The Google Pixel 7a is Google’s latest addition to its midrange A-series smartphones. It’s likely to be one of the best options for anyone who wants a strong handset with pure Android, solid performance, and an exceptional camera.
But we can’t touch on the hardware without addressing one of the most common questions about any new smartphone. Namely, does the phone have a headphone jack? Smartphone manufacturers have been on a crusade against the venerable port in recent years, and the headphone jack has been excised from the vast majority of the phones you can buy today. So, does the Google Pixel 7a include a headphone jack, or will you need other ways to listen to music, audiobooks, and podcasts?
Bad news, we’re afraid: the Google Pixel 7a does not have a headphone jack. Google ditched the headphone jack on the Pixel 6a last year and hasn’t seen fit to return it for this year’s model. This echoes what we saw in the flagship Pixel range, which has been without a headphone jack all the way from the Pixel 2. Google was one of the first Android brands to follow Apple in ditching the port, and although it took a few years, Google finally achieved the complete removal of the headphone jack from its available phones last year.
If you’re looking for a Google smartphone with a headphone jack, you’re plum out of luck. At least, if you’re buying new. If you can find it, the Pixel 5a is the last Google phone to support a headphone jack — but keep in mind that inventory for the phone is likely low. Plus, there are a number of markets where Google didn’t release the Pixel 5a at all.
The easiest way to listen to audio on a Pixel 7a is through wireless headphones. While not as affordable as wired headphones, the best wireless headphones and wireless earbuds offer the sort of freedom you can’t expect while tethered to wires. They’re also much easier to use while running, cycling, or just wandering around the house.
If you’re ride-or-die for wired headphones, you still have options. You can grab a 3.5mm-to-USB-C dongle adapter to use your old headphones with your new phone. Otherwise, you can also find USB-C headphones, which will connect directly to your Pixel 7a’s charging port. The issue with both options is that you can’t charge your phone while using your headphones, so keep that in mind if your battery looks a little low.
Google Play is borrowing one of the Nintendo Switch’s most useful little tricks. A new Sidekick tool called Playbacks captures a short clip after something interesting has already happened, sparing players from running a screen recorder throughout an entire game.
Playbacks is part of Google Play Store v53.8 and keeps saved clips on the phone. Google first announced it earlier this month, but the new Play Store update marks its arrival for players. Anyone who has watched a perfect win vanish because the record button came too late already understands the appeal.
Samsung’s scandal over its Game Optimizing Service, or GOS, has returned with a bill attached. South Korea’s Fair Trade Commission has tentatively fined the company 20.1 billion won, or about $15.1 million, over gaming claims made for the Galaxy S21, Galaxy S22, and Tab S8.
The regulator says Samsung promoted the devices as gaming powerhouses without disclosing that GOS placed preset CPU and GPU limits on certain demanding games. Samsung disputes that conclusion, calling GOS a legitimate way to manage heat.
Apple's next cheaper iPhone could get a brand-new processor while keeping its most stubborn display compromise. Digital Chat Station tips the iPhone 18e for a 2027 release with a 2nm A20 chip and a 6.12-inch OLED screen still limited to 60Hz.
The rumored camera setup includes a single 48MP rear camera and a possible 24MP selfie camera. There's new hardware to consider, but buyers hoping Apple would extend that upgrade generosity to smoother scrolling could be disappointed.