Now that Google has announced the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro, it will likely only be a matter of time before the company unveils its affordable alternative to these two phones — the Google Pixel 7a.
Nothing has been officially confirmed about this phone yet, but it’s likely coming and we have an idea of what to expect; Based on early leaks along with what we know about the Pixel 7 and previous models.
You’ll find all the leaks and educated guesses below, and then, within that, we’ve included a wish list of things we want from the Google Pixel 7a. We’ll update this article whenever we hear anything new – so check back soon.
cut to the chase
- What is this? An affordable alternative to the Pixel 7
- When is the exit? Possibly mid 2023
- How much will it cost? Likely around $449 / £399 / AU$749
Google Pixel 7a release date and price predictions
Google hasn’t been quite consistent with the launch of its A model, since the Pixel 6a was announced in May 2022 and shipped in July, the previous two models launched in August of their respective years of release.
However, we believe that May 2023 is most likely the earliest we’ll see the Pixel 7a, and that it may ship later, even if it was announced at that time.
However, there was a mention of the Google Pixel 7a on Amazon. Not much to blow his mind, but it’s another indication that the middle guard is really on his way in 2023, and it could mean he’ll be relegated before the middle of the year.
There aren’t any pricing rumors, but given that the Pixel 7 costs the same amount as the Pixel 6, Google may price the Pixel 7a the same as the Pixel 6a. That means a price tag of $449 / £399 / AU$749.
Google Pixel 7a news and leaks
So far, there aren’t many leaks about the Pixel 7a, but we’ve now seen what the phone might look like, thanks to unofficial renders based on the leaked information.
Some of these – which leaker come from OnLeaks and SmartPrix (Opens in a new tab) – can be seen below, showing a phone that looks a lot like the Pixel 7, and indeed the Pixel 6a.
Dimensions appear to be 152.4 x 72.9 x 9.0mm (rising to 10.1mm at the camera bump), and there’s no indication of a 3.5mm headphone port. The only other detail available alongside the renders is that the Pixel 7a will apparently come in white and dark gray shades.
picture 1 from 2
Since then, two hands-on videos have been leaked, which pretty much match the design above, and also suggest that the Pixel 7a has a 90Hz display, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage — specs that match the Pixel standard. 7.
Moreover, one of the leaks we came across is courtesy of Digital Chat Station, a fairly reliable leaking company.
They claim — via machine translation — that Google is working on a small home screen codenamed “Nella,” which has a flat screen, a single-hole camera, and a design similar to other modern Pixels.
That doesn’t give us much to go on, and there’s a chance they’re not even referring to the Pixel 7a — since they don’t go by that name and call it a flagship — but we’d otherwise expect the phone to fit that description.
You likely have an aluminum camera band, like the Pixel 7, and a similar look overall, along with the Tensor G2 chipset that this phone offers. Beyond that, we’re not sure what to expect.
The same source claimed elsewhere (Opens in a new tab) There is a Pixel phone that works with a ceramic body and while they describe this device as a flagship, they also mention the camera arrangement used by 9to5Google (Opens in a new tab) It has been linked to a phone believed to be the Pixel 7a.
Codenamed “Lynx,” the device apparently has a 50MP primary sensor, a 64MP telephoto sensor, and a 13MP ultra-wide camera, which will also be used on the front.
This phone also appears to support 5W wireless charging — making for the first time that an A-series model can be charged wirelessly, and it will use the Tensor G2 chipset, just like the rest of the Pixel 7 line.
However, we take these claims with a pinch of salt, as this makes for a variety of specs that don’t really add up. The cameras will, on paper, even beat the Pixel 7 Pro, and the ceramic construction feels oddly premium.
However, given the slower wireless charging speed and the use of the same chipset, this likely won’t be the Pixel 7 Ultra or Pixel 8 either. So we suspect that whatever this leaked phone is, some of these specifications are wrong.
More clues are offered in a separate leak that points to a 64MP + 13MP dual-lens rear camera, 90Hz refresh rate display, and 5W wireless charging again.
What we want to see
There are five main things Google could do that would make the Pixel 7a much better than the Pixel 6a. Here’s what it takes if Google wants to ensure 7a is a success:
1. Give it a 90Hz refresh rate
The Pixel 6a is stuck with a 60Hz refresh rate, which seems a bit dated these days even for an affordable phone. We don’t expect 120Hz from the Google Pixel 7a, but boosting it to 90Hz would be much appreciated.
However, that would bring it in line with the Pixel 7 standard, refresh rate-wise, so Google may not want to do that, so that phones are better differentiated.
2. Upgrade to a 50MP camera
All of the past few generations of the Pixel A-line have the same 12.2-megapixel main camera (also used by the numbered Pixels that predate the Pixel 6), and while it’s a reasonable finisher, it’s a late upgrade.
Google is using a much better 50MP camera on its latest Pixel flagships, so it would be nice to see an upgrade to that here. Although, as with the increased refresh rate, that can make the Pixel 7a too close to the Pixel 7 for Google’s liking, so don’t count on it.
There are a slew of other sensors to consider, however, and a large 12.2-50MP range for Google to consider would better set the 7a apart from its predecessor in the camera department.
3. Provides better battery life
In our Google Pixel 6a review, we found that the phone struggled to last a full day of use, which is the bare minimum we expect from our smartphones. So for the Pixel 7a, we really want to see an improvement.
The good news is that it’s likely an improvement, as the phone will likely use the Tensor G2 chipset, which is more efficient than the original Tensor in the Pixel 6a.
4. Faster charging
At just 18W, the Pixel 6a doesn’t charge fast. Even the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro aren’t among the fastest chargers, but with 30W support they at least make more sense, and that’s an upgrade we’d like to see offered on the Pixel 7a as well.
We’ll say there’s a medium chance of that happening. It’s not a big enough feature for Google to necessarily want to keep for the flagship, but it could also drive up the price, which the company is likely trying to avoid.
5. Lower price
Speaking of the price, for the specs offered, the Pixel 6a was a little expensive, especially since it landed so long after the Pixel 6, the lower price means you can sometimes get this phone for a similar price.
As such, we’d like to see a lower price for the Pixel 7a, or enough of a spec boost to justify its price. Or, failing any of those things, the company could do with launching the 7a earlier in its year of release than the Pixel 6a — that way it earned a higher ranking among the best Pixel phones.