The Coolest Things From Google I/O 2019

May’s Google I/O is an annual event that gives Android developers a sense of what’s next for the company’s mobile operating system and a peek at the new hardware and services Google is rolling out to unlock its OS’s potential.

- Max Eddy, Michael Kan

As a result, the conference’s sessions can get a little in the weeds, but some announcements are of interest to the average Google watcher.

PIXEL 3A AND PIXEL 3A XL

As expected, Google launched its new mid-range smartphones, the Pixel 3a and 3a XL, which start at $399 and are designed for people who are tired of smartphone vendors demanding $1,000 or more for their latest products.

The Pixel 3a has a plastic case instead of the aluminum one found on the higher-end Pixel 3. It also runs a Snapdragon 670 while the Pixel 3 has a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor. We’ll put it to the test when we get the 3a in the labs to be sure, but the 670 should be more than enough for the average phone user looking to save some cash.

For more, check out our full rundown of how the Pixel 3a compares to the Pixel 3 and the OnePlus 6T at PCMag.com.

GOOGLE DUPLEX FOR THE WEB

At I/O 2018, Google showed off Duplex, an AI-based assistant that handles mundane tasks like making dinner reservations and hair appointments by phone. This year, Duplex expanded to the web to help you rent a car and buy movie tickets with voice commands. A demo showed Duplex perusing Google Calendar and Gmail to learn the dates of a trip and then making a car rental reservation via the National Car Rental site. Duplex can now make restaurant reservations in 44 US states; more details about car rentals and movie tickets are expected later this year.

NEST HUB MAX

The company introduced the Nest Hub Max, a $229 smart display with a 10-inch screen and a front-facing camera for video calls. It’s basically a larger version of the 7-inch Google Home Hub, which is now known as the Nest Hub as Google and Nest merge their brands. But it includes a few improvements, including a switch that lets you disable the camera and microphone for added privacy.