Despite its dated hardware, the Google Pixel 6a is still one of the best budget Android phones to buy. It launched in July 2022 after being announced at I/O 2022 in May. As the phone’s anniversary is fast approaching, rumors and leaks surrounding the Google Pixel 7a have been in full flow. Earlier this year, the first hands-on images of the phone, albeit of poor quality, leaked onto the internet. Now, a couple of months before I/O 2023, high-quality hands-on photos of the Pixel 7a have been shared online, giving us a closer look at its Pixel 7-inspired design.
Based on hands-on images shared by Vietnamese blog Zing News, it’s clear that the Pixel 7a will adopt the Pixel 7’s camera bar design. This means the camera bump will use matte aluminum instead of glass, which it will make it much more durable. Unfortunately, the photos also confirm that Google hasn’t done anything to reduce the thick bezels surrounding the display.
Source: Zing News
Thanks to the glass back panel, the Pixel 7a looks much more premium in photos.
While it’s hard to tell from the hands-on images, the Pixel 7a should retain the same 6.1-inch screen size as its predecessor, though it looks like the refresh rate will be bumped up to 90Hz. According to information in the About phone and bootloader menu, the phone will come with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. By comparison, the Pixel 6a ships with 6GB of RAM.
Other details confirmed from the hands-on photos include a single physical SIM tray, rubber protection around the SIM slot for IP protection, a speaker and a USB-C port on the bottom. Google remotely locked the phone shortly after its images were shared online, making it difficult to determine its other specifications. However, if previous leaks are anything to go by, the Pixel 7a should use a Tensor G2 chip, include 5W wireless charging, and keep the same $450 price tag as its predecessor.
The unit is apparently a “software prototype” running Android 13. Given that the Pixel 7a is only a couple of months away from its official reveal, it’s likely that this will also be its final design. This isn’t the first time unreleased Pixel phones have surfaced in Vietnam months before launch. Expect more Pixel 7a leaks to appear as the phone gets closer to launch.