These 6 things can make the Google Pixel 7a perfect
The Pixel 7a, when it eventually arrives, will almost certainly be the cheapest model in Google’s Pixel phone line. And if the Pixel 6a is anything to go by, it will be a real bargain.
We really like the Pixel 6a, and it got us thinking about what we want to see from the Pixel 7a. We’re a while away from release, but here’s what we hope Google will deliver with the next big Pixel phone release.
Do not change also a lot
Here’s an odd request to begin with, but we don’t want Google to change that much about the Pixel 7’s design compared to the Pixel 6a or Pixel 7. Google isn’t one to really push the envelope when it comes to hardware design, so it it’s safe to assume that the Pixel 7a will be quite similar to the Pixel 6a and Pixel 7.
That’s fine because they both look great, and the company is really building a unique brand with the distinct, recognizable shape and style of the Pixel 6 and Pixel 7 phones. It’s a style change we’d like to see, though, and we’ll get to that next.
A quick, timely release
The Pixel 6a was announced at Google I/O 2022 in May, but it wasn’t released until late July. Most smartphones these days are released within a couple of weeks of the announcement date, as anticipation for a new device can wane when it’s not available for purchase very quickly. There’s no reason to believe that the Pixel 6a has sold poorly (at least for a Google phone), but more might have been sold if it was available in time.
The rotated timeline for the Pixel 6, Pixel 6a and Pixel 7 made decisions around which Google phone to buy and when far more confusing than they needed to be. Hopefully Google fixes that for the Pixel 7a and smooths out the early stages of the buying process.
Time for a 90Hz refresh rate screen
The #1 hardware version on our list is a display with a higher refresh rate. While not all budget Android phones have a 90Hz display, a great many do. OnePlus puts a 90Hz refresh rate screen on most Nord series smartphones (like the Nord N300 5G) and it really makes a difference to the user experience.
If you haven’t used a phone with a high refresh rate screen, it makes scrolling through menus and apps smoother and less tiring. It’s one of those features you notice more when it’s not there, emphasizing how quickly your eyes adjust to less blur and flicker. I don’t expect a 120Hz display; a 90Hz screen would be fine. All but another 60Hz panel.
Face unlock, please
Face unlock isn’t available on the Pixel 6a, but it’s a feature on the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro. That’s why we’d really like it to be on the Pixel 7a. Why? It’s a simple matter of convenience. It’s okay that the Pixel 7’s face unlock isn’t secure enough to use for payments, but it works when you pick up the phone to check an app.
Face unlock is faster and more convenient than struggling with the fingerprint sensor, which is still not quite up to the standard seen on most other Android phones. Face unlock must be a feature on the Pixel 6a.
One more color
The Pixel 6a comes in three colors: Charcoal, Chalk and Sage. We’d love to see a special fourth color on the Pixel 7a. A leaked image showing a possible render of the Pixel 7a indicates that another white model is in the works, but it would be great to see another color added to the list, as we’re sure to get a black version as well. Just one color other than black or white is a good start, but because the Sage color is also quite subtle, the range needs a really eye-catching version added to the mix.
Why? The Pixel 7’s design lends itself to bold color schemes due to the raised camera module, which can be used to break up bright colors and tone down the overall look of the device. We want Google to make the cheapest Pixel 7 series the most fun, and for that it needs a crazy color to go with the basics.
Consider the price
In the US, the Pixel 6a costs $450 – at least it does when you can’t find an amazing deal on it – while the Pixel 7 costs $600. I appreciate that $150 is still quite a lot of money, but the jump is “small” enough in phone terms to make it worth going for the Pixel 7 over the Pixel 6a, or at least make you think longer about which one to buy. The Pixel 7a should start at $399. This would make it easier for people to make a buying decision, plus it would undercut one of its top rivals (at the moment), the $450 Samsung Galaxy A53 5G, and bring it closer to the cheap $230 OnePlus Nord N300.
That’s what we want to see in the upcoming Pixel 7a, turning it from a brilliant but slightly compromised phone into a real winner that we’d be happy to recommend to everyone. The rumored Pixel 7a also includes a new set of rear cameras, plus the welcome inclusion of wireless charging, both of which seem reasonable features to include on the new phone. It’s possible the Pixel 7a will be shown for the first time at next year’s annual Google I/O developer conference, which usually takes place around May.
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