Support our independent tech coverage. Chrome Unboxed is written by real people, for real people—not search algorithms. Join Chrome Unboxed Plus for just $2 a month to get an ad-free experience, access to our private Discord, and more. Learn more about membership here.
START FREE TRIAL (MONTHLY)START FREE TRIAL (ANNUAL)
We’ve already had plenty of leaks around the Pixel 7a, letting us in on a handful of the things we should expect from Google’s upcoming mid-range phone. As always, the Pixel 7a is expected to aesthetically fall in line with the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro, but should also come with a handful of upgrades over previous A-series Pixel phones of the past.
According to those early rumors, the Pixel 7a should come with wireless charging, the Tensor G2 SoC, an improved camera setup, and a 90Hz screen for the first time in a non-flagship phone from Google. While all these additions are fantastic, in my opinion the addition of a 90Hz screen is a game-changer at this sort of price point. I already felt pretty sure this upgrade was on the way for the Pixel 7a, but we now have a much better assurance that this is in fact the case.
Thanks to an early hands-on leak over at Slashleaks, we can clearly see that this Pixel 7a is not only real but also comes with a 90Hz screen. Again, I didn’t really think it would arrive without this feature, but the fact that we know it is on the way makes me very happy.
The Pixel 7a looks to bring a lot to the table and makes me wonder exactly how it will fit in with the Pixel 7. If Google keeps the Pixel 7a in the $449 range, it will make it almost impossible not to recommend it over the Pixel 7 when it launches. If Google pushes the price up a bit, it could get a bit confusing for buyers to choose between on-sale, reduced prices on the Pixel 7 and a slightly-inflated price on the Pixel 7a.
If the leaked roadmap for Pixel phones is to be believed, however, the Pixel 7a could be the first in a new line of A-series Pixel phones to be released only once every 2 years, making a bit more sense out of a mid-range phone that brings more features to the table. If the Pixel 7a is to stay around for a few years after launch, it needs strong hardware, and it looks more and more likely that this will be the case. With a supposed release date of May 2023, we still have a little while to wait.
SUBSCRIBE TO UPSTREAM
Get Chrome Unboxed delivered straight to your inbox
Upstream is our flagship, curated newsletter with the top stories, most click-worthy deals, giveaways, and trending articles from Chrome Unboxed sent directly to your inbox a few times a week. Join 31,000+ subscribers.
