Before the pandemic, Google would introduce a new model of its lower-cost A-series smartphone across the identical time as its Google I/O builders convention. The firm might return to that launch timeline with the Pixel 6a, and it may accompany the long-anticipated Pixel Watch, plus a wallet-friendly HD model of its Chromecast with Google TV dongle.

According to leaker Max Jambor, Google’s finances Pixel 6a can be revealed in May. That’s sometimes when Google hosts its annual developer’s convention, which is more likely to occur this 12 months, both digital or in individual. Google has not made an official announcement but.

The rumor mill has already been churning concerning the 6a, which is anticipated to have a 6.2-inch show that’s barely smaller than the one on the present Pixel 5a. The display screen is capped at a 60Hz refresh price relatively than the beforehand rumored 120Hz. However, that decrease refresh price could be higher for battery life. Coupled with the Pixel 6a’s potential 4,800 mAh battery pack, this may make the telephone compete with extra entry-level launches from manufacturers like Motorola, which are inclined to dial down important specs like processing energy in favor of longer battery life.

But the Google Pixel 6a may have a home made Tensor chip like its flagship counterpart. It’s unclear how a lot capability the processor may have, but it surely’s more likely to be tweaked so the Pixel 6a can carry out a number of the Pixel 6’s marquee options, like its spectacular on-device language processing.

The Tensor chip would additionally assist allow digital camera smarts, another excuse that folk select the A-series over different middle-of-the-road Android units. We may see a 12.2-megapixel major digital camera, a 12-megapixel ultrawide digital camera, and an 8-megapixel selfie digital camera within the Pixel 6a. Expect the smartphone to take after its flagship siblings in design, too, as that angular look is coming to Google’s finances lineup, in addition to the a number of digital camera array on the bottom.

If Google broadcasts a brand new smartphone this spring, it’s more likely to accompany the Pixel Watch, which we’ve been speaking about for what looks as if ceaselessly. Last month, Jon Prosser confirmed off renders of the Android smartwatch of our goals, and it’s obtained us excited on the chance of a serious {hardware} dump from Google.

We’re additionally anticipating one other Chromecast dongle with Google TV to be added to the {hardware} household. Initially pegged by 9to5Google as an improve to the present Chromecast, Protocol adopted up that the dongle, codenamed Boreal, could be marketed as an alternative as a low-end entry into Google’s streaming ecosystem.

Leaks level the Chromecast to sporting an Amlogic S805X2 CPU with a Mali-G31 GPU. What’s notably fascinating about this part is that it helps AV1 decoding, which Google’s been pushing closely. It’s a royalty-free open-source video codec that’s environment friendly for low-bandwidth networks. It’s what Google makes use of with its Duo video chat.

It’s possible the brand new Chromecast will solely stream at a 1080p/60fps decision, which may make it competitively priced in opposition to entry-level Google TV units from Walmartwork, which price as little as $20, and rival Amazon and Roku units with related AV1 decoding. It would additionally add a extra reasonably priced streaming machine to Google’s first-party {hardware} lineup.