Pro.
Google surprises attendees at its I/O 2022 keynote by focusing heavily on new hardware rather than just software. The standout device is the Pixel 6a, a budget-friendly smartphone costing $449 that includes the same powerful Tensor chip found in the flagship Pixel 6, enabling popular features like Magic Eraser. Consumers can pre-order the Pixel 6a on July 21 ahead of its official launch on July 28.
The tech giant also officially reveals the Pixel Watch, marking Google's first-ever entry into the smartwatch market. This new wearable runs Wear OS and integrates popular Fitbit health and fitness tracking features such as sleep monitoring and heart rate tracking, while also allowing users to control smart home devices directly from their wrists. Additionally, Google introduces the Pixel Buds Pro, a $199 pair of wireless earbuds that feature active noise cancellation and share the same late-July release window as the budget phone.
Beyond the immediate hardware releases, Google offers a brief sneak peek at the upcoming Pixel 7 phone and a Pixel Tablet slated for 2023. On the software side, the company highlights upcoming Android 13 features alongside major updates to Google Maps, which is getting an immersive search experience, and Google Search, which is expanding its multisearch capabilities to include location data and a new scene exploration tool.