At I/O we shared our upcoming hardware including Pixel 6a and Pixel Buds Pro. As of today both devices are available for pre-order on the Google Store. Pixel 6a starts at $449 and Pixel Buds Pro are available for $199.

There’s a lot to be excited about with our latest phone and earbuds, so we sat down with two team members who worked on these products to hear about their favorite features, technology and more. Here’s what Soniya Jobanputra and Nidhi Rathi had to say.

Pixel 6a has Google Tensor, but what does that mean?

Soniya: When we set out to make A-series phones, we envisioned the ability to deliver a premium phone at a more affordable price. By including Google Tensor in Pixel 6a we’ve been able to achieve that vision because we now have the same brain powering our full generation of Pixel 6 phones.

A great example of this is also one of my favorite features: Live Translate. My family and I were on a vacation recently in French Polynesia, and our French is a bit…rusty. Reception wasn’t always reliable in some of the rural areas. With Live Translate on Pixel 6a, we were able to break down the language barrier and make the most of our vacation — and since all the processing happens on-device, cell reception was a non-issue. What a mind blowing experience!

What exactly is Active Noise Cancellation and how does it work on the Pixel Buds Pro?

Nidhi: Active Noise Cancellation works by creating an additional opposite sound to cancel out the noise around you. The faster your earbuds can hear outside sound and calculate the inverse sound, the better the noise cancellation becomes. Our in-house team of experts used custom speakers and a custom 6-core audio chip running Google-developed algorithms to speed up that process. It’s been incredible to see how quiet your space becomes and how you can simply immerse yourself in your music.

Once we had those smarts down, we needed to make sure we created the perfect seal. Everyone's ears are different, so it’s not always possible for the eartips to give a perfect snug seal and sound leaking in from the outside affects the listening experience. With Silent Seal™ — which adapts to your unique ear shape — and the multiple eartip sizes that come with the Pixel Buds Pro, we’re able to ensure that unwanted sound stays out.

So whether you’re trying to listen to music, catch up on a podcast or place a call, you’ll get a premium experience with Pixel Buds Pro. Sometimes that experience is so good I don’t even realize my partner is trying to get my attention!

So what about those times when I want to hear what’s going on around me?

Nidhi: We know there are times when you want to stay aware of your surroundings — like when you’re crossing the street. That’s where Transparency mode comes in handy. Using the same low latency engine as our Active Noise Cancellation, we quickly process and naturally pass through all the sounds that the earbuds hear from your environment. It will even help you avoid that plugged ear feeling so you can almost forget your buds are even in!

What’s your favorite experience on Pixel 6a? We know, it’s hard to pick only one!

Soniya: My favorite feature is Magic Eraser. I love it for both its practical and creative uses. It’s rare to find a beach with no people on it, but thanks to Magic Eraser all my beach vacation photos look like I had them to myself. And I use it to make quirky, memorable photos — like one photo where my kids were sitting on a swing, but I was able to make the swing disappear so it looks like they’re flying. ?

Pixel has always been known for its excellence in computational photography and Pixel 6a takes full advantage of the Image Signal Processor we share with Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, all thanks to Google Tensor. Pixel 6a shares the same post processing algorithms as our flagship phones allowing it to support incredible camera experiences like Magic Eraser and Real Tone.

Anything else you’d like to share before we go pre-order Pixel 6a and Pixel Buds Pro?

Soniya: We know protection is really important. I’m proud that Pixel 6a shares the same security architecture as our flagship phones, including the Titan M2 and multiple layers of hardware protection. And thanks to our common hardware platform, Pixel 6a will also receive five years of security updates from when the device first becomes available on GoogleStore.com, just like Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro.

Nidhi: I love the Pixel Buds Pro case – it's so smooth, the texture feels like a pebble in my hand. The way it clicks closed is super satisfying, and it's small enough to fit in the pocket of my skinny jeans!

