The Pixel 7a, Google’s next mid-range smartphone, should be launched very quickly if we are to believe the many rumors that have been circulating over the past few months. A product that aims to offer again very good photos and the latest Android version at a quite competitive price. Overview of all the reliable information we found on the internet.
Unofficial handheld image of what appears to be a Google Pixel 7a prototype. // Source: Zing News
If the smartphone isn’t officially confirmed yet, let’s not hazard a guess: a few months after the release of the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro in October 2022, Google should release a light version of these flagships in 2023, dubbed the Pixel 7a. An identical business strategy since the first model of the “a” range, launched four years ago.
Google is true to its bad reputation when it comes to leaking information about its upcoming phones, because if we believe the numerous rumors of reliable leakers that have been shared in recent months, we already know almost all the technical sheets of the smartphone Google… and those 2023 edition looks very good. We summarize everything we know about this smartphone.
A little doubt about its positioning
We first know the codename of this Pixel 7a. According to the specialized site 9to5Google, the next Google middle class would correspond to the model called “Lynx” internally. But the association of the 7a with this nickname did not seem logical at first.
We initially thought that this “Lynx” corresponded to an upcoming premium smartphone, the Pixel Ultra, since some rumors linked to this codename suggested better features, sometimes better than those of the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro.
Finally, with no information confirming the existence of such a model, contrary to the numerous rumors surrounding the Pixel 7a, it seemed more likely that it was going to be Google’s next mid-range. Undoubtedly a sign that the Pixel is set to get a little closer to its high-end friends this year. let’s go around
A theme copied and pasted from the Pixel 7
By the end of October 2022, 9to5Google was arguing that “everything that’s leaked so far on Google’s Lynx device indicates something much more premium than we’d normally expect from the Pixel 7a.”
And with good reason: as early as August 2022, a post by the Chinese leaker Digital Chat Station on the social network Weibo claimed that the smartphone could be partially made of ceramic. It would be the first time Google has used such a high-quality material on one of its smartphones, which were previously made of glass, metal and/or plastic. Let’s not get excited though, because since then the various renders of the phone have been contradicting this thesis.
High precision 3D renderings
On the other hand, the rest of the exterior design shouldn’t surprise us. In November 2022, generally reliable leaker OnLeaks teamed up with website Smartprix to share detailed 3D renders of what the Pixel 7a is supposed to look like.
Like the other models in the “a” range, the smartphone shares the same aesthetics as Google’s latest flagship. As with the Pixel 7, the visuals present a phone with a metallic horizontal block that integrates two photo modules and a flash, and a flat screen with a central hole.
The 3D rendering of the alleged Pixel 7a. // Source: OnLeaks and Smartprix
The 3D rendering of the alleged Pixel 7a. // Source: OnLeaks and Smartprix
The back of the Pixel 7. // Source: Frandroid – Chloé Pertuis
The only visual differences: the corners of the screen could be less rounded and the edges of its plate would be thicker than the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro, with an even bigger chin. Also according to this OnLeaks rumor, the dimensions would be “152.4 x 72.9 x 9.0mm (10.1mm with the photoblock)”.
The phone would also have the same placement of volume and unlock buttons on the right edge, a USB-C port, and no 3.5mm jack that’s gone since the Pixel 6a. The model represented is in white color on the 3D renderings.
Three colors and a waterproof certification
This design also appears to be confirmed in a video of an alleged Pixel 7a prototype that was posted to a Vietnamese Facebook group in early January 2023 and then shared by the Slashleaks site. The video instead shows a black phone this time, but with a screen chin that doesn’t appear to be as large as OnLeaks’ 3D renders.
Several models of the future smartphone are said to be present in Vietnam, which prompted the Vietnamese blog Zing to share various photos of the model.
Image of the unofficial Pixel 7a in hand // Source: Zing News
Image of the unofficial Pixel 7a in hand // Source: Zing News
Image of the unofficial Pixel 7a in hand // Source: Zing News
Image of the unofficial Pixel 7a in hand // Source: Zing News
A third light blue colorway was also unveiled by the leaker Kuba Wojciechowski on Twitter in early March. Finally, the leaker’s information Debayan Roy published on Twitter in early March 2023 mention in particular an “IP” seal certification, although it is not yet known whether it will be IP67 like the Pixel 6a or IP68 like the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro.
Finally a 90 Hz screen?
In terms of screen tech, the Pixel 7a would fix its predecessor’s main flaw, according to several reliable rumors put forward over the past few months. In October 2022 the leak Kuba Wojciechowski claimed in a post on his Twitter account that the mid-range smartphone’s screen would “apparently be capped at 1080p [de définition] and 120Hz[de taux de rafraichissement]”. A lower resolution than the Pixel 7 Pro, but identical to the Pixel 7.
Google Pixel 7a with 90Hz screen, wireless charging and brand new dual rear camera setup – details below 👇🧵 pic.twitter.com/IWy77Kwsmd
— Kuba Wojciechowski:3 (@Za_Raczke) November 11, 2022
The same leaker has specified his information in November 2022, stating that the Pixel 7a could have a “90Hz” display that would effectively be stuck at 1080p. A video of a prototype of this smartphone, published in a Vietnamese Facebook group in early January 2023, also shows a screen with a variable refresh rate between 60 and 90 Hz thanks to an automatic adjustment mode.
Information that could be confirmed by the leaker’s information Debayan Roy on Twitter, early March 2023, even stating that the panel would be 6.1 inches and Oled. Therefore, if we believe all these rumours, this “a” model would retain the same format as the 6a, while offering a refresh rate in excess of 60Hz for the first time… matching the Pixel 7 panel.
