What to Expect From the Made by Google Pixel 7 Event

Google’s Oct. 6 Made by Google hardware event(Opens in a new window) is right around the corner, and we expect the company to unveil a range of new products, including the Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, and Pixel Watch. Will Google keep it simple and let its new phones do all the talking or does it have an October surprise in store? Here’s everything we anticipate seeing.

Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro

The Pixel 7 Pro
(Credit: Google)

The Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro(Opens in a new window) are the main focus of the event and that’s not a guess; Google confirmed as much at I/O earlier this year. The latest rumors suggest that the phones will retain the same price points as the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro, which is excellent news in light of persistent inflation and high-priced competitors. According to Android Police founder Artem Russakovskii, the Pixel 7 will cost $599 and the Pixel 7 Pro will retail for $899. The Pixel 6 line offers a strong value at those prices and so too should the new Google smartphones.

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We’re not expecting a colossal design shakeup with the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro because the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro were already significant departures from typical smartphone aesthetics. Improved internal specs are expected, of course, and perhaps some fun new features will make an appearance to spice things up. Most notably, the phones are powered by next-gen Google Tensor chips, though we don’t expect any changes with the camera hardware. The bigger unanswered questions are how Google will handle the display, battery life, and connectivity.

Google Pixel Watch

(Credit: Google)

Google revealed earlier this year that its fall Pixel event would feature the Pixel Watch(Opens in a new window). The company hasn’t provided any specifics aside from the fact that it will be the “first smartwatch built by Google, inside and out.” That’s still more than enough to win the attention of Google fans. Needless to say, expectations for Google’s first smartwatch are high.

While the Pixel Watch may be the first smartwatch fully developed by Google, we can’t forget that Google owns Fitbit. The search giant will likely lean on Fitbit’s expertise in the wearable space and perhaps imbue the smartwatch with fitness tracker chops. We don’t believe the Pixel Watch will be just a Fitbit device with a Google logo slapped on, though we should see plenty of Fitbit-inspired health and fitness features.

There is reason to temper expectations. Rumors suggest that Google opted for an older processor and a smaller battery for its first smartwatch, meaning it won’t compete with front-runners like the Apple Watch Series 8, Garmin Vivoactive 4, and Samsung Galaxy Watch 5.

New Nest Smart Home Goodies

Google mentioned Nest hardware—the company’s line of speakers, cameras, and more—in its blog post(Opens in a new window) announcing the fall event, but it didn’t provide any specific clues about what’s on deck. However, a number of reports have emerged about a potential Nest router with Wi-Fi 6E support. Considering such a device went through the FCC(Opens in a new window) for certification, that certainly seems possible.

Realistically, however, Google might simply refresh its Nest Doorbell or speaker lineups. It’s been two years since Google showed off a new smart speaker, and longer since it refreshed its smart display lineup. A popular prediction is a new wired Nest Doorbell(Opens in a new window).

Tablets and Foldables (Hopefully)

(Credit: Google)

Any announcements beyond the Pixel 7, Pixel Watch, and Nest realm is purely speculation—but who doesn’t love guessing what the future might hold?

First, Google might show off the Pixel Tablet in its final form. We got a sneak peek at Google I/O, so this event would be a perfect time to fill in some of the details. At this point, the only respectable rumor(Opens in a new window) making the rounds is that the tablet might have a docking feature that turns it into a Nest Hub of sorts. That sounds like a cool feature that could help it stand out in the competitive Android tablet market, though Lenovo already has a few similar products on store shelves.

Ever since the first foldable devices hit the market, I’ve waited patiently for Apple and Google to jump on the trend. Apple didn’t announce or even tease a future foldable at its iPhone 14 event, but maybe Google has something to show us. We haven’t heard any reliable rumors of such a device, but we can dream, right?