Google Pixel 7a: What we know so far about the next affordable Pixel

Google's next affordable Pixel phone, likely called the Pixel 7a, has already started making rounds on the internet, meaning it's time to collect and put them together with our wishlist to see how it's shaping up. Before we get to the wishlist, here's everything we know about the Google Pixel 7a for now.

Google Pixel 7a: Pricing and availability

We're yet to see any information surrounding the pricing and availability of the Pixel 7a. However, we can make a few educated guesses here to predict what Google is cooking behind the scenes. The Pixel 7 and the Pixel 7 Pro didn't see a price hike, and we expect the Pixel 7a to follow that trend. This means we expect Google's next affordable Pixel to land on the market carrying a $450 price tag, just like the Pixel 6a. That sounds almost too good to be true, given some key hardware improvements compared to the outgoing model, so don't be surprised to see a little bit of markup.

As for availability, we don't expect the Pixel 7a to make an official appearance until July or August 2023. We say that because the Pixel 6a was released in July 2022, and the Pixel 5a was released in August 2021. Nothing is set in stone for now, but we also expect Google to preemptively announce a lot of details, just like it did for the Pixel 7 series. Either way, we're still months away from hearing anything about the Pixel 7a, so stay tuned. In the meantime, you can check out the Galaxy S23 or even the Galaxy A54 5G if you're not willing to open your wallet for an expensive phone.

Google Pixel 7a: Design and specs

It may be early to speculate on pricing and availability info, but it's never too early to get a look at some CAD renders and leaked images. The Pixel 7a CAD renders showed up online in November 2022, and to no one's surprise, it looked like the Pixel 6a. Here, take a look:

A couple of visual changes make it look closer to the Pixel 7 series, but it's a familiar design overall. According to information leaked by OnLeaks, it seems like the Pixel 7a will measure 152.4 x 72.9 x 9.0mm. The front of the phone also resembles the Pixel 6a with a hole-punch camera cut out towards the top of the display, with relatively thick bezels on the sides and a small chin on the bottom. As you can see, the back of the Pixel 7a looks very similar to that of the Pixel 7. The untrained eyes will have difficulty distinguishing as the upcoming affordable model is also expected to have its camera bar covered with the same coat of paint as the side frame. It's hard to tell if Google will use plastic or aluminum for the frame, but the rumor is that we'll see the recycled aluminum frame as the Pixel 6a.

Some rumors point towards the possibility of the Pixel 7a having a ceramic body, but we doubt that would be the case, really. That's a significant upgrade for not just the Pixel 7a but the entire Pixel lineup, as it would be the first Pixel device to do so. Google will likely save that one for the upcoming Pixel Fold or one of the many future Pixel phones rumored to be planned, so let's keep our expectations in check for this one.

If these renders aren't enough for you, then we also stumbled upon what appears to be a set of real-life images of the Pixel 7a. Here, take a look:

This particular image shows a phone that looks very similar to the Pixel 7. You can see the distinctive camera bar at the back, while the front has a large display with uniform bezels on all sides. You can check out a few more images in our dedicated post in which we covered the Pixel 7a live images.

Regarding the specifications, one of the early reports has given us a pretty good idea of what to expect from the upcoming phone. The Pixel 7a is said to be powered by Google's new Tensor G2 processor that debuted with the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro. That's not hard to believe because the Pixel 6a also ships with the same Tensor CPU that's also powering the other two devices in the Pixel 6 series.

What's more interesting is that the Pixel 7a is said to arrive with a 90Hz 1080p display made by Samsung. This would be a first for a Pixel in this series, as all the affordable Pixel phones have had a slower 60Hz panel. Notably, the phone is also said to support wireless charging along with a low-power 5W chip for charging earbud cases. We could also see improved camera performance as it's expected to switch from the Sony IMX363 to the Sony IMX787 sensor.

That's all the info we have regarding the Pixel 7a specifications. We'll continue to curate more information to add to this space, so stay tuned. Let's take a quick look at a few other things.

Google Pixel 7a wishlist

The Pixel 7 series rights pretty much all the wrongs of the outgoing models, and we expect the Pixel 7a to do the same. So if the Pixel 7 series is all about refinements, we could think of a few that would make the Pixel 7a significantly better than the Pixel 6a.

A 90Hz display, please!

