Google’s plans for the rest of this year and beyond are about to come into sharp focus. The company just set a date for its annual Google I/O developer conference, where we’re expecting a preview of the next version of Android, along with several potential hardware announcements.
It all starts on Wednesday 10 May with Google CEO Sundar Pichai announced the date via Twitter (opens in new tab)after Google’s annual online puzzle (opens in new tab) gave people a chance to find out when Google I/O 2023 took place ahead of the official announcement.
Excited that this year’s #GoogleIO will be on May 10, live from Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View and online at https://t.co/sWxfPsVvJi pic.twitter.com/QtNXE6wjl5March 7, 2023
This year, Google I/O will be a one-day affair, a change from years ago when I/O took a few days. It sounds like the event will kick off with a keynote as always, and that’s where we’ll likely hear about Google’s latest product news and announcements, including software and hardware.
Here’s more information about Google I/O 2023, including details about the event itself and what we’re likely to hear during the opening remarks from Pichai and other Google executives.
Google I/O 2023: date and location
Google I/O 2023 will take place on Wednesday, May 10. That’s in line with when Google normally holds its developer conference – last year’s edition took place on May 11 and 12, for example.
There will be an in-person event at the Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View, California, a venue just down the street from Google’s headquarters. Most people will attend virtually, as Google streams its developer conference.
The Google I/O 2023 website (opens in new tab) yet to add a calendar, which would let us know when the opening keynote takes place. However, an invitation to attend Google I/O 2023 in person received by Tom’s Guide – yes, we will be attending – notes that the event will kick off at 1pm ET / 10am PT / 6pm BST on May 10.
Once it’s posted, the Google I/O 2023 calendar should give us a pretty good idea of what to expect from this year’s event. However, we can already make some educated guesses about what’s on tap given Google’s previous announcements and rumors about the company’s current plans.
Google I/O 2023: Android 14
The latest version of Android almost always gets a showcase at Google I/O, and we can’t imagine 2023 will be much different. For this year’s show, the focus is on Android 14, the next version of Google’s mobile operating system due out in late summer.
The first developer preview of Android 14 came out in February, and based on Google’s published Android 14 timeline, we should already have a beta by the time Google I/O 2023 rolls around. Nevertheless, the I/O keynote serves as an excellent platform to alert people to Android’s new features and improvements.
Based on the developer preview of Android 14, we already know that the software update adds features like app cloning, which allows you to use one app with different credentials, and a guest profile for using the phone app. Android 14 seemingly adds a predictive back gesture that previews the page you’ll return to when you swipe and hold. Google is also working on a more powerful photo picker, a new Health Connect app, and expanded support for game controllers.
We’ll likely hear about more Android 14 features from subsequent developer previews and betas. Google I/O 2023 is our first chance to see some of these features in action.
Google I/O 2023: Hardware Announcements
While software is at the heart of Google I/O, Google isn’t shy about its hardware plans, especially in recent years. It’s possible this will continue into Google I/O 2023, if only to address some lagging devices previewed last year.
Google Pixel Tablet: Google actually showed a preview of this Android tablet during the 2022 edition of Google I/O and promised it would ship sometime in 2023. We’re three months into the new year and there’s still no sign of a tablet or any hint at how much it will cost. Google could come full circle on the Pixel tablet by releasing it for good during Google I/O 2023, assuming the tablet doesn’t launch later this year.
Regardless of when it appears, the Pixel tablet looks likely to offer a 10.95-inch screen with a Tensor chipset powering the engine. There’s also talk of a stylus coming with the Pixel tablet.
Pixel 7a: The original Pixel 3a made its debut during a previous Google I/O, and Google teased the summer release of last year’s Pixel 6a at its 2022 developer conference. Since the Pixel 7a is expected to release in the same time frame as the 6a, a Google I/O 2023 preview not excluded.
The highlight of the Pixel 7a could be a 90Hz refresh rate display, though we’re not sure Google will want to reserve that capability for its mainstream Pixel flagship. Speaking of which, the Pixel 7 got a sneak peek at Google I/O 2022, so something with the Pixel 8 ahead of its fall launch wouldn’t look out of place at Google I/O 2023.
Pixel Fold: There’s precedent for Google presenting all the other hardware we’ve mentioned so far. A foldable phone would be unprecedented simply because it’s something Google never released. However, many rumor makers claim that Google is about to do just that – while not also spreading rumors that the Pixel Fold has been delayed or even cancelled.
However, as of now, the Pixel Fold is said to be a go. It will be a phone that opens up to reveal a larger screen, similar to the Galaxy Z Fold 4. At least one Google watcher thinks the device will get a preview at Google I/O this spring before launching later in the year . It would certainly give developers a chance to see Google’s foldable phone and perhaps inspire them to develop apps that take advantage of the extra screen.
Google I/O 2023 outlook
Since we’ve only just been given a date for Google I/O 2023, we expect to see a lot more details about the conference in the coming weeks. The conference agenda will go a long way in building expectations about what Google has in store for us. Stay tuned.