by Google I/O 2023 is just around the corner. Can you believe it? Google’s annual developer conference serves as a showcase for the biggest and most interesting things the company is working on — including new Google Search tools, Android updates, and even upcoming hardware products.
Every year, Google I/O comes with more announcements than you can easily keep track of, and I/O 2023, scheduled for May 10, will likely be no different. But what news from this year’s conference we are most Look forward to? Here are some of the biggest and most exciting things we can expect to see at Google I/O 2023.
Android 14
If you’re at all interested in Android, the looming news surrounding Android 14 should be reason enough for you to be interested in Google I/O 2023. Android 14 has already been technically announced and released by Google, although in very early form. The first developer preview was released in early February, with the second developer preview coming a month later on March 8th.
But these first two Android 14 previews were just that — developer previews. They give developers a chance to start playing with the new software and prepare their applications for it. However, there have been very few user-facing changes that offer any reason to really get excited about Android 14. That will change at Google I/O 2023.
According to Google’s Android 14 release schedule, we should get the first public beta of Android 14 in April, followed by a second beta update in May (probably during I/O). This is when we should have a much better idea of Android 14’s biggest changes and updates. Google I/O 2021 is where Google first introduced Material You for Android 12 — which ended up to be one of the biggest visual overhauls Android has ever seen.
While we don’t expect anything that drastic with Android 14, that doesn’t mean Google won’t Anything it’s exciting to share the next version of Android. We already know that the update introduces new security and password features, better support for tablets and foldables, new battery saving tools and more. We should get a much better look at all of these things at I/O 2023, as well as a few things we don’t know about yet.
Google Pixel 7a
The Google Pixel 7a is expected to be Google’s next budget-oriented Pixel smartphone, and if previous I/O events are anything to go by, we’ll almost certainly see the 7a at I/O 2023.
According to the rumors, the Pixel 7a will have an updated design compared to its predecessor Pixel 6a. We’re expecting a 6.1-inch screen, a centered selfie camera hole, and the now-iconic camera bar on the back — this time in a different color to make the camera sensors stand out more, similar to the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro.
We should also get some exciting spec upgrades. Rumor has it that the Pixel 7a will ditch the old 60Hz screen refresh rate of its predecessors and instead use a smoother 90Hz refresh rate. There is also talk of wireless charging support, Google’s latest Tensor G2 chipset and a possible upgrade to 8GB of RAM.
If Google is offering these things for the same $449 price as the Pixel 6a, we should be in for something special. Expect the Pixel 7a to be fully announced at Google I/O 2023, with pre-orders and regular sales to follow later.
Google Pixel Tablet
The Pixel 7a isn’t the only piece of Pixel hardware we can expect to see at Google I/O 2023. Another device we should see make an appearance is the Pixel Tablet. Google first introduced the Pixel Tablet at Google I/O 2022 and previewed it again at the Pixel 7 launch event in October last year.
Now that it’s been about a year since we first saw the Pixel Tablet — and it’s set to launch sometime in 2023 — Google likely has something to say during I/O 2023. Whether it’s a closer look at the tablet’s design, confirmation of its specs, or more information about the speaker dock that turns it into a Nest Hub, there’s a lot that Google still hasn’t shared the Pixel Tablet.
Will the tablet actually be available for purchase at Google I/O 2023? It’s possible, but Google might as well wait until the fall to take that final step. Regardless, if you’ve been dying to learn more about the Pixel Tablet and what it can do, I/O 2023 should be where it finally happens.
Google Pixel Fold
If we’re lucky, Google could also use Google I/O 2023 to show off its long-awaited foldable smartphone for the first time. Currently referred to as the Pixel Fold, we’ve already seen mockups and mockups of the device — along with plenty of leaked specs.
The Pixel Fold is rumored to have a design not unlike the Oppo Find N2, including a 5.79-inch front display that’s shorter and wider than the Galaxy Z Fold 4. The internal display is expected to measure 7.69 inches and beat 120 Hz refresh rate. Google’s Tensor G2 chip is likely the processor, and we’re almost certainly getting a triple-camera setup on the back that’s said to be a “Pixel flagship camera” system.
It seems a little unlikely that Google will launch the Pixel Fold at Google I/O 2023, but there’s a good chance that Google will at least tease the phone, like it did with the Pixel 7 and Pixel Watch at Google I/O 2022.
Google Bard
Last but not least, Google I/O 2023 is sure to give us plenty of updates around Google Bard — Google’s answer to ChatGPT. In short, it’s an AI-powered chatbot that will be able to ask any question that comes to mind in a more natural way than you can currently interact with Google Search.
Google first introduced Bard on February 6, though the service is currently only available to a small group of beta testers. Google has confirmed that it’s rolling out Bard to more people in the coming weeks and months, and with Google I/O coming up in early May, we’re guaranteed to see more examples of what Bard can do — and we’ll learn when more people will be able to use it.
Editors’ recommendations