Google's Pixel 6a comes with a 6.1-inch AMOLED display, which tops out at a 60Hz refresh rate. A 60Hz panel is perfectly capable of delivering a smooth experience. Still, there's no denying that it becomes a tough pill to swallow knowing that there are good, relatively cheaper phones in the U.S. that come with a faster display, and if the leaks mentioned before are to be true — we may get this wish granted.

Take Samsung's Galaxy A53 5G, for instance. It may not be an outright winner compared to the Pixel 6a, but it handily beats the Pixel phone in key areas, like the display. There's also the new Galaxy A54 5G comes with a 6.4-inch Super AMOLED display with support for up to 120Hz refresh rate, which is on par with what you get on the Pixel 7 Pro.

We don't expect Google to jump from 60Hz to 120Hz for the Pixel 7a, but a boost to 90Hz would be a good start. This will, however, make the more expensive Pixel 7 with a 90Hz lose its significance in the flagship space, so Google may have to leave it out. But considering how Pixel phones are also about delivering a silky smooth user experience, as much as they are about the cameras, we're keeping our fingers crossed for this one.

It's time to retire the 12.2MP sensor

Google decided to opt for a different camera sensor for the Pixel 6a instead of sticking with the Samsung GN1 that's in the main Pixel 6 line. The company went back to the same ol' 12.2MP sensor that it has been using for ages.

The Pixel 6a is definitely one of the most reliable snappers in its price range, but the 12.2MP is beginning to show its age. It's quite evident in many of the photos captured using the Pixel 6a. There's only so much heavy lifting a small sensor like this can do, so it's time to look for improvements. In an ideal world, the Pixel 7a would stay true to the value proposition of the A-series and pack the same camera hardware as the flagship phone. It remains to be seen, though, if Google will take that route or reserve the better sensor for its flagships.

XDA's Senior Technical Editor Adam Conway captured some great photos with the Pixel 6a in some challenging scenarios, but the phone struggled, especially in low light. We think Google took "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" a little too seriously. It's time to retire the 12.2MP sensor in favor of something better. Considering how Pixel phones and cameras go hand-in-hand like bread and butter, it would be nice to see some meaningful upgrades in the camera department for the Pixel 7a. We hope to see the Pixel 7a rocking the same primary sensor as the one used on the flagship Pixel 7 models, but we'll see.

We need faster charging

This one is a bit of a stretch considering the flagship Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro top out at 20W and 23W charging, respectively, but the Pixel 7a should support faster charging.

Fast charging is not and should not be a premium feature that's only reserved for high-end phones. We don't expect the Pixel 7a to be able to fully charge in 10 or 15 minutes, but having to wait for 2 hours for that with an 18W charger is painfully slow. It's also a little bit of a bummer considering you have budget phones like the OnePlus Nord N20 5G delivering 33W SUPERVOOC for almost half the price of the Pixel 6a.

We're all for differentiating phones based on their specs to have solid options across different price points, but not if it comes at the cost of the user experience. Google doesn't give us a charger in the box, so it would be nice to have faster-charging speeds, at least. We'll keep this on our wishlist until we can finally quickly top up my Pixel phones.

Make it truly 'affordable'

There's a lot to like about the Google Pixel 6a, but its price tag made it a little difficult to recommend, especially with the Pixel 6 being well within reach. The same is now true for the Pixel 7, which is frequently discounted. So why not just cough up the extra money to get something significantly better? Google can right this wrong by making the Pixel 7a more affordable, either by making it more affordable while staying in the same boat as the Pixel 6a or checking all the boxes to justify the $449 price tag. Not only will it give Pixel 7a the limelight it deserves, but it'll also make it the bigger fish in the affordable smartphone space.

Bottom line: A refined mid-ranger

Google can do a lot to make the Pixel 7a better than its predecessor, but the changes mentioned above are the ones we truly want to see this year. We don't expect the Pixel 7a to move the needle in the mid-range segment by bringing in radical changes. Still, as long as it stays true to the premise of Google's affordable devices — which is to offer the same flagship Pixel experience on more budget phones — we'll have a much more complete all-rounder to add to our collection of best phones in the U.S.

The Pixel 7a won't be here at least until July 2023. But we'll continue to build this page in the meantime to see how the phone is shaping up. What do you want to see in Google's next affordable Pixel phone? Let us know by dropping a line in the comments below!