Google Pixel 7a May Have Face Unlock Feature, New Leak Says

The Google Pixel 7a may come with a Face Unlock feature, a new leak suggests.

The Google Pixel 7a may come with a Face Unlock feature, a new leak suggests. The smartphone is likely to be unveiled on May 10.

The Google Pixel 7a is expected to be launched a few weeks later, rumoured to be unveiled at the annual Google I/O conference, says a previous report by 9to5Google. This phone will be to be the successor to last year's Google Pixel 6a, arguably the best-value and camera smartphone of 2022.

One of the key areas where the Pixel 7a will come with an upgrade over the Pixel 6a will be the face unlock support. The affordable Pixel 6a did not have an AI-based facial recognition system to unlock the phone, but the Pixel 7a may come with that feature. According to a leak by tipster Snoopy Tech who shared UI images of the Pixel 7a, the device may feature a flat display and slightly thick bezels.

A previous 9to5Google report added, citing a retail source, that the price of Pixel 7a will be $499 (which roughly translates into Rs 40,970) and which is a $50 increase over last year’s Pixel 6a. The India and US prices of the Pixel will most likely be different. This increase in price likely comes from the new design and improvements. The tech giant is also upgrading the main camera to a 64MP main sensor flanked by a 13MP ultra-wide shooter.

Meanwhile, Google is also gearing up to unveil its Samsung Galaxy Fold rival, the Pixel Fold, its first foldable phone in the coming weeks. The tech giant is expected to launch its first foldable smartphone sometime in June, according to a report by CNBC, which cited internal communications. Google may announce the device at its annual Google I/O developer conference, on May 10.

South Korean tech giant Samsung dominated the market in foldable phones during H1 2022, accounting for 62 per cent of the market according to Counterpoint’s Foldable Smartphone Tracker. China's Huawei and Oppo came in a distant second and third in the race. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4, which was launched in August, is Samsung’s fourth-generation foldable smartphone. However, with the Pixel Fold entering the race, things may change as Google plans to make its first foldable pocketable and water-resistant.