HIGHLIGHTS
* The upcoming Google Pixel 7a is expected to be launched this month.
* The upcoming smartphone is said to be the last A-series phone by Google.
* Some key specifications of the Google Pixel 7a were recently revealed on Geekbench.
* The Pixel 7a is expected to be revealed during Google I/O.
* Our leaked Pixel roadmap says there could be a Pixel 8a, but it depends on how the Pixel 7a sells.
* A leaker suggests the Pixel 7a could be the last of its kind.
Google Pixel 6a should soon be succeeded by the Google Pixel 7a, which is supposed to be a mid-range Android smartphone. The Pixel 7a, although a serious upgrade over its predecessor, could be the last A series phone from Google.
Google should make quite a few hardware and software announcements at this year’s Google 1/O 2023, scheduled on May 10, 2023. Alongside the premium Pixel Fold, Google is also expected to launch a mid-range Android smartphone, dubbed the Pixel 7a, which will also arrive in India. Let’s look at the latest developments and rumors about this well-established series.
We’re only days away from Google’s 1/0 event where there’s a good chance the company will officially reveal the Google
Pixel 7a. But could the Pixel 7a be Google’s swan song for its A-series phones? The answer may be a little complicated.
Back in December, industry sources worked with a trustworthy source to reveal Google’s Pixel roadmap. What we learned from that leak is that Google could be rethinking its A series strategy. Based on the information, we know there is a plan for a Pixel 8a, and it has the codename “akita.” However, whether the Pixel 8a gets released or not may ultimately depend on the sales of the Pixel 7a.
Now, tipster Yogesh Brar seems fairly certain the Pixel 7a will be the last of its
kind. On Twitter, Brar claims that the end is nigh for the A series and Google will simply go forward with just the vanilla Pixel and the Pro model.
Instead of outright ending the A series, as Brar suggests could happen, our source said that Google could move to a biannual release schedule. Our guess is that the tech giant could even choose to change the name of the line, although our source didn’t mention this. If the name does change, it would effectively mean the A series is gone, but the line will still be the mid-tier budget phone Pixel owners know and love.
Google will introduce several firsts to the Pixel A-Series this month With the Pixel 7a, Google will introduce several firsts to the Pixel A-Series this month, including a 90 Hz display and wireless charging. The Google Tensor G2 chipset used by Pixel 7 Pro and the Pixel 7 will also power the Pixel 7a. The Pixel 7a will arguably bring Google’s entry-level Pixel smartphones as near as they can go to the Pixel A-Series, albeit with a primary camera that is marginally poorer and less expensive components like a plastic back.
Google To End Pixel A Series With The Pixel 7a?
According to a new report, Google may release two candy bar flagship smartphones and one foldable offering in the future. The prediction in the report is based on the increased price and rumored advanced features of the Pixel 7a.
The tipster claims that the Google Pixel 7a has several serious upgrades over the Pixel 6a.
This suggests Google is closing the gap between the Pixel A series and the regular Pixel series smartphones.
Moving forward, Google may offer two premium Android smartphones in the candy-bar form factor, but both will belong to the Pixel series. Google could be ending the A series in order to offer a standard and Pro variant of Pixel smartphones. There could be minor differences between these models, presumably to justify the Pro moniker.
Google Pixel 7a Expected Specs, Prices, Availability
The Google Pixel 7a is tipped to feature a 6.1-inch FHD+ OLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate. The Pixel smartphone would be powered by Google’s in-house Tensor G2 chipset, which is also embedded in the Pixel 7 & Pixel 7 Pro.
Google is rumored to be packing 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 128GB of UFS 3.1 storage inside the Pixel 7a. For imaging, there could be a 64MP rear camera with OIS, a 12MP ultra-wide camera, and a 10.8MP front-facing camera.
The Pixel 7a is tipped to pack a 4,400mAh battery, which would support 20W wired and wireless fast charging. Needless to say, the Pixel 7a should run the latest version of the Android 13 operating system.
