Google has announced that it will not participate in the current trend of developing vertically-opening flip phones, a market being pursued by partners Samsung and Motorola. Executives indicated that the company is not working on a smart ring and has also paused plans for a significant tablet redesign until a clear vision for that product category is established.
Regarding future product launches, Rick Osterloh, Google’s Senior Vice President, stated that it is still “to be determined” whether the company will reintroduce smart glasses. However, he expressed a commitment to including the category in Google’s future plans. If Google were to proceed with the development of glasses, there were hints that they might be designed to complement a smaller, potentially foldable phone for entertainment purposes.
Google’s hesitance to re-enter the glasses market might be influenced by its past experience with Google Glass, which received significant criticism and is often remembered as one of the notable failures in tech history. Despite this, there is speculation that a new version could be greeted more positively, especially in light of evolving technologies like Meta’s partnership with Ray-Ban.
Additionally, in the realm of smartphone design, Google has indicated that it typically explores new design languages every two to three years. Design chief Ivy Ross noted that it might be time for a change, particularly regarding the aesthetic of Pixel phones, which have been characterized by prominent camera bumps.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/news/763778/google-canceled-tablet-no-smart-ring-or-flip-phone-glasses