Good photos that could be improved
On the photo side, we still expect the quality of the shots of this next model to be one of its selling points. The American manufacturer would not have wanted to rest on these laurels with the Pixel 7a.
Are the first rumors of the leaker Kuba Wojciechowski In October 2022, when he bluntly mentioned three photo modules for the “Lynx” smartphone with even better sensors than the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro, he finally nuanced those improvements.
After these changes, the camera sensors will be referred to as “l10_wide” (IMX787) and “l10_UW” (IMX712) without a dedicated telephoto lens.
IMX787 is a huge upgrade over the old IMX363 and should make the 7a an even better choice for mid-range camera quality.
— Kuba Wojciechowski:3 (@Za_Raczke) November 11, 2022
in November 2022, Kuba Wojciechowski shared on Twitter that the Pixel 7a would come with a duo of photo modules identical to the Pixel 6a but with better sensors:
- A Sony IMX787 main wide-angle module with a resolution of 64 megapixels (vs. 12 MP for the Pixel 6a)
- A Sony IMX712 ultra wide-angle module with a resolution of 13 megapixels (vs. 12 MP for the Pixel 6a)
- A Sony IMX712 ultra-wide front camera with a resolution of 13 megapixels (compared to 8 MP on the Pixel 6a)
A combination of sensors that could be confirmed by the information released by the leaker Debayan Roy on Twitter in early March 2023. The same modules are mentioned there by Kuba Wojciechowski. That would be a huge leap over the Pixel 6a’s cameras.
Modernized internal components
As early as August 2022, the Chinese leaker Digital Chat Station claimed on the social network Weibo that an upcoming Google smartphone should be equipped with the in-house processor Tensor G2 in addition to the Pixel 7.
Information that could be confirmed by the information reported by the leaker in March 2023 Debayan Roy on twitter. In what he says is the Pixel 7a spec sheet, the leaker also claims that the smartphone will come with LPDDR5 RAM and a UFS 3.1 storage standard. Two technologies that are already present in the predecessor.
Pixel 7A
• 6.1″ FHD+ 90Hz OLED
• Tensor G2, LPDDR5 RAM, UFS 3.1
• 64MP Sony IMX787 + 12MP UW
• 5W wireless charging
• Android 13 pic.twitter.com/qGVzFQoKiZ—Debayan Roy (Gadgetsdata) (@Gadgetsdata) March 9, 2023
Finally, an alleged prototype of the Pixel 7a that appeared on eBay (via Tom’s Guide US) according to Fastboot mode in mid-March 2023 indicates that the smartphone could offer 8 GB of LPDDR5 RAM. A significant increase, since the three previous models offered only 6 GB of RAM since 2020.
So the Pixel 7a would offer just as much RAM as the Pixel 7 while being just as efficient. A new sign that the gap between the two models may not be very large.
New to charging and connectivity
Another novelty that the next Pixel 7a could include: wireless charging. In October and then in November 2022 the leak Kuba Wojciechowski shared a snippet of Android operating system code via his Twitter account that mentions a “P9222” chip for the “Lynx” smartphone. A technology that ensures wireless charging, but with a maximum speed of 5W.
If the Pixel 7a was well equipped with it, it would be the first model in the range again, but this is more indicative of reverse charging functionality for things like a wireless headphone case.
Another interesting detail is that 7a will most likely be the first device with a Google Tensor chip to include Qualcomm’s WiFi/BT solution – WCN6740. https://t.co/fOdXHaXUuM
— Kuba Wojciechowski:3 (@Za_Raczke) November 11, 2022
Always according to this leakerthe Pixel 7a could use a new Qualcomm chip that manages both Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity. This would be 6E compatible. In this case, this chip would replace the Pixel 6 and 7’s Broadcom modem, which has been criticized for its connectivity issues.
In addition, the Pixel 7a would also support Bluetooth LE via Android 13, according to a leak reported by 9to5Google back in August 2022 from an internal discussion between two Google employees. A technology that already supported the Pixel 6a.
The latest version of Android, of course
If the previous rumor mentioned the presence of Android 13, it seems consistent to us: since Google develops this operating system itself, the company has always taken the opportunity to include the latest version in its Pixel smartphones.
According to a video published in a Vietnamese Facebook group in early January 2023, this seems to be confirmed for the Pixel 7A: a prototype of what the Pixel 7a could be actually runs Android 13.
Google promises three years of major updates and five years of security patches for all its Pixel smartphones. That too should apply to this next Pixel 7a, with the certainty of being able to access Android 14 as soon as it is released, probably between August and September 2023.
What would be the price and release date of the Google Pixel 7a?
While there are no rumors about the price of the next Pixel 7a, we can legitimately base it on that of the Pixel 6a when it’s released in France: €460. Since the Pixel 7’s price has remained similar to the Pixel 6’s, we can hope that the Pixel 7a’s price will follow the same trend, although it could be a bit more expensive due to inflation and increases in raw materials.
We’ve never been this close to not having it
However, there are still uncertainties. First, we’re not immune to an early announcement from the Google I/O conference on May 10, 2023. In fact, the Pixel 6a itself had been announced in May 2022, unlike the previous two generations, which they announced over the summer.
In terms of release date, the same logic suggests that the smartphone would be released in the summer as the previous three models in Google’s “a” range. The Pixel 6a was released on July 21, 2022.
Let’s also remember that an American announcement does not guarantee a release in France: in 2021 the Pixel 5a was only sold in the United States and Japan. So we keep our fingers crossed that Google decides again to market the Pixel 7a in France.
Would you like to join a community of enthusiasts? Our discord welcomes you, it’s a place of mutual help and passion for technology.