The Pixel 7a’s almost obligatory teardown on the JerryRigEverything YouTube channel has ended in unexpected results. Google’s latest Android smartphone was found to have an internal detail or two that never came up during its recent I/O 2023 launch, turning a practically routine vlog into a timely fable on the importance of staying alert and informed in a constantly evolving consumer tech world.
The 7a is now the cheapest new Pixel smartphone available – and also the most durable, according to the results of its JerryRigEverything testing process. It went much smoother than that of the 7 Pro, albeit with a particularly detailed version of “Art Class with Jerry“, resulting in a carving of a certain sword (and potential spoiler) into its polycarbonate rear panel.
That same cost-saving measure was just one of several twists in the 7a’s second appearance on the popular YouTube account, however. Should one want or need to remove it, it seems it’s better not to use a heat-gun as usual in case it melts.
Google also apparently complicates a 7a teardown by including no less than 15 T4 screws, not to mention 2 even smaller T2 screws “for funsies” to help secure its wired and new wireless charging connectors. That is not the only unusual thing about the new mid-ranger, however.
Once excised and completely free of internals, the 7a’s display was found to have a mystery transparent square under the punch-hole for the selfie camera, evincing (for JerryRigEverything’s host Zach Nelson, at least) unavoidable echoes of Google Nest’s recent ‘hidden mic‘ scandal.
Nevertheless, there was no obvious evidence of undisclosed sensors or other equipment in this Pixel 7a teardown. Therefore, there may be many other explanations for the device’s “hidden window“, a lingering revenant of the abandoned Soli for mobile project included. Then again, as Nelson argues, it is a good reminder to stay aware of technology and what’s going on inside it, “before the insides see you“.
Keep an eye on the Pixel 7a by getting your own from Amazon
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Deirdre O Donnell – Senior Tech Writer – 6335 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2018
I became a professional writer and editor shortly after graduation. My degrees are in biomedical sciences; however, they led to some experience in the biotech area, which convinced me of its potential to revolutionize our health, environment and lives in general. This developed into an all-consuming interest in more aspects of tech over time: I can never write enough on the latest electronics, gadgets and innovations. My other interests include imaging, astronomy, and streaming all the things. Oh, and coffee.
Deirdre O’Donnell, 2023-05-24 (Update: 2023-05-24)
