The Google Pixel 7a was announced at the recent Google I/O event, bringing top-tier tech performance to an even more affordable price point. With prices starting from just £449 in the UK, it looks a shoe-in for inclusion on our guide to the best cheap phones.
For that price, users snag the same Tensor G2 processor found in handsets like the Google Pixel 7 Pro. There's also a capable camera system, an OLED display with a 90Hz adaptive refresh rate, and the Google Titan M2 security chip making sure you and your data are safe and protected.
But there's something else I love about this new handset – the Coral colour option. It certainly won't be for everyone, but I can't help but admire such a bold choice.
Recently, colour options on phones have been markedly bland. You'll get a variant of white and black, maybe a couple of grey options, and then one or two colours. Those colours, generally speaking are pastel blues or greens – whatever seems to be more en vogue at the time.
And I totally understand why that is. Manufacturers are businesses, and need to turn a profit. Those colour options are safe bets for most people, which will likely mean more guaranteed sales. But seeing a properly out-there colour option is really refreshing.
I hope this is the start of a more fashionable trend for Google phones. We already saw glimmers of that when the Pixel 7 Pro sported a dull green and rose gold combination in the Hazel colourway. That seems to have been popular, too. If this Coral variant finds similar success, it could spell a new era for creative designs in the phone sphere.
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Sam is an award-winning journalist with over six years of experience across print and digital media. As T3’s Senior Staff Writer, Sam covers everything from new phones and EVs to luxury watches and fragrances. Working across a range of different social media platforms alongside his written work, Sam is a familiar face for fans of T3. When he’s not reviewing snazzy products or hunting for stellar deals, Sam enjoys football, analog photography and writing music.
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