The Google Pixel 7a and Nothing Ear (2) have received approval from the Bluetooth Special Interest Group in advance of their planned debuts (SIG).
Leaks and rumors regarding Google’s upcoming mid-range phone, the Pixel 7a, have considerably increased over the past few weeks. We are aware of the colours the phone will be available in at launch as well as a possible June release window thanks to a store leak. In the meantime, we’ve previously reported that the Pixel 7a should be Google’s first mid-range phone to support Qi charging and will offer a major camera upgrade over the Pixel 6a.
Google has started submitting the required regulatory papers for the Pixel 7a’s release as the launch draws nearer. The phone’s FCC paperwork first came to light at the end of last month, and we are now more confident that this prior submission referred to the Pixel 7a rather than the impending foldable.
The Bluetooth SIG, which controls which devices are allowed to use Bluetooth connectivity, has received the Pixel 7a today for approval. The description contains little data, as usual, but one marginally interesting fact is that the Pixel 7a has Bluetooth 5.3 certification, as opposed to the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro’s Bluetooth 5.2 capability. In actuality, however, it’s unlikely that most Pixel enthusiasts would notice much of a difference from Bluetooth 5.3’s enhancements.
The most recent earphones from Carl Pei’s Nothing have also applied for certification from the Bluetooth SIG, which is another heavily leaked product. The Nothing Ear (2) earphones, as previously demonstrated, have a somewhat similar design to the first generation. The earphones are unsurprisingly certified for Bluetooth 5.2 functionality, according to the latest listing.
These Bluetooth SIG entries mostly indicate that the final release is progressing and should take place in the upcoming weeks/months for both the Pixel 7a and the Nothing Ear (2). According to reports, the Pixel 7a will go on sale in June and cost between $450 and $500. Nothing has indicated a March 22 launch date for the Ear (2), which may have the same $149 suggested retail price as the first version.