Google has already revealed its latest flagship Pixel devices, the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro, but many eyes are on the cheaper model that is expected to follow: the Google Pixel 7a.
The Pixel A series often represents the best value in the smartphone market by undercutting the other models in the line up substantially in price.
Here’s all we know so far about the Pixel 7a that could be the benchmark for mid-range Android phones in 2023.
When will the Google Pixel 7a be released?
We now know officially that the Pixel 7a will launch at its annual I/O conference on 10 May, after Google India tweeted an announcement.
Just as tellingly, that announcement says the phone will be available from Indian retailer Flipkart just the day after, 11 May.
That lines up with a report from leaker Jon Prosser who adds that he believes the phone will be “available for purchase immediately” after the unveiling at I/O, with 9to5Google adding that it’ll be found in physical stores on 11 May.
How much will the Google Pixel 7a cost?
Again, we don’t have any official word on what the Pixel 7a will cost when it arrives, but 9to5Google claims to know the US price: $499.
If true, that’s a $50 increase on last year’s model, which sounds about right given current inflation. Apparently the 6a will remain on sale as a cheaper option, presumably with a price cut.
Here’s how previous models stacked up:
- Google Pixel 6a: $449/£399
- Google Pixel 5a 5G: $449
- Google Pixel 4a 5G: $499/£499
- Google Pixel 4a: $349/£349
- Google Pixel 3a: $399/£399
As you can see, the price has varied a little across the last few years, but it averages out to around the $449/£399 mark that we saw with the Pixel 6a. The current inflation and currency fluctuations in world currencies means it’s hard to be sure that Google will offer the same deal with the Pixel 7a, but we hope it does.
What are the Google Pixel 7a specs and design?
Though we haven’t seen the 7a officially yet, true to form, there have been plenty of leaks. Google is not good at keeping a lid on its upcoming smartphones, and in March the phone leaked in full with hands-on photographs from Vietnamese site Zingnews.
Zingnews
It’s claimed the phone pictured above is a prototype, not a retail version, and after images were first posted online the device was remote-locked.
Phonecompares also posted photos of an alleged Pixel 7a that looks very similar to the above leak with the model name GHL1X, 8GB RAM, and 128GB storage. At least two more devices have since popped up in the wild, even including retail packaging.
The phone looks incredibly similar to the regular Pixel 7, without the mic hole on the back next to the flash. It also looks very similar to the Pixel 6a but has a more distinct camera pill shape.
Backing up the design leaks are the below renders that turned up online even earlier from the usually reliable OnLeaks, in collaboration with SmartPrix, that reveal the likely design, along with a few specific specs.
Unsurprisingly, the phone looks an awful lot like a cross between the previous Pixel 6a and the more recent Pixel 7 series. It takes the same metallic camera bar design as the 7 phones, but pairs it with the thick bezel and chunky chin on the front that mark this as a cheaper device.
OnLeaks claims that the phone will measure 152.4 x 72.9 x 9.0mm, which is fractionally larger than the 6a in every dimension, but not by enough to be noticeable (that phone measured 152.2 x 71.8 x 8.9mm).
Like the other recent Pixel phones, including the 6a, there’s no sign of a 3.5mm headphone jack.
OnLeaks has since paired with another site, MySmartPrice, to reveal the phone’s main three finishes. Jon Prosser has added names for these: Charcoal, Snow, and Sea. You can see them alongside a fourth colour, Coral, will be available exclusively from the Google Store – that image comes from evleaks.
Dominic Preston / Foundry
Aside from the design, what about the specs?
We have a surprisingly complete view of those thanks to what appears to be an official spec sheet comparing the 7a to the 6a, shared by Roland Quandt as part of a collection of seemingly official images.
This reveals a few key details. The first is that the display, while staying at 6.1in and FHD resolution, will jump up to a 90Hz refresh rate.
We can also see that the Google Tensor 2 SoC will make it to the Pixel 7a – no surprise, as it’s now normal practice for the a-series to borrow from its flagship siblings, and the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro have the Tensor 2 onboard.
The camera has clearly had some upgrades to, with a 64Mp main camera listed, alongside a 13Mp ultrawide and 13Mp selfie camera. Super Res Zoom has seemingly been enhanced slightly, now up to 8x zoom, though again there’s no optical telephoto camera here.
That matches details shared by leaker Kuba Wojciechowski, who specifies that the sensors will be the 64Mp IMX787 and 13Mp IMX712, with the latter used in both the ultrawide and selfie cameras.
Excitingly, the spec sheet also lists wireless charging – a first for a Pixel a.
One other minor(ish) detail is that screenshots shared by SnoopyTech show a Face Unlock feature, alongside Fingerprint Unlock. That might not seem remarkable, but previous Pixel a phones have omitted the tech (as, indeed, have some of the flagships). It returned in the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro though, and now looks to be part of the 7a too.
If you can’t wait until the Pixel 7a launches, check out our roundup of the best Pixel 7 and 7 Pro deals and best Pixel 6a deals to see if you can grab a bargain.