I’m also looking forward to Bluetooth multipoint and our audio switching technology. It automatically switches between your connected Bluetooth-enabled devices like phones, laptops, tablets and TVs - much easier than navigating Bluetooth menus.

Visit the Google Store today to pre-order Pixel 6a and Pixel Buds Pro. Both devices will be on shelves on July 28 across 13 launch countries, and with select retailers in India.

Our latest Feature Drop is here and bringing a boost of helpfulness to your Pixel. Updates begin rolling out to Pixel 4 through our latest Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro devices today.

Make your own music

Have you ever wanted to turn everyday sounds into music? Now you can with pocket operator™ for Pixel™.[123270]Created in collaboration with teenage engineering, pocket operator™ for Pixel™ lets you shoot video content and turn it into fun music and video cut-ups. Layer sounds, add visual effects, create patterns and beats and mix it all together to make your own unique tracks. Download from the Play Store and give it a try on your Pixel 5 and newer Pixels (only available in English).

Vaccine proof right from your home screen

No more holding up lines while you fumble around trying to find your vaccine card on your phone: Now when you take a screenshot of your digital vaccine card, you can add a shortcut to easily access it directly from your home screen. This feature is available in Australia, Canada and the U.S. (Access to digital vaccine cards varies by state and healthcare provider. See g.co/help/covidcard for details.)

Useful info when you need it

Get the information you need with three new At a Glance features on Pixel:

Nest Doorbell video feed: No need to get up from your comfy spot on the couch to see who’s at the door. Now you can see when someone rings your Nest Doorbell right from your lock screen. This feature requires a compatible Nest Doorbell (sold separately) and the Google Home or Nest app.

Flashlight reminder: If you’ve ever awkwardly been told your flashlight is on, great news! You’ll now see a reminder and shortcut to turn off your flashlight if you accidentally leave it on.

And coming soon! Air Quality alerts: Stay safe and protect your lungs with air quality alerts for your current location. This feature is applicable only if you are in the U.S., Australia and India.

Celebrate Pride Month with new wallpapers

To celebrate Pride Month, we collaborated with illustrator Yann Bastard to create three new wallpapers for our Curated Culture collection. Yann, a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, has a soft spot for big, bold shapes and bright colors. He was born in Zaragoza, Spain and is now based in Rennes, France.

Say goodbye to background noise

Conversation mode, previously in beta first on Pixel phones, has arrived to the Sound Amplifier app on Pixel 3 and newer. Designed for and with people with hearing loss, Sound Amplifier uses your phone to amplify and filter important sounds around you. Based on a deep learning model that uses both audio and visual signals to separate speech, conversation mode amplifies the voice you want and filters out the background noise and other voices you don’t. Use your camera to focus on whomever you want to talk to and tune in to only them.

You’ll also get great audio quality wherever you are with noise reduction on Google Meet. The Google Meet noise reduction feature filters out background noises like traffic or a dog barking, so you’re heard clearly no matter your surroundings. No need for a workplace account, this feature is available to all Pixel users.

More helpful features for more Pixel users

As shared at I/O, Real Tone Filters are now live in Google Photos. These filters were created in partnership with professional image makers and evaluated using the Monk Skin Tone Scale and are designed to work well across skin tones. Give it a try on your Pixel by going to Google Photos, where you'll find ‘filters’ under the edit menu.

We’re also expanding existing features to more regions, languages and devices. Car Crash Detection will now be available in Canada for Pixel 3 and later (excluding Pixel 3a). Check out g.co/pixel/carcrashdetection for country and language availability.[1022b5]Chat translation in messages will now be available in Traditional Chinese, Dutch, Korean, Thai, Turkish for Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. See g.co/pixel/livetranslate for details on availability in your country.

From phones and smartwatches to tablets and laptops — our day-to-day lives can be filled with so many devices, and dealing with them should be easy. This is why we’re focused on building hardware and software that work together to anticipate and react to your requests, so you don’t have to spend time fussing with technology.

