The first mid-range Google Pixel, the 3a XL, arrives in Spain 479 euros. As of today, the Pixel 6a, a mid-range Pixel with a similar screen diagonal, has an official price of 349 euros after deducting from its RRP of 459 euros.

Inflation led to a significant increase in the prices of mid-range mobile phones; this is something that plays in favor of a Google that seems to be betting on the opposite strategy. The role the next Pixel 7 will play in the market is not yet clear, but as of today, Google is accomplishing the unthinkable a few years ago: having one of the best mid-range offerings with the best bang for your buck right now.

Pixel A is unexpected candidates for mid-range winners

Pixel 6a and Pixel 6

After the ingredient crisis and the sharp rise in prices, the middle class is going through a storm that not all manufacturers have been able to weather. We will not show the criminals, but the path to follow, raise the price significantly in exchange for features that are relatively close to high quality. The “mid” range of 500 euros is already normal, although there are still phones in their segment with technical specifications and a strange point of difference (more megapixels in the camera, AMOLED 120 Hz, etc.).

A visit to the mid-range panorama makes us lose hope: recycled processors Phones of past generations (SoCs from two years ago in some cases) touching the input range of more than 230 euros in 2023. Although the advances are not very strong compared to past generations, there are still surprises like the POCO X5 Pro for 299 euros.

Pixel 7a leaked design

And here comes Google’s role: pixel one. The concept is clear: phones with the same lifecycle as high-end Pixels, a clean OS, photo section flagship and for a generation, a high-end processor. Google’s commitment to Tensors allows the costs of introducing such chipsets to cheaper mobile phones to be offset. If you buy a Pixel 6a, you buy a cell phone with the same power as the Pixel 6. And everything points to the same thing happening with the Pixel 7.

There’s no room for plastic, macro sensors, or older versions of Android. The philosophy is to cut where it “does not hurt”such as refresh rate, cutting-edge Gorilla Glass technology, water protection and little else. These mobiles do not share the same camera sensor as their older brothers, but the results are not far off as the processing is just as good.

Pixel 7a has only one task to do: It will not cost more than 500 euros. Leaks point to a phone with a 90Hz refresh rate, Full HD+ and AMOLED technology, Pixel 7 design, and the same Tensor G2 as its older brothers.

Image | xataka

on Xataka | Google Pixel 7, analysis: Android’s best doesn’t have to be the most powerful