Just a few weeks from the official unveiling of the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro on October 6th comes a report suggesting that Google is working on a phone with a smaller footprint and flagship features. This is the first report of Google working on a smaller Pixel (Mini?) with high-end specifications, and it comes during a shortage of options when it comes to smaller-screened phones with premium hardware.
According to Digital Chat Station's post on Weibo, the diminutive device code-named ‘Neila' will sport a front-facing camera housed in a central punch-hole on the display which is said to have flat edges. The rear panel will apparently carry on the aesthetic of the Pixel 7 series, which is something to be expected at this point.
The post also says that the reason behind the development of the smaller device is due to the popularity of such devices in international markets, although this isn't thought to be the case for the US market itself, as Apple experienced with its iPhone Mini 13. That said, the ZenFone 9 has stirred interest in the compact flagship segment by packing in high-end hardware in a smaller package at a very attractive price, perhaps Google is exploring the possibility of where such a small Pixel might sit in terms of cost and avoiding cannibalizing sales from the Pixel 7 and the Pixel 6a.
There's no telling whether this rumor belongs in the same category as the Pixel Ultra story which became something of an urban legend, but it's certainly not outlandish enough to be dismissed out of hand. If it is accurate, this would be Google's best-kept secret in years.