To bring this vision to life, we’ve spent years focusing on ambient computing and how it can help us build technology that fades into the background, while being more useful than ever. Today at I/O, I shared several important updates to our hardware portfolio that lay the groundwork for creating a family of devices that not only work better together, but work together for you.

Meet the new Pixel portfolio

We’ve thoughtfully designed the Pixel portfolio so the helpfulness and intelligence of Google can adapt to you in a non-intrusive way. This is all possible thanks to multi-device work from the Android team combined with our work to layer cutting-edge AI research and helpful software and services onto our devices. And of course, we always tightly integrate powerful data security directly into our hardware.

Last year we launched Google Tensor, our first custom-designed mobile system on a chip (SoC), to create a common platform for our Pixel phones. The first Pixels built with Tensor, Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, are the fastest selling Pixel phones to date. And today we introduced the new Pixel 6a, which has the same Tensor processor and industry-leading security from our Titan M2 chip.

Our Pixel Buds are designed to perfectly complement your Pixel phone, and we’re excited to expand the earbuds offerings with Pixel Buds Pro. These premium earbuds include a new, custom 6-core audio chip that runs Google-developed algorithms — all tuned by our in-house audio engineering team.

A sneak peek of what’s to come

Building on our ambient computing vision, we’re focused on how Pixel devices can be even more helpful to you — now and in the future. Today, we gave a preview of our new Google Pixel Watch — the first watch we’ve built inside and out. It has a bold circular, domed design, a tactile crown, recycled stainless steel and customizable bands that easily attach. With this watch, you’ll get the new Wear OS by Google experience and Fitbit’s industry-leading health and fitness tools — right on your wrist. Google Pixel Watch is a natural extension of the Pixel family, providing help whenever and wherever you need it. It will be available this fall, and we’ll share more details in the coming months.

We also previewed our Pixel 7 phones, coming this fall.[42f7f0]Our next version of Google Tensor will power these devices, which are built for those who want the latest technology and fastest performance.

And finally, we shared an early look at our Android tablet, powered by Google Tensor.[a9d69b]Built to be the perfect companion for your Pixel phone, our tablet will blend into your day-to-day routine and help connect the moments you’re on the go with the moments you’re at home. We hope to have more to share here in 2023, so stay tuned.

We’re building out the Pixel portfolio to give you more options for varying budgets and needs. I can’t wait for everyone to see for themselves how helpful these devices and technology can be — from wearables, phones and tablets to audio and smart home technology. And if you’re headed to the New York area, you can see these devices in action at our second Google Store that’s opening this summer in Brooklyn.

Our latest A-series phone, Google Pixel 6a, gives you more of what you want — for less than you’d expect. Pixel 6a is packed with the same powerful brains, Google Tensor, and many of the must-have features as our premium phones Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro — at a lower price of $449.

Designed with you in mind

Pixel 6a borrows many of the same design elements from Pixel 6 — including the iconic camera bar — along with a metal frame that is durable by design. You’ll also get the updated Material You design UX that lets you personalize the look and feel of your phone, making it truly yours. Show off your colorful side and coordinate your aesthetic with one of three phone colors: Chalk, Charcoal and Sage.

For added protection and even more color options, pick out one of the cases made specifically for Pixel 6a — they're translucent and can be mixed and matched to create unique color combos. You’ll also have your choice of cases from our Made for Google partners.

Fully loaded with the features you love

From exceptional camera features to speech recognition to security you can trust, many of your favorite features from Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro will be joining the party — thanks to Google Tensor. Here’s a look at some of them.

Pixel 6a helps capture your most important moments with a Camera Bar that includes dual rear cameras: a main lens and an ultrawide lens. So rest assured you can capture the whole scene. As for the selfie camera on Pixel 6a, it’s the same great camera as Pixel 6.

