An alleged prototype of Google’s upcoming Pixel 7 smartphone has surfaced on eBay, giving us our first glimpse at the device months before its planned fall release.
Google recently announced the phone at Google I/O a few weeks ago, and what we can see in the prototype fits what Google has already displayed. The iconic camera bar is back, and this year it’s made of aluminum with camera cutouts. The claimed prototype’s casing is a dark black, similar to one of the hues Google displayed at I/O.
The device’s front, back, and sides are seen in the eBay auction, but there’s not much to see that you can’t already see in Google’s official drawings. According to a photo of the phone turned on, it has 128GB of storage, implying that Google will offer a 128GB model as an option for the final phone.
The phone’s model is GVU6C, according to a screenshot, as one photo suggests that this eBay seller may have also gotten their hands on a Pixel 7 Pro, as the back of the Pixel 7 prototype reflects what appears to be the Pixel 7 Pro’s camera bar.
The seller claims they bought the Pixel 7 prototype without knowing what it was from a distributor
After doing some research and finding photographs that looked similar to the phone they possessed, the vendor claims they recognized it was a Pixel 7. They also claim to have had a Pixel 7 Pro but had already sold it.
You won’t be able to add this gadget to your collection because the listing has been closed. The prototype received no offers, and the starting bid was $450. A request for comment from Google was not immediately returned.
This is just the latest major pre-release leak of a Pixel device, which has a history of making unexpected appearances dating back to the first phone to bear the name. A Pixel Watch prototype was reportedly discovered at a restaurant shortly before the smartwatch’s announcement at Google I/O. A mention of the Pixel 6A first emerged in a coloring book in January. A few weeks before Google officially announced the Pixel 6 Pro, someone filmed what appeared to be a test unit. I could go on and on.
Unfortunately, we’ll have to wait a few months for additional information on the Pixel 7. The phones aren’t expected to arrive until the fall, and if previous years are any indication, a launch event in October is likely.
Also read: Google removes ‘Go’ branding from Gallery Go app as part of its Re-branding Strategy
