It’s going to be a big day for Google.
The tech company is hosting an event San Francisco on Tuesday to unveil a series of products, including what’s believed to be two new phones, a virtual reality headset and a redesigned Chromecast. We’ll likely learn more details about its Home gadget, too — the company’s answer to the popular Amazon Echo speaker.
But can Google drum up enough excitement to inspire people to actually buy these products?
Here’s a closer look at what to expect from today’s event, which kicks off at 9:00 a.m. PT.
Pixel smartphones
Google will likely launch a new Pixel line of phones — the 5-inch Pixel and 5.5-inch Pixel XL — to compete with the iPhone 7. The devices are said to boast 4GB of RAM, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor, a fingerprint sensor and a 12MP rear-facing camera.
The phones are rumored to drop the Nexus branding in favor of “Pixel,” a nod to Google’s existing tablet and Chromebook line. Both are said to run on Android Nougat, Google’s most recent mobile operating system.
Google Home
We got a sneak peek at Google Home — Google’s voice-controlled smart speaker — back in May, but we’ll likely learn more details about the gadget soon. Google Home comes loaded with Google Assistant — the company’s software system that searches for answers, schedules meetings, adjusts your calendar and controls smart home devices such as lights and thermostats.
Chromecast Ultra
Google’s streaming hardware gadget Chromecast is expected to get redesign. Rumored to be called the Chromecast Ultra, the device will likely support 4K streaming and ditch its logo for a simple “G.”
Google’s popular Chromecast device plugs into your TV through an HDMI port and can stream content from your computer or mobile device.
Daydream
Google is expected to take the lid off of its mobile virtual reality platform Daydream. The mobile software and hardware hybrid is said to turn your Android smartphone into a VR screen. It’ll also probably debut a headset with third-party apps.
Google isn’t necessarily trying to compete with Oculus’ VR hardware ($599) or the HTC Vive ($799). Both of those systems, favored by gamers and early VR adopters, are for immersive VR experiences and require PCs.
Instead, the company is expected to target casual VR consumers who have — or will buy — Android smartphones running Nougat. Its closest competitor could be the Samsung Gear VR headset ($99), built for Samsung Galaxy devices and powered by Oculus.
Google Wi-Fi
Google may roll out a new and easier way to connect internet throughout your home. A new Wi-Fi extender called Google Wi-Fi is expected to join its OnHub which launched last year. The new router will come with mesh networking capabilities, linking together wireless hubs throughout the home.
Andromeda OS
This is the wild card. It’s possible Google will launch a cross-platform operating system called Adromeda that bridges Android for mobile and Chrome for desktop. The software is expected to streamline content, apps and software across Google phones, tablets and computers.
Google won’t do away with its standalone Android and Chrome operating systems, but will probably start to push consumers into a cross-platform compatible ecosystem soon.
