Following Google I/O 2022, Ardit Ballhysa, Technology Analyst at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, offers his view:

“This year’s Google I/O was particularly noteworthy because of the company’s emphasis on establishing a seamless ecosystem of Pixel products powered by its custom Tensor System on a Chip (SoC). The ecosystem messaging was very positive for Google’s positioning as a competitor to Apple. For many years, Apple’s integrated, seamless, and walled ecosystem has been the driving force of its success, but to this day it remains largely unchallenged. Google’s new ecosystem of Pixel products will be a welcome addition to the consumer devices market, with increased competition from Google likely to spur innovation from all device manufacturers.

“Google expanded its portfolio by announcing the long-rumoured Pixel Watch and gave a sneak preview of a Pixel Tablet, which will release this fall and sometime in 2023, respectively. A Pixel Watch has been anticipated for many years with speculation intensifying when Google announced its intent to acquire Fitbit in 2019. The Pixel Watch and Tablet will be healthy additions to Google’s portfolio as it aims to challenge Apple’s ecosystem. Deep integration across a portfolio of products will increase adoption of Google’s ecosystem and drive sales of products and services.

“However, the event also served as a powerful reminder of just how robust and visionary Apple’s ecosystem is compared to that of Google and other rivals. During the event, it was obvious just how much Google is playing catch-up to Apple. Just on the two aforementioned products alone, Apple’s first iterations launched eight years ago and 12 years ago, respectively. Time itself is not the issue for Google here, but rather the constant refining and polishing of both products’ software and hardware that Apple has already done, is what will pose a challenge to Google’s attempts at taking market share from Apple.”