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Google I/O is just around the corner, which means so is the Pixel 7a. Google typically reveals its A-series Pixel phone at the annual developer conference, and this year likely will be no different. Also like in past years, we’ve learned a lot about the Pixel 7a through various leaks. The latest, however, is a series of images showing off the three colour options for the 7a.

The images (which appear to be Google marketing renders, but it’s not entirely clear) come from MySmartPrice and leaker OnLeaks and show the Pixel 7a in white, grey and blue. MySmartPrice notes it isn’t yet aware of the official marketing names for each colour.

If you’ve been following Pixel 7a leaks so far, there’s very little in the renders that should be new or surprising, aside from the blue colour. The 7a looks very similar to its predecessor and the Pixel 7, borrowing the metal camera visor design that differentiated the Pixel 7 series from the Pixel 6 series.

MySmartPrice also details the rumoured specs, claiming the 7a will sport a 64-megapixel Sony IMX787 main sensor and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera sensor, 256GB of internal storage (up from 128GB on the 6a) and a bump to 8GB of RAM. The 7a will reportedly have a 10.8-megapixel front camera.

Beyond that, the phone will have a 6.1-inch OLED display, apparently with a 90Hz refresh rate. It will run on Google’s Tensor G2 chip, just like the Pixel 7 and 7 pro, and sport 5W wireless charging. The wireless charging and refresh rate bumps will address two of the biggest issues I had with the Pixel 6a and significantly close the gap between the 7a and Pixel 7, with the only major difference between them being the camera.

Of course, with all the deals available on the Pixel 7 recently, it’s tough to say if it makes sense to wait for the 7a given how similar the devices are. Currently, the Pixel 6a goes for $599 in Canada, and the 7a will presumably be around the same price. The Pixel 7 costs $799 but has been repeatedly discounted down to $599 in recent months. If it goes on sale again, it might make sense to grab the Pixel 7 and forget the 7a — but we’ll see what happens when the 7a launches.

Source: MySmartPrice

New details about Fitbit’s upcoming Sense 2 and Versa 4 smartwatches emerged courtesy of leaked photos 9to5Google obtained from a regulatory agency.

The biggest update here is confirmation the devices will sport a physical button, a significant change after Fitbit’s insistence on using the much-maligned capacitive ‘button’ on its smartwatches and fitness over the last few years.

Previous rumours suggested the new Fitbit wearables would still use a capacitive button but make it protrude from the body of the watch rather than using an indented capacitive button like on the Versa 3 and original Sense. It seems that won’t be the case, and the company is finally returning to a reliable physical button.

Another major design change is that the Fitbit Sense 2 moves the electrocardiogram (ECG) sensor under the glass. The original Sense included a steel ring around the edge of the watch for ECG, but the Sense 2 includes the sensor under the glass, forming part of the bezel around the screen. You can see it in some of the photos as a lighter area between the screen and the case.

As The Verge notes, moving the ECG sensor under the glass is a pretty major change compared to past Fitbits and other smartwatches. The Apple Watch and Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 4, for example, require users to touch their fingers to metal buttons to complete the ECG circuit.

The underside of the Sense 2 includes another major change. The collection of sensors on the bottom of the smartwatch has a new layout, specifically moving away from the large metal plate to two metal arcs around the hub of sensors in the centre of the watch. 9to5 notes it’s unclear if this change will improve existing functionality or will usher in new features.

The underside also reveals faint markings confirming the Sense 2 will offer ECG, temperature sensing, GPS, and 50 metres of water resistance.

As for the Fitbit Versa 4, the images suggest it won’t include ECG or temperature tracking like the Sense 2. Beyond that, it should have GPS and 50m water resistance like the Sense.

Concerning when Fitbit will announce the Sense 2 and Versa 4, well, it remains unclear. Fitbit announced the original Sense and Versa 3 in August of 2020, so we could see the new Sense and Versa arrive in August. However, Google’s upcoming Pixel Watch could disrupt that. Google owns Fitbit, and the Pixel Watch will sport Fitbit integration, which likely means Fitbit is involved in the Pixel Watch in some way. Doing that, plus rolling out an update to its own line of watches could be a lot — maybe we’ll see a later launch for the Sense 2 and Versa 4 as a result.

Images credit: 9to5Google

Source: 9to5Google Via: The Verge