We’re starting to get a better idea of what the Google Pixel 7a will bring at some point in 2023, and the latest phone leak covers the screen, battery charging capabilities, and camera.
According to some excavations done by the developer Kuba Wojciechowski (opens in a new tab)which outperforms most when it comes to phone leaks, the Pixel 7a will have a display with a 90Hz refresh rate – up from 60Hz on the Google Pixel 6a.
The screen apparently stays at 1080p, but a refresh rate increase to match the standard Google Pixel 7 would be welcome and would mean a smoother interface experience (the Pixel 7 Pro, as you probably know, hits 120Hz).
Cameras and charging
As for the rear camera, Wojciechowski says a 64-megapixel Sony IMX787 sensor and a 13-megapixel Sony IMX712 ultra-wide-angle sensor, which should be a significant leap over the Pixel 6a’s 12MP + 12MP dual-lens camera.
Finally, the phone is expected to come with wireless charging (albeit slow wireless charging), another improvement on its predecessor. There’s no word yet on the potential battery capacity, which was 4.4110mAh in the Pixel 6a released last year.
Google announced the Pixel 6a in May 2022 as part of the Google IO event. The chances that Google will do something similar in 2023 seem high, although for now we do not know the exact dates when the next IO conference will take place.
Analysis: a promising mid ranger
From what we’ve learned here, the signs are promising for the Google Pixel 7a. All of the improvements address key areas and all should have a real impact on the experience of owning and using a smartphone.
What about the global pandemic we’ve all been through, the mid-range Pixel series has been a bit of a stutter. The Google Pixel 5a only launched in the US and Japan and didn’t offer much more than the Pixel 4a that came before it.
The Google Pixel 6a was more widely available, although we felt its poor battery life and slow charging speeds limited its appeal. Google knows that in the tough mid-range segment, it takes a lot to stand out from the competition.
In the case of the Google Pixel 7a, it may just happen: the key to this line of phones is to keep the price low while offering only a taste of premium-level specs and features, so it’ll be interesting to see how much the Pixel 7a costs when it finally arrives.