Although the release date of the Pixel 7a is still uncertain, recent leaks have shed some light on what we can expect from Google’s latest budget smartphone. One of the most noteworthy leaks is that the Pixel 7a will likely feature an upgraded RAM, which should lead to faster and smoother performance.
Thanks to a recent hands-on leak from Zing News, we now have a much better idea of what the Pixel 7a will look like. The leaked photos provide a detailed view of the device’s hardware, revealing several key design elements. The device is a DVT 1.0 (Design Validation Test) prototype. It’s not uncommon for leaks of these prototypes to occur in the lead-up to a device’s official release, and it’s also important to keep in mind that things can still change before the final official release.
Based on the leaked images, it appears that the design of the Pixel 7a will bear a strong resemblance to the standard Pixel 7. One noticeable difference is that the Pixel 7a is expected to feature the same updated camera bar as the Pixel 7, rather than the completely glass camera module found on the previous-generation Pixel 6a.
The photos also show off the device’s front-facing camera, which is housed in a punch-hole cutout in the top center of the display. It also appears that the Pixel 7a will feature the same thicker bezels as last year’s phone.
In addition to the design details, this leak also revealed that the Pixel 7a will feature a single SIM slot and support USB-C for charging. This is in line with previous Pixel devices, which have also used USB-C as the primary charging port. Furthermore, there are indications that the Pixel 7a will have some level of waterproofing around the SIM tray, which could provide additional protection against accidental water damage.
While the prototype phone is not able to fully turn on, accessing fastboot has revealed some key hardware details about the device. As per the leak, the Pixel 7a will feature 128GB of storage and 8GB of RAM, which is a significant upgrade from last year’s Pixel 6a that had 6GB of RAM. This is also in line with the RAM specs of the standard Pixel 7, suggesting that Google is looking to offer high-end specs on its mid-range device.
Before the Pixel 7a device was locked down by Google, the original owner was able to confirm that it features a 90Hz display. This is a feature that has been present in previous Pixel devices, so it’s not surprising that Google would include it in the mid-range Pixel 7a.
As for the cameras, the report mentions that the two rear cameras are 12MP, but it’s unclear whether this has been confirmed through software or other means. It’s possible that this is just speculation based on previous Pixel devices, which have typically featured a 12MP main camera.
It’s possible that Google could follow a similar schedule for the release of the Pixel 7a as it did for the Pixel 6a, with an announcement at Google I/O 2023 in May followed by a release in July, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Pixel 7a unveiled during the event on May 10. However, Google may also choose to hold a separate event for the device or announce it through other means.
Source: Zing News