Google Pixel 7a: what to expect and what we want to see
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Now that Google has announced the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro, it’s probably only a matter of time before the company unveils its affordable alternative to those phones: the Google Pixel 7a.
Nothing has been officially confirmed about this handset yet, but it’s probably coming and we have an idea of what to expect; based on early leaks combined with what we know about the Pixel 7 and earlier models.
You’ll find all the leaks and our educated guesses below, and below that we’ve included a wish list of the things we want from the Google Pixel 7a. And we’ll update this article when we hear something new – so check back soon.
Cut to the chase
- What is it? An affordable alternative to the Pixel 7
- When is it out? Possibly mid 2023
- How much is it? Probably around $449 / £399 / AU$749
Google Pixel 7a release date and price predictions
Google hasn’t been quite consistent with the A model launch, with the Pixel 6a being announced in May 2022 and shipping in July, while the previous two models launched in August of their respective release years.
Still, that’s why we think May 2023 is likely to be the earliest we’ll see the Pixel 7a, and it might ship later, even if it’s announced then.
There are no pricing rumours, but since the Pixel 7 costs the same as the Pixel 6, Google could price the Pixel 7a the same as the Pixel 6a. That would mean a price of $449 / £399 / AU$749.
Google Pixel 7a news and leaks
So far, there’s only been one real Pixel 7a leak and that’s from Digital Chat Station, which is a fairly reliable leaker.
They claim – via machine translation – that Google is working on a small-screen flagship codenamed “Neila” that will have a flat screen, a single-lens perforated camera, and a design similar to other recent Pixels.
That doesn’t give us much to go on, and there’s a chance they won’t even refer to the Pixel 7a – as they don’t use that name and they describe it as a flagship – but we’d otherwise expect the phone to live up to that. description.
It will likely have an aluminum camera bar, like the Pixel 7, and a generally similar look along with the Tensor G2 chipset offered by that phone. Other than that, we don’t know what to expect.
What we want to see
There are five key things Google can do that would make the Pixel 7a significantly better than the Pixel 6a. Here are our must-haves if Google 7a is to ensure success:
1. Give it a refresh rate of 90 Hz
The Pixel 6a is stuck with a 60Hz refresh rate, which feels rather dated even for an affordable phone these days. We don’t expect 120Hz from the Google Pixel 7a, but a boost to 90Hz would be much appreciated.
That said, it would be in line with the standard Pixel 7 in terms of refresh rate, so Google might not be inclined to do this so the phones are more differentiated.
2. Upgrade to a 50MP camera
The last few Pixel A line generations all have the same 12.2MP main camera (also used by the numbered Pixels prior to the Pixel 6) and while it’s a decent snapper, it’s an upgrade.
Google uses a much better 50MP camera on its more recent flagship Pixel phones, so an upgrade to the one here would be nice to see. But, as with an increased refresh rate, that could bring the Pixel 7a too close to the Pixel 7 for Google’s liking, so don’t count on it.
There’s a wide range of other sensors to consider though, and a wide range between 12.2 and 50MP for Google to consider would make the 7a stand out from its predecessor better in the camera department.
3. Get better battery life
In our Google Pixel 6a review, we found that the phone struggled to last an entire day, which is the minimum we expect from our smartphones. So for the Pixel 7a, we really want to see an improvement.
The good news is that an improvement is likely as the phone is likely to 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 certainly doesn’t charge quickly. Even the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro aren’t among the fastest chargers, but with support for 30W, they’re at least more reasonable, and that’s an upgrade we’d love to see on the Pixel 7a as well.
We would say there is a medium chance that this will happen. It’s not big enough for Google to want to keep it for the flagships per se, but it can also drive up the price, which the company will probably try to avoid.
5. A lower price
Speaking of price, for the specs on offer, the Pixel 6a was a bit overpriced, especially since it landed so long after the Pixel 6 that price drops meant you could sometimes get that phone for a similar price.
As such, we’d love to see a lower price for the Pixel 7a, or enough specs to justify the price tag. Or if one of those things doesn’t work out, the company could do with launching the 7a earlier in its release year than the Pixel 6a did – that way it has a chance to rank higher among the best Pixel phones.