Previous reports have indicated the Google Pixel 7a will be priced at CAD $702 (approx. ₹42,300). Google released the Pixel 7 at CAD $779 (approx. $47,000) in the same region.
The difference between the prices of the Pixel 7a and the Pixel 7 seems to be marginal. Hence, the rumors about the Pixel A series ending with the Pixel 7a seem to have some weightage.
Google’s options
The problem is we really like the Pixel 6a,we did with previous Pixel a-series models. We’d hate to see such a good-value phone disappear. So the initial solution would seem to be that Google’s better off upping the specs price of the standard flagship Pixel to compensate for the improved Pixel a model.
However, doing so would likely cause the same issue between the standard and Pro flagship Pixels, and we wouldn’t want the pro Pixels to get more expensive that much since they’ve such excellent value while still competing with the best phones around.
With that in mind, maybe Google is better off getting rid of the Pixel a-series. That way, its regular phone line-up each year would consist of two models with an easy-to-understand price/feature gap that both get renewed at the same time. But if that did happen, Google would need to find a new way to appeal to users unable or unwilling to pay for flagship phones. Fortunately, its rivals may have pointed the way here.
New old phones
Apple, and more recently Samsung, sell older flagship phone models alongside their latest models. The Apple Store offers the iPhone 13 or iPhone 13 mini from 2021, and the iPhone 12 from 2020, alongside its latest iPhone 14 handsets, while Samsung has kept the Galaxy S22 as a cheaper counterpart to the Galaxy S23 family. Google is already rumored to be doing this with the Pixel 6a (seemingly to make up for the Pixel 7a’s alleged price increase), so in future years perhaps we’ll see vanilla flagship Pixels take up the mantle of The Cheap Google Phone.
Buying older phones can feel a bit riskier than just buying a fresh model. But with big spec changes only happening every few years, and update schedules for phone OSes stretching longer into the future than ever before (three years guaranteed in Google’s case), smartphone shoppers can often get a discount by selecting a 12-month-old model without missing out on any meaningful features that the new version has.
Google’s more generous than most Android phone makers with software updates too thanks to its quarterly Feature Drop updates, which help even older Pixels continue to feel fresh.
This rumor is going to take a while to play out, since the Google Pixel 7a is only rumored to launch on May 11 at Google I/O 2023, it could be up to another year until it would become obvious there’s no replacement coming. But while we’d miss getting a Pixel 8a next year, as long as Google still does something to cater to users with tight budgets, the end of the Pixel a-series wouldn’t be worth worrying about.
General
| Launch Date | April 27, 2023 (Unofficial) |
| Operating System | Android v12 |
Performance
| Chipset | Google Tensor G2 |
| CPU | Octa core (2.8 GHz, Dual core, Cortex X1 + 2.25 GHz, Dual core, Cortex A76 + 1.8 GHz, Quad core, Cortex A55) |
| Co-Processor | Titan M2 |
| Architecture | 64 bit |
| Fabrication | 5 nm |
| Graphics | Mali-G78 MP20 |
| RAM | 8 GB |
Display
| Display Type | OLED |
| Screen Size | 6.1 inches (15.49 cm) |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels |
| Aspect Ratio | 20:9 |
| Pixel Density | 431 ppi |
| Bezel-less display | Yes with punch-hole display |
| Touch Screen | Yes, Capacitive Touchscreen, Multi-touch |
| Refresh Rate | 90 Hz |
| Screen to Body Ratio (claimed by the brand) | 84.3 % |