The Pixel Camera is built to be versatile and adapt to your needs, and you’ll see some of those features and technologies on Pixel 6a — from Real Tone, which authentically represents all skin tones, to Night Sight, which makes low-light photography a breeze, to Magic Eraser in Google Photos, which makes distractions disappear. And good news, we’ve enhanced Magic Eraser so you can also change the color of distracting objects in your photo. In just a few taps, the object’s colors and shading blend in naturally. So the focus is on the subjects — where it should be.

Pixel 6a comes with the same highly accurate speech recognition as Pixel 6 Pro. That includes features like Recorder, Live Caption and Live Translate.

The power and safety of Google Tensor

You’ll get the full hardware and software experience you’d expect with Google Tensor without compromising on battery life. Pixel 6a comes with an all-day battery that can last up to 72 hours when in the Extreme Battery Saver mode — a first for Pixel phones.[edfc02]With Google Tensor, Pixel 6a shares the same security architecture as Pixel 6 Pro, including our dedicated security chip Titan M2 that gives you the peace of mind that your sensitive data is safe.

With this common hardware platform across our latest phones, Pixel 6a will receive five years of security updates from when the device first becomes available on GoogleStore.com in the U.S., just like Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. Plus, Pixel 6a comes with Feature Drops so you get the latest and greatest features and updates. And as with other Pixel devices, Pixel 6a will be among the first Android devices to receive the upcoming Android 13 update.

Pixel 6a will be available for pre-order starting at $449 on July 21 and on shelves on July 28. Find out what countries Pixel 6a will be available in, and sign up for product updates.

The NBA Playoffs are back this Saturday, and we have a game-changing virtual experience to take the game you love to the next level. The NBA and Google Pixel Arena is a virtual space based on live in-game action where you can create, play, share and celebrate your 2022 NBA Playoffs skills.

Access the experience during halftime or between games via the NBA App — and keep tabs on all the action throughout the NBA Playoffs presented by Google Pixel, and NBA Finals presented by YouTube TV.

Once inside the Pixel Arena, pick a game to enter — including past games — and immerse yourself into a 3D virtual arena using your phone’s gyroscope to navigate around. You can even create your own avatars, and outfit them in your favorite team’s gear and accessories.

The experience brings a whole new meaning to courtside. During half time and post-game, you can relive how top scorers and teams performed with a 3D shot recaps that map shots to the Pixel Arena court based on real-time NBA data from the first half of the game. Want to test your basketball trivia expertise? At halftime, challenge your NBA knowledge with game-specific trivia based on live NBA data feeds. With each game you attend, you have more opportunities to climb the leaderboard, create shareable content and unlock new levels and swag for your avatar.

This is the first immersive experience jointly developed by Google and the NBA to connect fans to the game and each other during live games. And, staying true to our tagline “For all the fans,” the Pixel Arena will be available to everyone — regardless of what device or operating system you use.

We’ll see you in the Pixel Arena!

Back in February, many of you saw our Super Bowl ad, “Seen on Pixel.” The spot told the story behind Real Tone, Google’s years-long effort to ensure all our camera and imaging products accurately represent all skin tones.

“Seen on Pixel” doesn’t just represent Google’s commitment to image equity, it's an invitation for all Pixel owners to take more beautiful, more equitable images. So for Season 6 of Creator Labs, we invited 23 artists to tell their stories.

While these 23 artists — our largest Creator Labs incubator to-date — come from varying backgrounds, identities and places, common themes emerged from their respective interpretations of “Seen on Pixel” as their prompt. They focused on things like individuality, community and identity.

MaryV, Coyote Park and Anthony Prince Leslie turned the camera on themselves, exploring what it means to be “seen” through your own lens. New artist Coyote Park says they want their work to speak to trans, Indigenous youth. “I want them to know that we are powerful and beautiful,” Coyote says. “For me, the act of shapeshifting is spiritual and a mode of self love. It allows me to embrace myself in my entirety.”

