Google’s second Pixel event is less than a week away, and there’s a ton of hype surrounding it. We’re expecting several new announcements from Google, including several refreshes on new hardware. Here’s what you should look forward to from their event!

New Google Home Speakers

We’ll definitely be seeing a refresh on the Google Assistant powered Google Home speakers. Thanks to a solid leak from Droid-Life, we know that they are at least releasing a Google Home Mini to better compete with the Amazon Echo Dot. In addition to going after the Echo Dot, we may also be seeing a Google Home Plus to compete with the standard Echo speaker. The smart speaker category is becoming increasingly important as more and more people embrace smart homes and iOT devices. The Google Home Plus will be a larger version of Google Home, with a louder speaker, and more connectivity capabilities.

Daydream 2.0

We’re also expecting to see a slight refresh on the Google Daydream VR headset. While the look has changed slightly, the functionality appears to remain the same. Google has gone on record as saying there will be more Daydream compatible handsets this time around. That seemed to be the biggest hurdle last year, as there was only 5 Daydream certified devices released. This year could be the make or break year for Google’s big VR dreams, as the competition within that space is fierce.

New Chromebooks

As expected, there will be at least one new Chromebook announced this year. Rumors point to us finally seeing the Google Pixelbook become a reality. The Pixel C line of high-end Google Chromebooks has been the anchor so far, but we may be seeing its successor sooner than later.

Pixel 2 And Pixel 2 XL

The star attractions will of course be the next generation of the Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones. While Google ruled the roost with the camera on the Pixel, they didn’t move as many units as they could have. This was in large part because of a supply issue, and because of a single carrier exclusivity agreement with Verizon. The new Pixels will feature funky new designs, and the Pixel XL 2 will join the popular edge-to-edge display crowd. Both phones will also feature squeezable sides to activate the Google Assistant, and IP67 certification for water resistance. Both phones are rumored to pack either 64GB or 128GB of onboard storage, a Snapdragon 835 processor, and unlimited Google Drive Storage for people who buy the new Pixels.

New OS Debut

While the ever popular Andromeda project has apparently been canned, that doesn’t mean we won’t see some sort of new OS during Google’s event. We know for sure we’ll be getting our first glimpse of Android 8.0 during the keynote, but we could also be seeing a refresh to the Chrome OS that powers their Chromebook line, or something completely different altogether. Either way, expect something exciting from Google in this regard. 

Make sure you check back with Nerd News on Oct 4th as we’ll be providing you with everything you need to know about what Google announces.