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For anyone who loves following the latest developments in mobile phone technology there’s always something exciting to look forward to. And 2022 promises to be no different from any other year. One of the highlights is undoubtedly going to be the arrival of the Google Pixel 7. And as you can see from the Gadget Cover guide below even at this early stage in the year there’s still plenty of gossip to pique our interest.

Okay, if you managed to get your hands on a cool, new Pixel 6 or Pixel 6 Pro last year then you’ll probably not be in the market for an upgrade just yet. But for anyone who wasn’t so lucky, there are plenty of internet whispers about what Google might have in store for its next generation of flagship phones.

To give you an idea of what may lay ahead for us later on in 2022, we’ve pulled together all the latest and greatest Pixel 7 rumours we’ve heard so far. We’ve also taken a look at what industry experts and dedicated Google geeks are hoping will be included. Although don’t blame us if not all of these come to pass. Remember, even the most credible predictions can end up way off the mark in this fast-moving industry.

But whatever we find out on launch day, if you do buy the latest gizmo from Google don’t forget to invest in some mobile phone insurance while you’re at it. Theft or loss can happen at any time, and you’ll want to protect your precious new tech.

Google codenames revealed

When any tech firm is creating a new device, they’ll give it a codename which is used throughout the creation process. Until last year’s Pixel 6 series, Google had always adopted fish-themed codenames when communicating internally about their phones. While their laptops and tablets are usually named after video game characters. These names have often been seized upon by serious tech commentators like 9to5Google as giving us the first evidence of an upcoming device.

With that said, let’s take a look back at all the codenames of Pixel devices released to date, from the original Pixel of 2016 to the Google Pixel 5.

• Pixel: Sailfish
• Pixel XL: Marlin
• Pixel 2: Walleye
• Pixel 2 XL: Taimen
• Pixel 3: Blueline
• Pixel 3 XL: Crosshatch
• Pixel 3a: Sargo
• Pixel 3a XL: Nice
• Pixel 4: Flame
• Pixel 4 XL: Coral
• Pixel 4a: Sunfish
• Pixel 4a 5G: Bramble
• Pixel 5: Redfin

However, 2021’s Pixel 6 saw a big change in codename conventions with the Pixel 6 codenamed Oriole and the larger Pixel 6 Pro codenamed Raven. Two other codenames that emerged at that time included Bluejay (potentially the Pixel Fold) and Pipit (potentially a mid-range Pixel 6a slated for 2022).

Commentators believe that Google changed from fishy codenames to bird-related ones to mark the shift from using Qualcomm Snapdragon processors to their own Google Tensor chips. It’s also worth mentioning that the differences in size between the creatures chosen is often a clue to suggest that one of the two models in the series will be larger than the other.

So, what have we heard about the Pixel 7 codenames and what could they tell us? Well for 2022 the theme seems to have changed yet again. This time to big cats!

After more digging by 9to5Google, three more new codenames have been identified. Two of which, Cheetah and Panther, could well be the codenames for the new Pixel 7 and the larger Pixel 7 Pro smartphones.

But what about the third codename you ask? Well, the third device appears to be codenamed Ravenclaw. A mystery indeed as it seems to join the bird theme of the Pixel 6 range to the big cat theme of the Pixel 7 range. Good luck with working out what that all means! Read this interesting article from AndroidCentral if you want to try your hand at a bit of sleuthing!

Release date rumours – will we see an October launch again?

Pretty much every generation of the main Pixel devices has seen an October release (with the cheaper versions, such as the Pixel 4a and Pixel 5a 5G appearing the following August). So, if Google holds to that schedule, we should expect to see the new Pixel 7 handsets making their debuts in October 2022 alongside the eagerly anticipated Android 13 software update.

Will Google keep the cost of the Pixel 7 down?

With many flagship phones costing around the £1,000 mark, we often need a fair bit of time to save up before launch day arrives. Fortunately, Google has tried to price its phones competitively in recent years in a bid to undercut their flagship rivals. Here’s what some of the most recent Pixel offerings cost at launch.

• Google Pixel 6: £599
• Google Pixel 6 Pro: £849
• Google Pixel 5: £599
• Google Pixel 4: £669
• Google Pixel 4XL: £829

As you can see, the price for a standard Pixel seems to have settled around the £599 mark, while the XL or Pro tier pushed things a little higher. While manufacturing costs might put a spanner in the works it looks like Google will seek to stick with these prices for the Pixel 7 release.

