In addition to a mid-range Pixel 6a that's no longer a big secret ahead of a rumored May debut, Google is unsurprisingly hard at work on a much more mysterious Pixel 7 high-end duo.
Basically no major details, features, or specs of the upcoming Pixel 7 and 7 Pro have been leaked so far by the online sources and publications generally viewed as trustworthy, which of course makes perfect sense when talking about two devices that are still many months away from their formal announcements.
But the floodgates might have officially opened today with an undoubtedly reliable 9to5Google report focused on inside information that could seem trivial at first glance.
Two fiery codenames, one mystery new processor
What comes after "Oriole" and "Raven"? Apparently, "Cheetah" and "Panther". Don't see the connection between the former Pixel 6 and 6 Pro codenames and the latter (alleged) Pixel 7 and 7 Pro internal monikers? To be perfectly honest, we don't see it either, but cheetahs and panthers are sure beautiful beasts, traditionally associated with speed and power, which suggests the same will be true for Google's next-gen mobile high-enders as well.
It's probably not a bad idea to distinguish the Pixel 7 duo from its forerunners right off the bat given the many issues and bugs reported by Pixel 6 and 6 Pro owners in recent months, especially when the same was also true for the two aforementioned 2021 codenames.
"Oriole" and "Raven" had no apparent connection whatsoever with "Redfin", aka the Pixel 5, which did however carry the "fishy" legacy of "Bramble" (Pixel 4a 5G), "Sunfish" (Pixel 4a), "Coral" (Pixel 4 XL), and every other Pixel model dating back to the first edition (aka "Sailfish").
In short, Google saw the Pixel 6 duo as an entirely new chapter in the handset family's evolution, and the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro could turn a new page of their own with the help of a second-gen in-house Tensor chip integrating among others an Exynos Modem 5300.
Unlike the Exynos Modem 5123 built into the first-gen Tensor, which Samsung previously used for its own Galaxy S20 family, this 5300 model is unreleased, unannounced, and a complete unknown.
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Unfortunately, there's not a whole lot else we can say about this mystery second-gen Tensor processor, but its GS201 model number, the aforementioned "Cheetah" and "Panther" codenames, and the "Cloudripper" codename of an internal developer testing board should make it substantially easier to dig up new information going forward.
What else should you expect from the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro?
While it certainly makes sense for Big G to be working hard, both by itself and alongside key partner Samsung, on improving the raw power and cellular connectivity of its next hero devices, there are definitely other areas the search giant is likely to focus in the coming months as well.
Although relatively slim, there's a chance the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro (or just the 7 Pro) will adopt a cutting-edge under-display selfie camera to try to steal the Galaxy S22 and iPhone 14's limelight. Of course, it's far more likely that Google will merely continue to improve the performance of its already outstanding shooters while at the very least maintaining last year's stellar battery life and pretty much unrivaled screen sharpness.
The Pixel 6 Pro is pretty great, but the Pixel 7 Pro can definitely be better.
Perhaps most importantly, we'd simply love to see all the great-looking components come together in a cohesive way, united by silky smooth software that can actually work without a hitch for more than a few weeks in a row. Sounds simple, but it's a test of a maturity that Google needs to pass... someday to prove it can truly play in the big leagues with the likes of Apple and Samsung rather than settling for their (and Motorola's) scraps in key markets like the US.
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Adrian, a mobile technology enthusiast since the Nokia 3310 era, has been a dynamic presence in the tech journalism field, contributing to Android Authority, Digital Trends, and Pocketnow before joining PhoneArena in 2018. His expertise spans across various platforms, with a particular fondness for the diversity of the Android ecosystem. Despite the challenges of balancing full-time parenthood with his work, Adrian's passion for tech trends, running, and movies keeps him energized. His commitment to mid-range smartphones has led to an eclectic collection of devices, saved from personal bankruptcy by his preference for 'adequate' over 'overpriced'.
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