On May 11, Google I/O 2022, the most important event of the year for the entire Android ecosystem, begins. The keynote will be the talk that brings together major Google announcements, and it’s a conference primarily for developersSignificant developments are expected in the hardware field.

It seems obvious that Android 13 will be the big hero summary of the event and those days: The next version of this operating system will raise its big bets for the coming months, but as we said, these announcements may be overshadowed by two highly anticipated devices: Pixel 6a and the almost legendary Pixel Watch.

It already smells like tiramisu

This year we may have an Android version that is a little less important in the news than previous versions. This is because there are big changes to the interface we saw last year with the design language called Material You. Not only that: after Android 12, Google recently introduced Android 12L for tablets and foldables.

Although Android 12L is a very different version of Android 12, working on said variant could soon lead to Android 13 —codename tiramisu– not so remarkable for its innovations. At least in the section where there is a visual experience, it actually takes time to reach many devices.

HE IS doesn’t mean there won’t be interesting turning points: Our Xataka Android colleagues have already tested the pre-release for developers and highlighted, for example, the new management of permissions to access storage, which will force apps to ask for permission to send notifications.

Talking about potential Android Beam rotation To transfer files wirelessly between devices or scan QR code directly from lock screen.

Google Pixel 6a

The slightly less promising Android version in terms of the magnitude of the changes seems to leave the road open, this time the protagonist of the launch event isn’t actually software. but hardware.

This is where the two devices that have been talked about a lot in recent months come into play. first one Google Pixel 6aIt is the most affordable version of the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, which Google introduced in October.

This smartphone will have more modest specs, but we all hope that there will be no sacrifices in cameras. theoretically they would be the same as the Pixel 6..

We might even have the same Tensor chip, so interruptions are expected on the screen and in parts like refresh rate. can stay 60hz compared to the 90 and 120 Hz we found on the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, respectively.

Pixel Watch (and Wear OS 3.1)

we were talking about how Google neglected the smartwatch segment. This event looks like it will be important in this sense and we may receive some remarkable news in terms of both hardware and software.

Source: Jon Prosser.

For a start, Everything points to the fact that we will finally see the Pixel WatchThe long-awaited smartwatch by Google, which will do in this market what Pixels has done in the field of smartphones: try to set a benchmark and a path for the rest of the manufacturers.

rumors accumulating In the last few weeks, but at the same time, someone left a model of this smartwatch in a bar, and it seems clear that the launch is imminent. There aren’t many details about its hardware – it looks like it will have a 300mAh battery and a capacity of up to 32GB, which is pretty amazing – but we do know something about its software.

In fact, this Pixel Watch It will mark the debut of Wear OS 3.1In theory, Samsung and Google will go further than the joint effort the company announced at past Google I/O. There will likely be a clear focus on health and even an electrocardiogram function is expected to be integrated. The price could be high and could be around 400 Euros.

But at this Google I/O we can only attend a short presentation: according to this According to analyst Jon Prosser, the Pixel Watch will be announced in October alongside the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro.

Nest Hub and Pixel Fold (or not) on the horizon

Also, two more options are mentioned as surprises of the day, though not more likely. First, a Nest Hub with a detachable screen We can use it as a tablet with Android 13.

Second, this folding pocket The long-talked and strictly folding operating system called Pixel Fold will take advantage of Android 12L. Recent news seems to make it clear that Google has abandoned the project.

Neither of these two options is safe, but we expect Google to talk a lot about Android 13. Pixel 6a and (somewhat, at least) Pixel Watch.

We will confirm these predictions in a few days: at Xataka, we will cover in detail the keynote conference that will take place at Xataka. next May 11 at 19:00 CEST.