The Pixel line of smartphones from Google has had a significant influence on the Android smartphone market, although not in the way that we anticipated it would in the past several years. Although Google’s flagship Pixel smartphones are really good, the Pixel really shines when it comes to more affordable options. The next iteration of Google’s inexpensive Pixel will be known as the Google Pixel 7a, and it will be released in 2023.
The Pixel 7a will have its work cut out for it in order to live up to the legacy of its predecessor, the Pixel 6a, which is still considered to be one of the greatest smartphone buys due to its ability to provide an outstanding camera and software experience at an unbeatable price. The Pixel 5a that came before it was likewise a standout, particularly with regard to its extended battery life. Where will Google take the Pixel 7a in the next iteration? The following is a summary of all the most recent gossip and news that you should be aware of.
Google Pixel 7a Design
It’s not uncommon for phones in Google’s Pixel A-series to borrow its aesthetic cues from the flagship Pixel model that came out the year before, and it appears that the Pixel 7a will be no exception to this rule. On November 29, OnLeaks and SmartPrix cooperated to publish renderings of the next Google Pixel 7a smartphone. If the drawings are genuine, the Pixel 7a will have a design that is quite similar to the Pixel 7 and the Pixel 7 Pro, which came out before it. This appears to be the case, as evidenced by photographs that were stolen from a testing unit for the Pixel 7a and posted on Twitter on January 3.
As was to be expected based on previously seen leaked renders and Google’s general design patterns, the Pixel 7a appears to have a striking resemblance to the base model of the Pixel 7, with one significant distinction: the bezel that surrounds the display of the smartphone appears to be significantly thicker than the one found on the Pixel 7. It is unknown which version of the design will be utilized for the final product because the bezel appears to be significantly more substantial in the hands-on photographs than in the leaked renders.
The display of the Pixel 7a features a hole-punch cutout in the middle of the screen for the front-facing camera. The characteristic camera bar that is synonymous with Google wraps all the way around the back and divides the rear design into two different sections. The Pixel 7a is depicted in the renders as having a white hue, however, the hands-on photographs show the device to have a standard black color. Even though we don’t know what color it could be, we have a sneaking suspicion that Google will also include a third “fun” hue in the mix.
Other design features of the Google Pixel 7a include a charging connector that uses the USB-C standard, a fingerprint sensor that is embedded underneath the display, and a construction that is believed to be made of cheaper plastic rather than the glass and metal design of the more costly Pixel 7. According to these images, the 3.5mm headphone port is still missing from the Pixel 7a, despite the fact that there had been some speculation that it would make a comeback.
Pixel 7a Specs
The specifications are of equal significance to the design. So, what kind of news can we anticipate regarding that front? The most important thing to take away from this is the fact that the Google Tensor G2 chipset will almost probably be featured on the Pixel 7a. Since the Pixel 6a was equipped with the same Tensor G1 chip as the Pixel 6/6 Pro, it is only logical for Google to upgrade the Pixel 7a to use the G2 chip found in the Pixel 7/7 Pro.
Tensor G2 is not a monumental advance over its predecessor, Tensor G1, but it does bring performance and efficiency gains that should be extremely welcome in daily use. This is especially true when considering how warm the Pixel 6a can get. Additional artificial intelligence functions, such as Clear Calling and speaker labels in the Recorder app, should also be able to take advantage of the capabilities offered by the Tensor G2.
There have also been rumors that the display on the Pixel 7a would finally have a refresh rate of 90Hz when it is released. Up until this point, every single phone in Google’s Pixel A series has utilized a regular 60Hz display. The 60Hz refresh rate works quite well, but animations and scrolling are visibly choppy in comparison to the 90Hz and 120Hz panels found in some smartphones. A refresh rate of 90Hz on the Google Pixel 7a, paired with the additional horsepower of Tensor G2, would provide the phone with a truly amazing performance gain that should feel obvious in day-to-day use. In other words, it would make the phone much more responsive.
Support for wireless charging, which has also been continuously absent from prior Pixel A versions, is reported to be one of the upgraded features that will be included on the Pixel 7a. If Google can finally add wireless charging to the cheaper Pixel, it will be a significant thing off of our wish list for the Google Pixel 7a. Wireless charging is an expected convenience on every flagship smartphone these days, and if Google can finally bring it to the Pixel, it will be a game changer.
Pixel 7a Camera
Despite the fact that the Pixel 6a was a considerable boost in terms of appearance and processing, it continued to rely on the same 12MP back camera that Google has employed since the Pixel 3. That might change, and in a significant way, with the Pixel 7a.
According to rumors, the camera on the Google Pixel 7a will be upgraded to a 64-megapixel Sony IMX787 sensor from its current 12-megapixel configuration. That ought to result in photographs that are clearer, have better colors, and operate better at night, among other improvements. Not to mention, it will come equipped with all of the standard capabilities that are found on Pixel cameras, such as the Magic Eraser.
Even while the hardware of the second rear camera on the Pixel 7a is still a mystery, there is a good chance that it will be a wide-angle lens. There is a lot of promise for photography on the Pixel 7a, and when you combine that with the (hopefully) high-quality front-facing camera for selfies, there is a lot to get excited about.
Google Pixel 7a Price
And the price, which brings us to our final point. The starting price of the Pixel 3a was $399, the retail price of the Pixel 4a was $349, the price of the Pixel 5a was $449, and the price of the Pixel 6a is also $449. Over the years, pricing for Pixel A phones has stayed quite stable.
We can confidently say goodbye to the days of paying $399 or $349 for a Pixel smartphone. It is likely that Google will maintain the $449 price point for the Pixel 7a for another year. If they make it much more costly, they run the risk of competing with Google’s $599 Pixel 7 smartphone, and if they make it any cheaper, it seems unlikely that they will include the reported upgraded features.
Google Pixel 7a Release date
The pattern of announcements and delivery dates that Google has followed with its Pixel A smartphones has been… erratic, to put it mildly.
In 2019, Google made the Pixel 3a available for preorder on the same day that the company revealed the device at its annual I/O developer conference in May. It wasn’t until the beginning of August 2020 that Google announced the Pixel 4a, and it wasn’t until the 26th of August in 2021 that it announced the Pixel 5a. With the unveiling of the Pixel 6a in May 2022, everything returned to its usual state.
What does this information imply for Google’s Pixel 7a device? It is reasonable to expect that Google will unveil the Pixel 7a in May 2023, most likely around the time when Google I/O 2023 takes place. This is due to the fact that the release timetable of the Pixel 4a and 5a was probably impacted by COVID and chipset limits. It is also speculated that the Google Pixel Fold will make its debut here, which suggests that the I/O conference held the following year could be a hub for the announcement of new Pixel devices.
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