The Google Pixel 6a was announced at Google IO in May, but won’t go on sale until July. While we wait, more promotional images of the mid-range handset have leaked, giving us a look at the hardware and software of the device.
These photos are courtesy of a well-known tipster Evan Blass (opens in new tab) on Twitter, and they look exactly like you’d expect official promo shots from Google. Three colors are on show – chalk (white), sage (green) and charcoal (gray) – and there are a few lifestyle shots that deserve attention.
While the imagery doesn’t really tell us anything we don’t know about these phones, there’s a lot more to it. If you’re planning on getting a Google Pixel 6a in late July, these shots should keep you going until then.
Some 6A pics to enjoy. pic.twitter.com/2jsMK8Y5FG14 June 2022
what do we know
Google Pixel 6a goes on sale on July 28, a week before pre-orders have started. It’ll set you back $449 / £399 / AU$749, and is a typical configuration, giving you 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal memory.
Powering everything is the same first-gen Tensor chipset that runs inside the Google Pixel 6 and Google Pixel 6 Pro, so performance should be top notch. We also know that the phone will sport a 6.1-inch OLED screen with a 1080 x 2400 pixel resolution and a refresh rate of 60Hz.
As for the cameras, Google has opted for a 12.2MP main camera and a 12MP ultrawide camera at the back, with an 8MP front camera for selfies. The battery capacity is 4,410mAh, and you’ll be able to charge it at 30W.
Analysis: Google’s slow burn phone launch
Google has taken the somewhat unusual step of announcing the Pixel 6a and the Google Pixel 7 before they’re even actually going on sale — and we’re not sure that’s a particularly good approach.
The company has the previous form for this. Remember when Google told us that the Pixel 4a was coming along with 5G and the Pixel 5, months before the phones were actually going on sale. It was around the same time that the Google Pixel 4a was introduced to the world, so Google prefers to announce phones in batches.
On the one hand, it gives consumers a lot of warnings about what to expect. Money can be saved, plans can be made, and that means you won’t be caught buying an old handset before a new one appears blue. Knowing more about what’s coming makes it easier to make buying decisions.
However, it does mean that phones can already look and feel out of date, by the time they can eventually be purchased – and there is a risk of your card showing up too quickly. We’ll have to wait and see how successful this approach turns out in terms of sales of the Pixel 6a.