Design
| Waterproof | Yes, Water resistant, IP67 |
| Ruggedness | Dust proof |
Camera
| MAIN CAMERA | ||
| Camera Setup | Dual | |
| Resolution | 12.2 MP f/1.7, Primary Camera 12 MP f/2.2, Ultra-Wide Angle Camera |
|
| Autofocus | Yes | |
| Flash | Yes, LED Flash | |
| Image Resolution | 4000 x 3000 Pixels | |
| Settings | Exposure compensation | |
| Shooting Modes | Continuous Shooting High Dynamic Range mode (HDR) |
|
| Camera Features | Digital Zoom Auto Flash Face detection Touch to focus |
|
| Video Recording | 3840×2160 @ 30 fps 1920×1080 @ 30 fps |
|
| FRONT CAMERA | ||
| Camera Setup | Single | |
| Resolution | 8 MP f/2, Primary Camera | |
| Video Recording | 1920×1080 @ 30 fps | |
Battery
| Capacity | 4410 mAh |
| Type | Li-Polymer |
| Removable | No |
| Wireless Charging | Yes |
| Quick Charging | Yes, Fast |
| USB Type-C | Yes |
Storage
| Internal Memory | 128 GB |
| Expandable Memory | No |
Network & Connectivity
| SIM Slot(s) | Dual SIM, GSM+GSM |
| SIM Size | SIM1: Nano, SIM2: Nano |
| Network Support | 5G Not Supported in India, 4G Supported in India, 3G, 2G |
| VoLTE | Yes |
| SIM 1 |
4G Bands:
TD-LTE 2300(band 40)
FD-LTE 1800(band 3) 3G Bands:
UMTS 1900 / 2100 / 850 / 900 MHz
2G Bands:
GSM 1800 / 1900 / 850 / 900 MHz
GPRS:
Available
EDGE:
Available
|
| SIM 2 |
4G Bands:
TD-LTE 2300(band 40)
FD-LTE 1800(band 3) 3G Bands:
UMTS 1900 / 2100 / 850 / 900 MHz
2G Bands:
GSM 1800 / 1900 / 850 / 900 MHz
GPRS:
Available
EDGE:
Available
|
| Wi-Fi | Yes, Wi-Fi 4 (802.11 b/g/n) |
| Wi-Fi Features | Mobile Hotspot |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| GPS | Yes with A-GPS, Glonass |
| NFC | Yes |
| USB Connectivity | Mass storage device, USB charging |
Multimedia
| Loudspeaker | Yes |
| Audio Jack | USB Type-C |
Sensors
| Fingerprint Sensor | Yes |
| Fingerprint Sensor Position | On-screen |
| Fingerprint Sensor Type | Optical |
| Other Sensors | Light sensor, Proximity sensor, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope |
Faqs
1)Google Pixel 7a to be the last A-series phone?
Ans)As per the tipster, the prediction that the Google Pixel 7a will be the last A-series smartphone is based on the advanced features and the increased price of the Google Pixel 7a, including the latest wireless charging, Tensor chip, and a 90Hz display. It is said that the phone is expected to be priced around $499 (approx Rs 40,808).
The tipster also mentioned that the vanilla and Pro models, in addition to a foldable, will continue to be Google’s primary product offerings moving ahead.
2)What are the Google Pixel 7a specifications (expected)?
* Display: The Google Pixel 7a will likely feature a 6.1-inch FHD+ OLED screen with a refresh rate of 90Hz.
* Chipset: As we have already said, the Google Tensor G2 chipset will run the smartphone.
* RAM and storage: It’s unclear how many different versions of the Google Pixel 7a will be offered, but we expect it to have 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage.
* Cameras: The smartphone is expected to feature a 64MP main camera with OIS and a 12MP ultra-wide angle sensor on the rear. The phone could pack a 10.8MP sensor for selfies.
* Battery: The upcoming phone will likely pack a 4,400mAh battery with wired and wireless charging support.
* Software: The Google Pixel 7a will come with stock Android 13 out of the box.
Also, key specifications of Google Pixel 7a were recently revealed on the benchmarking website Geekbench. The device comes with Android 13 pre-installed and has 8GB of RAM. It was also seen in a flashy coral colour option .
Also Read: Google Pixel 7a to get Face Unlock feature, reveals new leak