The Pixel 7a has finally achieved Bluetooth certification, ahead of its highly anticipated debut at Google I/O in May. The certification was noted by the 9to5Google post (opens in a new tab) and essentially indicates that the next Pixel is anything but ready to go.
Based on the Bluetooth SIG certification (opens in a new tab), we know the Pixel 7a should arrive with at least Bluetooth 5.3 built in (the Pixel 7 supports Bluetooth 5.2). It's a minor update that doesn't change much, but at least we can be sure that the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro will carry this new standard as well.
The Pixel 7a has been leaking for the past few weeks to the point that we don't know much about the phone. The 7a is expected to be an iterative update over the Pixel 6a, keeping the same basic design as its predecessor but adopting a new metal body that's an update over the polycarbonate of the previous model.
It also reportedly runs on Google's latest G2 Tensor chip, as opposed to the original Google Tensor silicon found in all Pixel 6 series phones. While it's cheaper than the Pixel 7 and thus An attractive buy, it's also a nifty way for Google to extend the lifecycle of the Pixel 7 line and its components, though there have been some rumors that the company is moving the series to a semi-annual release schedule.
Google has racked up I/O this year
This Bluetooth certification essentially means the Pixel 7a is ready to launch, so there's not much left to do but wait. As we mentioned, Google often releases the A-series at its I/O event every year, and the 7a is also expected to debut there. The Pixel 8 and 8 Pro have also been leaked and are also expected to break I/O coverage more formally, just like the Google Pixel 7 and 7 Pro did last year. The Pixel tablet and the Google Pixel Fold (not yet announced) are also expected to appear.
The Google I/O Developers Conference is a software-focused event, and we have no doubt that whatever hardware Google introduces will share the spotlight with Google's latest AI and ChatGPT tools. . With that said, we expect the Pixel 7a to impress as one of the best smartphones to launch this year, when it finally launches.