Pixel 7a or Pixel Fold? FCC Filing Uncovers Intriguing New Google Phone

Amid the excitement surrounding this year's MWC event, a new Google device labeled "phone" has appeared for FCC approval. Given that the Pixel 7a and Pixel Fold are rumored to release in spring, the FCC filing corroborates the device's arrival in the coming months.

There Are Three FCC Listings for Google's Upcoming "Phone"

Before we get started, let's look at why devices end up on the FCC's list. Before any device with wireless connectivity gets sold commercially, it needs to get approved by various government agencies. The FCC in the United States is one such regulator.

The upcoming Google product has three FCC listings, namely G0DZQ, GHL1X, and GWKK3. All three listings refer to one another. However, one of them includes the mention of a model G82U8.

According to a document submitted to the FCC by Google, the trio has "identical internal printed circuit board layouts" with mmWave 5G support for GHL1X. As a result, G0DZQ, GHL1X, and GWKK3 are all variants of the same model rather than distinct models.

Now, it's unclear which model they're referring to because there's no information available. However, if we look at the rumors surrounding the upcoming Pixel 7a smartphone, the FCC filing makes sense.

In a hands-on leak of an early model of the Pixel 7a, the device bore a serial number beginning with "2A281FQHN," which appears to be similar to the serial numbers of the devices that were tested. Each had a serial number beginning with "28291FQHN" or "28251FQHN."

The Pixel Fold is also a likely candidate for this year's release. 9To5Google reported last week that the Pixel Fold is reportedly heavier than the Galaxy Fold 4 due to its large battery.

If we had to choose between the two, the Pixel 7a appears to have a stronger case. The A-series phones normally release in the middle of the year and Google certifies new smartphones with the FCC about a month before their release.

The phone will likely release well before Google's annual "Made by Google" event, usually reserved for the company's next-generation flagships. The I/O 2023 keynote appears to be the ideal venue for showcasing the device before its release.

Google hasn't revealed the dates for I/O, but we'll keep you updated as we learn more about this mysterious phone.