6 reveals to be seen at Google’s Pixel event in August

It’s summer and all the big brands are bringing out the latest. We saw Motorola announce the new Moto Razr and Razr+, while Samsung confirmed its Galaxy Unpacked event for July 10, where new foldables and smartwatches are expected. However, the company that caught us all by surprise is Google, which announced a Pixel hardware event for August 13, 2024.

This in-person event will take place in Mountain View, California starting at 10:00am PT on August 13th. Although the date seems far off, numerous leaks and rumors over the past few months have given us a pretty clear idea of ​​what to expect from the upcoming Google Pixel event. Here’s everything we can expect to see at the Made by Google event: new Pixel devices, the latest version of Android, improvements to Google Gemini and more.

1 Pixel 9 series

The XL model returns with the Pixel 9 series

The star of the show is expected to be the Pixel 9 series. Google has all but confirmed that the Pixel 9 series will debut at the August event – ​​a teaser from Google Poland highlights “IX” in the video – the Roman numeral for the number nine. If that’s not convincing, Google’s official launch page URL ends with “pixel_9_pro,” seemingly confirming the debut of the Pixel 9 series.

The Google Pixel 9 is expected to bring numerous improvements over the previous generation, including a new flat-edge design. The Pixel 9 series will also see a move away from the camera viewfinder design seen since the Pixel 6, featuring a unique oval-shaped camera module. While we’re not fans of the leaked Pixel 9 renders, the phone might look good in person. You can also expect upgrades like a new Tensor G4 chip and a modem that supports satellite connectivity.

Interestingly, leaks indicate that Google is releasing two Pro phones this year: the base Pixel 9 Pro with a 6.3-inch screen, catering to those who want a smaller Pro flagship, and a larger Pixel 9 Pro XL model for those who want still a Pro. banner with a large screen. In addition, you can expect camera improvements and many new AI and Gemini features. Who knows, Google may also end up becoming the first Android smartphone manufacturer to incorporate Qi2 wireless charging.

2 Pixel Fold 2

Google’s second-generation foldable could also be on the way

Google released its first-generation Pixel Fold in June 2023. However, reviews weren’t as positive as expected, with the Pixel Fold lagging behind the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and OnePlus Open in terms of multitasking capabilities, performance and even design. However, it looks like the Pixel Fold 2 is on the way and the fold could debut alongside the Pixel 9 series at the August event.

The Pixel Fold 2 is expected to feature a new design with flat edges inspired by the Pixel 9 series. Similar to the Pixel 9 series, the Pixel Fold 2 will also ditch the camera viewfinder design for a new square-shaped camera module. The device is also expected to be thinner than the first generation foldable and have larger displays on both the internal and external display. In terms of specs, the Fold should have the same specs as the Pixel 9.

3 Pixel Watch 3

The much-anticipated bigger Pixel Watch could be coming

The Google Pixel Watch 2 is one of the best Wear OS smartwatches available today. However, we’ve always felt that it’s a bit small for many users, but it looks like Google may finally address this. According to rumors, Google plans to release two models of the Pixel Watch 3: a standard model and an XL model with a larger screen (and a bigger battery).

The rest of the Pixel Watch 3 may look similar to previous models – a round dome-shaped glass smartwatch with large bezels and a digital crown on the right. While we’d like to see smaller bezels and an improved strap mechanism, it looks like that’s not planned for the Pixel Watch 3. But from what we know, the Pixel Watch 3 could gain a faster processor and support for ultra wide band (UWB) for Google Find My Device.

4 Pixel Buds Pro 2

They are due for an upgrade

The Pixel Buds Pro may not be known as the best wireless earbuds, but they’re still a solid choice for Android users. In fact, Google keeps updating its flagship headphones with new features every now and then. However, they are two years old at this point and need to improve. While it’s uncertain whether Google will launch the second-generation headphones at the Pixel event, a recent leak suggests they’re on the way.

Expect the next-gen Pixel headphones to have a bigger battery, improved sound quality, better noise cancellation (ANC), and possibly some built-in AI features. We love the new nod feature on the AirPods and hope to see a similar one on the Pixel headphones. Some reports also claim that Google may add UWB to the Pixel Buds Pro 2 for better tracking with Find My Device, but take that with a grain of salt.

5 New AI features and Gemini improvements

No Pixel event is complete without new AI features

Since Google switched to the new design with the Pixel 6, the series has focused more on software and AI features than on standout hardware or other gimmicks. The Pixel 6 introduced real-time translation, the Pixel 7 brought the Magic Eraser for photos, and the Pixel 8 brought a plethora of AI features. With the Pixel 9 series, expect Google to roll out even more AI features, possibly powered by an even more powerful on-device AI model. And who knows, we might even see some Project Astra features in Google’s next smartphone.

6 Android 15 official rollout begins

The next big upgrade to your device is on the way

While Android 15 may not have gotten the attention it once did at Google I/O — it was moved to the second day of the event — it still packs a lot of new features. Features like split screen, satellite tethering, anti-theft, private spaces and more come with Android 15. The latest Pixel devices always launch with the latest version of Android and you can expect Google to start rolling out — or at least announce a launch date — right after the Pixel event.

The Pixel 9 series arrives earlier than expected

Google has moved the Pixel hardware launch event two months earlier than expected – it was in October last year – but this seems like a perfect time to introduce the new devices. We’ll see Samsung’s new foldable devices next month, the Pixel 9 series a month later, and Apple’s iPhone 16 series in September, giving us the perfect time frame to compare and decide which device to buy this fall .