Now that Google has announced the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro, it's probably only a matter of time before the company introduces its affordable alternative to these phones: the Google Pixel 7a.
Nothing has been officially confirmed about this phone yet, but it is likely to arrive 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 our guesses below, then below we've included a wish list of things we want from the Google Pixel 7a. And we'll update this article every time we hear something new, so check back soon.
Tabla de contenido
cut to hunt
- What is it? An asequible alternative to the Pixel 7
- When did it come out? Maybe mid 2023
- How much will it cost? Probably around $449 / £399 / AU$749
Google Pixel 7a release date and price predictions
Google hasn't been entirely consistent with its Model A releases, as while the Pixel 6a was announced in May 2022 and shipped in July, the previous two models launched in August of their respective release years.
Still, we think May 2023 is likely the first time we'll see the Pixel 7a, and it could very well ship later, even if it's announced then.
That being said, there was a mention of the Google Pixel 7a on Amazon. There's not much going on, but it's another indication that the mid-ranger is on the way in 2023, and could mean it lands before the middle of the year.
There are no pricing rumors, but since the Pixel 7 costs the same as the Pixel 6, it's possible that Google will price the Pixel 7a at the same price as the Pixel 6a. That would mean a price of €449 / £399 / AU$749.
It could cost the same as the Google Pixel 6a (Image credit: TechRadar/Stephen Lambrechts)
Google Pixel 7a News and Leaks
So far, there aren't many leaks surrounding the Pixel 7a. One we found is courtesy of Digital Chat Station, which is a fairly reliable leaker.
They claim, via machine translation, that Google is working on a small-screen flagship dubbed "Neila," which has a flat screen, a single-lens hole-punch camera, and a design similar to other recent Pixels.
That doesn't give us much to go on, and there's a chance they're not even referring to the Pixel 7a as they don't use that name and describe it as a flagship, but otherwise we'd expect the phone to match. this description.
It's likely to have an aluminum camera bar, like the Pixel 7, and a generally similar look and feel, as well as the Tensor G2 chipset that this phone offers. Beyond that, we're not sure what to expect.
The same source has claimed elsewhere (opens in a new tab) that there's a Pixel phone in the works with a ceramic body, and while they describe this device as a flagship, they also mention a camera fix that 9to5Google (opens in a new tab ) has been linked to a phone you think is the Pixel 7a.
This device is codenamed "Lynx" and apparently has a 50MP main sensor, a 64MP telephoto lens and a 13MP ultra-wide camera, which is also said to be used on the front.
This phone also apparently supports 5W wireless charging, which would allow an A-series model to be charged wirelessly for the first time and would use the Tensor G2 chipset, just like the rest of the Pixel range.
We'd take those claims with a pinch of salt though, as it spawns a variety of specs that don't really add up. On paper, the cameras would even keep pace with the Pixel 7 Pro, and a ceramic build looks strangely premium, too.
Still, given slow wireless charging and using the same chipset, it's probably not a Pixel 7 Ultra or Pixel 8 either. So we suspect that whatever this phone reveals, some of these specs are incorrect.
More hints are given in a separate leak that points to a 64MP + 13MP dual-lens rear camera, a 90Hz refresh rate display, and that 5W wireless charging again.
what we want to see
There are five key things that Google can do to make the Pixel 7a noticeably better than the Pixel 6a. These are our must-haves if Google wants to ensure the success of 7a:
1. Give it a refresh rate of 90 Hz
The Google Pixel 6a is stuck with a 60Hz refresh rate (Image credit: Future)
The Pixel 6a has a 60Hz refresh rate, which even for an affordable phone seems pretty dated these days. We're not expecting 120Hz from the Google Pixel 7a, but we'd greatly appreciate a 90Hz boost.
That said, it would bring it in line with the standard Pixel 7, in terms of refresh rate, so Google might be reluctant to do that, so the phones are better differentiated.
2. Upgrade to a 50MP camera
The latest Pixel A-line generations all have the same 12,2MP main camera (also used by numbered Pixels before the Pixel 6), and while it's a reasonable snapper, an upgrade is retrasado.
Google uses a much better 50MP camera on newer flagship Pixel phones, so it'd be nice to see an update here. As with a higher refresh rate, though, that could make the Pixel 7a too close to the Pixel 7 for Google's liking, so don't count on that.
There's a wide variety of other sensors to consider though, and a wide range between 12.2 and 50MP that Google thinks would better distinguish the 7a from its predecessor in the camera department.
3. Provide better battery life
The Google Pixel 6a doesn't last long between charges (Image credit: Future)
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 to get an upgrade, as the phone is likely to use the Tensor G2 chipset, which is more efficient than the standard Pixel 6a Tensor.
4. Faster charging
At just 18W, the Pixel 6a certainly doesn't charge fast. Even the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro aren't among the fastest chargers around, but with 30W support they're at least more reasonable, and that's an upgrade we'd like to see on sale too.
We would say that there is a medium probability of this happening. It's not a big enough feature that Google would necessarily want to keep it for flagships, but it could also drive up the price, which the company will probably try to avoid.
5. Lower price
Speaking of price, for the specs on offer the Pixel 6a was a bit pricey, especially as it came so long after the Pixel 6 that price drops meant you could sometimes get this phone for a similar bargain.
As such, we'd like to see a lower price for the Pixel 7a or enough specs to justify its price. Or if either of those things fail, the company could release the 7a earlier in its launch year than the Pixel 6a, that way it has a chance to rank higher among the best Pixel phones.