Google has tempted many users away from other Android devices with their aggressive pricing strategy so we would think they would want to build on that. Particularly as, without any drastic design or spec changes, it would be difficult to charge much more for the Pixel 7 than they did for the Pixel 6.

What features can we expect to see in the Pixel 7?

With the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro still very much in people’s minds, there’s little in the way of solid news about what you can expect to see in their Pixel 7 successors. But we’ve managed to put together a short list of possible tweaks that may be in the Google pipeline.

Design tweaks

We all remember the excitement the new design aesthetic of the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro created among the Twitterati and beyond. With a premium build and that bold look featuring a raised camera bar on the rear, Google sent a clear message to its smartphone rivals. Read our guide to the Google Pixel 6 and find out just how good this affordable flagship phone really was. From the radical redesign and high quality, 6.4-inch OLED display to Google's new custom-made chip, the Tensor, there was a lot to talk about!

As one of the world’s biggest companies we have learned to expect a lot from Google. But reinventing the wheel for the second year running with the Pixel 7 range seems like a step too far even for this tech behemoth. Particularly when manufacturers like to keep a consistent aesthetic across at least a few generations before changing things up again.

With that in mind, it’s unsurprising to see from some of the recent unofficial renders of the Pixel 7 phones that there’s little to distinguish them from the Pixel 6.

Renders of the standard Pixel 7 reveal a slightly tweaked camera module that now melds directly into the phone's frame. While reports suggest dimensions of 155.6 x 73.1 x 8.7mm. Making it slightly smaller in every respect than its predecessor.

Meanwhile renders of the Pixel 7 Pro also revealed minor camera bar tweaks. With suggested dimensions of 163 x 76.6 x 8.7mm. Making this pretty close in size to the Pixel 6 Pro, though ever so slightly thinner.

Displays

Taking a look at the current Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro displays respectively, the Pixel 6 has a 6.4-inch AMOLED display while the Pixel 6 Pro has a 6.71-inch LTPO AMOLED display. Both support HDR10+, but the Pro version adds a 120Hz refresh rate and a higher resolution.

According to GSMArena the Pixel 7 could drop screen size down as far as 6.2-inches, which would make sense considering the smaller size of the handset. While the Pixel 7 Pro will either stay the same or jump slightly to 6.8-inches. Apart from this we don't expect to see too many other display changes. And we wouldn’t be surprised to see the differences in refresh rates and resolution maintained in the new models.

An interesting display-related rumour alleges that Google may be preparing to introduce an under-display selfie camera. However, while the company has indeed filed at least two patents so far for this tech, it’s not expected to see the light of day in the Pixel 7 series. Perhaps it’ll appear in the rumoured Pixel Fold or the Pixel 8 next year?

Whatever developments we see you’ll want mobile phone insurance that protects your screen from accidental damage. Unlike some insurers, Gadget Cover will provide cover for even minor screen cracks. And if the item cannot be repaired then we’ll replace it.

Second-generation Google Tensor chips

Perhaps the single biggest move in 2021 for the Pixel smartphone family was switching from Qualcomm Snapdragon to Google’s own Tensor chips. Just like its big tech rivals Apple and Samsung, which use their A-series and Exynos chips in their flagship phones, Google took the big step of designing and manufacturing its own processors.

As you can imagine, such a big investment is definitely long-term and requires constant innovation. Already we’ve heard rumours that Google hopes to produce a new second generation Tensor chip in time for the Pixel 7. We don’t yet know how this chip will compare to its predecessor. But we expect Google’s tech whizzes to have focused on trying to achieve next level performance enhancements as well as energy efficiency.

Cameras

Cameras are arguably one of the most important features of any modern smartphone and Google has undoubtedly worked hard to take on its rivals. According to What Hi-Fi? the renders we discussed earlier suggest the camera set up of the Pixel 7 will be very similar to the Pixel 6. With a dual lens arrangement on the rear featuring a 50MP main and a 50MP ultra-wide camera.

On the front, expect to find an 8MP selfie camera. But it remains to be seen what manner of cool features might be added between now and then. Could the Pixel 7 have something as great as Magic Eraser or Face Unblur up its sleeves?

Battery

Ask any smartphone user what they’d like more of, and many will mention battery power as being high up on their wish list. With big screens and 5G capabilities draining power, many modern phones can have a problem when it comes to battery life.

