Update: Google Pixel 6a dummy device reveals major design changes - say goodbye to the headphone jack.

Months before the Google Pixel 6 launch, we were warned that Google's new flagship phone would be expensive. In the end, the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro were priced at $599 and $899, respectively, which are quite competitive in the world of flagship devices, leaving us with the pleasant surprise that the upcoming "a" variant could be a serious budget device candidate.

While we still don't have a good idea of pricing or internal specs, we do have our first look at the phone's exterior, courtesy of OnLeaks and 91mobiles. And while what we can glean from the context-free renderings is limited, there is a lot of potential here.

The Pixel 6a render looks similar to the Pixel 6, with the prominent camera visor still protruding from the back of the handset. This is significant because it suggests that the Pixel 6a will inherit the same excellent 50MP Samsung ISOCELL GN1 sensor, a major upgrade from the 12.2MP camera used in the past three Pixel a generations. And if the Pixel 6a will have the same sensor as the 6, then we may be in for a real treat. [But it's not all good news; it appears that the Pixel 6a could be the latest Google device to lose the 3.5mm headphone jack, a consumer-friendly feature that has been maintained in previous "a" models. Notably, there is also no fingerprint reader on the back, suggesting that Google may adopt the under-screen sensor (if not brilliant) introduced in the Pixel 6 series.

According to 91mobiles, the Pixel 6a has a 6.2-inch screen, slightly smaller than the 6.4-inch Pixel 6 and 6.71-inch Pixel 6 Pro, but uses the same OLED technology. However, there is no information on refresh rates, and past Pixel a devices have stuck to 60Hz, even as the new flagships offer 90Hz and 120Hz panels on the standard and Pro models, respectively.

It is also not clear at this time what internal structure the device will offer. Past Pixel a devices have been powered by mid-range Qualcomm Snapdragon chips, but it is possible that Google will show what is possible with a lower-spec Tensor processor, given that the debut of the Tensor chip gave Qualcomm a shot in the arm, I would be surprised if Google did not take this opportunity to further establish its own silicon as a serious competitor, but we will have to wait and see.

The Google Pixel 6a is likely to be a long way off; the Pixel 3a came out in May 2019, while the Pixel 4a and Pixel 5a both came out in August. These late dates may be due to the global chip shortage, but as it shows no signs of abating, we would be surprised if the Pixel 6a arrives in early 2022. [The Google Pixel 6 is the Android phone that Editor-in-Chief Roland Moore-Collier has been waiting for.