Chiara Gabellini and Tim Kellner also wanted to capture a sense of vulnerability in their projects, while Natalia Mantini and Andy Jackson took intimate portraits of their chosen families.

Shikeith and Lawrence Agyei photographed churches, as well as the youth boxers of The Bloc Chicago. They both focused on the idea of what it means to be Black, queer and spiritual

Andre Wagner documented Black skate culture. He photographed his subject, Ant Lava, who finds reprieve in the roller rink, where he says he feels safe.

Myesha Evon Gardner, who photographed her hometown of Cleveland, was inspired by a childhood memory: “My mother had a kitchen towel set that depicted a honey bear with a variation on the phrase ‘home is where the honey is,’ which inspired and shares the name of this project,” Myesha says. “I wanted to show the complexities of Cleveland in a light that goes against its negative associations.”

Ultimately, that’s what Season 6 is about: Celebrating what it means to truly be yourself in spaces that feel sacred to you — where you feel seen.

Other artists who were part of this season include: Kennedi Carter, Glassface, MaryV, Adrian Octavius Walker, June Canedo, Anthony Prince Leslie, Aidan Cullen, Zamar Velez, Chiaara Gabellini, Pegah Farahmand, Neva Wireko and Myles Loftin.

Today’s update marks our tenth Pixel Feature Drop ? ?. The latest updates begin rolling out to Pixel 3a through Pixel 5a (5G) devices today, while Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro devices will begin receiving their updates later this month.

Night Sight in Snapchat

For those moments when the lighting isn’t quite right, Night Sight in Pixel Camera helps you capture clear low-light pictures and video. Now we're bringing Night Sight to Snapchat so you can snap vibrant, detailed, low-light videos or photos without flash. Give it a try on your Pixel 6 or Pixel 6 Pro by selecting low light mode in the Snapchat app to make sure you never miss a moment — even in the dark.

Communicating with captions

For people who can't or prefer not to speak on calls, there's a new way to communicate with Live Caption. Now when you’re on a phone call you can see captions of what the other person says and type back a response that will be read out loud on the other end.

Make messages and video calls more fun

A picture is worth a thousand words. When you’re typing in messaging apps, Gboard can convert your words into colorful stickers built with your exact text. With emoji, emoji kitchen and custom sticker suggestions while you type, your Pixel helps you express exactly how you feel. Coming to Pixel users globally typing in English (U.S.) starting today.

It's also getting easier to connect with friends and family on video calls: Host your own YouTube watch parties or share your favorite app with live sharing for Duo, all on your Pixel phone.

More languages. More ways to translate.

Live Translate on Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro makes communicating in different languages easy. And with Interpreter mode, you can now translate your face-to-face conversations with Spanish, Italian and French speakers right on your phone, as all translations stay on device. Give it a try by saying, “Hey Google, be my Spanish interpreter.”

Plus, Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro can now identify Spanish in videos and other media, and translate it automatically into any of our supported languages: English, French, Italian, German, Japanese (beta) and Spanish.

Useful information at your fingertips

Your home and lock screens are the first things you see on your Pixel, and new and widgets help make sure you get the info you want.

At a Glance on Pixel makes sure you get the most helpful information at just the right time. At a Glance will now surface even more — including the battery levels of your Pixel Buds and other Bluetooth-connected devices, a safety check countdown from the Personal Safety app, reminders to turn off your alarm if the next day is a holiday and earthquake alerts for your area — all right on your lock and home screen.

And the new Pixel battery widget can show up-to-date battery information for your Pixel, as well as Bluetooth[b0081a]-connected devices like Pixel Buds). Add the widget to your home screen to keep an eye on battery life across your devices.

More helpful features for more Pixels

In addition to the features reaching Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, we’re also bringing existing features to more languages and devices.

• Direct My Call and Wait Times will now be available for Pixel 3a and newer phones.
• Recorder can now transcribe in Italian and Spanish on Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro.
• Assistant Quick phrases will be available in Spanish, Italian and French on Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro.