Pixel 5a, Pixel Buds A were no-shows at Google I/O — so when will they launch?

Pixel 5a, Pixel Buds A were no-shows at Google I/O — so when volition they launch?

(Image credit: Steve Hemmerstoffer/Vocalism)

The Google I/O developers conference keynote offered something for anybody — unless you lot happen to exist interested in hardware.

While Google took great care to item the interface overhaul for Android 12, new features in Wear Os and updates in everything from Maps to Google Docs, not a single new hardware product appeared at I/O. And if you're hungry for news about the upcoming Google Pixel 5a or the rumored Pixel Buds A-Series, that has to sting a picayune.

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In a fashion, the lack of hardware news should accept been expected. While Google I/O garners worldwide attending, it's withal a developer-focused conference, and developers want to hear well-nigh software, especially the software enhancements that touch their ain products. And then more about Android 12's interface changes and what that ways for apps, and less almost which processor is powering the Pixel 5a.

And so again, Google has spoiled us at contempo I/Os. Dorsum in 2019 — the terminal time Google had a programmer get-together — it unveiled both the Pixel 3a and the Nest Hub Max. Surely, some observes idea, Google might talk hardware again this fourth dimension out, even if it was simply to address the rumors that it was going to build its own chips for this fall's Pixel 6 release. Alas, no dice.

Pixel 3a launch — The Pixel 3a at Google I/O 2019, when Google made hardware news at its programmer briefing (Image credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

So if Google isn't going to make any hardware news at Google I/O 2021 — and information technology would exist really weird to announce annihilation at present — when tin we expect to see the Pixel 5a, Pixel vi and Pixel Buds Series A, all three of which could have made a cameo this calendar week? We tin't say with any certainty, merely we can make some educated guesses.

Pixel six likely launch date

Commencement, there's no demand to panic almost the lack of hardware announcements at this year's I/O. While Google didn't have anything it opted to bear witness off at this year's prove, that doesn't hateful there's cypher to show off. The Android 12 code evidently references the Pixel six and Pixel 5a — and the Pixel Fold, too! — so it'due south safe to presume those phones are still much a part of Google'southward plans. Also, we've heard so many rumors almost the Pixel Buds Series A at this point, it's likely those aren't the figments of some rumor monger'south overactive blitheness.

The likely release date for the Pixel 6 is the easiest to figure out. Google tends to release its flagship phones in early Oct, and it'south probable going to stick to that pattern with this yr's model, barring whatever scrap shortage-fueled delays. Google might exist planning to use its own chips to ability the Pixel 6, and that plan could still be, even without any heads up to developers during I/O.

Pixel 5a probable release date

The Pixel 5a's launch is a niggling trickier. 1 rumor suggests the budget version of Google'due south phone could launch on June eleven — since that'due south a Friday, we assume that would be the phone'due south ship date. Just that doesn't exit a lot of time for Google to host another launch upshot, peculiarly when it just had everyone's attending for the Google I/O keynote. When y'all also consider that the rumored June xi would be at the same fourth dimension equally Apple's Worldwide Programmer Conference, you'd figure that any Pixel 5a news might become lost in the shuffle. We'd expect elsewhere for a possible release date, in other words.

Google may accept provided a pretty practiced indication of when the Pixel 5a is coming when it denied a rumor earlier this year that the phone was getting cancelled. The Pixel 5a, Google said, "will be available later on this year in the U.S. and Nihon and appear in line with when last year'due south a-series telephone was introduced."

Bold that Google's referring to the Pixel 4a, that phone debuted in mid-August last year. That would give Google enough of fourth dimension to launch the phone ahead of September's expected iPhone thirteen event without impacting the Pixel 6 rollout later in the fall. Or, Google could but combine ii telephone launches into i, and accept the Pixel 5a and Pixel 6 bring together each other on stage. (The dueling version numbers would seem a trivial confusing to consumers, though, so we'll stick with that August theory.)

Pixel Buds A-Serial likely release date

Every bit for the Pixel Buds A-Series, nosotros'd assume the launch of these lower-cost earbuds are likely tied to the Pixel 5a's inflow. The clue would seem to be in the name — Google appears to be making the A Series its moniker for lower price products that deliver some of the capabilities of their pricier counterparts. So we'd expect Google to make that pitch for both a phone and wireless earbuds at the same fourth dimension.

Of class, Google could surprise us all and pull entirely different dates out of the hat for its upcoming product launches. They don't keep calling these "uncertain times" for zip, after all.

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Philip Michaels is a senior editor at Tom's Guide. He has strong opinions about Apple tree, the Oakland Athletics and old movies. Follow him at @PhilipMichaels.