One rumour we’ve heard is that the Pixel 7 will receive a boost in battery size from the 4614mAh of the Pixel 6 to the 5000mAh of the Pixel 6 Pro. We don’t know if the Pixel 7 Pro will also receive a boost.

Storage

It's also been suggested by Pocket Lint that as well as a 128GB and 256GB storage option, there could also be a 512GB option available. None of those are expected to have a microSD slot so you’ll want to choose wisely when it comes to the big day.

What we’d like to see in the Google Pixel 7

Yes, the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro were very well received but they certainly weren’t perfect. And we’ve heard some interesting snippets about plans for the Pixel 7. But might it not be time to send through some further suggestions of what we’d like to receive when October rolls around?

So, if you’re listening Google, here’s a couple of quick suggestions:

• Weighing in at 207g and 210g respectively the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro are a little hefty. Shaving off some weight would make for a more comfortable user experience.
• Rumours suggest the Pixel 7 is going to stick with a dual camera system. But when so many rivals are opting for triple or even quad camera systems this seems like a bit of an oversight. Should Google think again?
• For Google to take on the design and manufacture of its own chips was an important step showing great vision. However, the first-generation chips didn’t quite live up to the hype and struggled to keep up with some of its rivals. We hope the second-generation chips put any doubts to rest.
• Charging speeds are becoming a key differentiator between smartphones. When you look at some of its rivals among the best new smartphones for 2022, 30W charging is starting to look a bit slow. Even if it does hit those speeds. With reviewers such as Tom’s Guide suggesting it doesn’t and even Google admitting the Pixel 6 only supports 21W fast charging!
• As mentioned above, while we welcome a larger battery, the battery life of the Pixel 6 was not the best. More work needs to be done on power efficiency please.
• The Pixel 6 offers five years of security patches, along with three years of Android updates. While this is similar to other Android rivals, it really doesn’t match that offered by Apple. Google and the Pixel 7 need to step up when it comes to ongoing support.
• Something reviewers and users noted was that the Pixel 6’s in-display fingerprint scanner was far from perfect. When you want to get access to your phone quickly and effortlessly, this problem really needs to be smoothed out.

And it’s not just us asking for these things. A recent poll over at 9to5Google asked readers ‘What Pixel 7 upgrade do you want to see most?’ And the results make interesting reading.

The most requested upgrade was to the speed and consistency of the in-display fingerprint scanner. Followed by software improvements, increased battery size or lifespan, and performance improvements for the second-generation Tensor chip. Around 10% of respondents wanted better camera resolution and lens selection, 3% wanted an improved display resolution/refresh rate, and 2% wished for audio improvements.

Whether or not Google listens to these requests, we’re sure the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro will both be very desirable smartphones indeed. However, no matter what fantastic features they hold, they’ll still be vulnerable to the usual everyday risks. Whether from theft, breakdown, loss or damage, make sure your treasured tech is covered by mobile phone insurance before you get it home.

But remember, while the rumours we’ve discussed have focused on the obvious hardware updates, there’s bound to be plenty of software surprises in store when it comes to using your new Google Pixel.

From the best Android apps for 2022 and smartphone accessibility tips to how to boost your privacy and use your phone as a webcam, we’ve got plenty for you to discover on the Gadget Cover blog.

And let’s not forget, Google may have plenty of other surprises in store for 2022. For example we’re also hoping the Pixel Fold and the Pixel Watch will also be unveiled at some point during this year. Certainly as the Pixel ecosystem grows, the idea of picking up a Pixel phone becomes even more appealing to savvy buyers.

If you decide to invest in a Pixel Watch alongside the Pixel 7 then it’s still worth adding gadget cover to complement your mobile phone insurance. You really can’t have enough coverage when it comes to such desirable objects.

Mobile phone insurance from Gadget Cover

The Pixel 7 promises to be yet another exceptional device from Google that many people will rush to add to their must-buy list. That’s why the team at Gadget Cover is dedicated to setting you up with a mobile phone insurance policy to suit your device, requirements and budget.

Rather than worrying about the potential for mishaps, you’ll be able to concentrate on getting the most out of your shiny new gadgets.

If you want to protect your handset from accidental damage, liquid damage, theft, breakdown and unauthorised usage, get a quote with us today. For an extra premium, we can also cover your Google device against loss, too.

Get a quick quote for mobile phone insurance today.              

Policy benefits, features and discounts offered may very between insurance schemes or cover selected and are subject to underwriting criteria. Information contained within this article is accurate at the time of publishing but may be subject to change.