A new iteration of the Google Pixel phone has been put forward to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the US, and while there isn’t yet confirmation, it appears it could be either be the Google Pixel 7a or a Google Pixel Fold.

In the US, the FCC is the official communications regulator for telecommunications, so every smartphone and connected device has to go through them before it can be sold there.

That’s why an appearance before them is generally seen as good as an official announcement of a company’s trust in their product.

At this point there are three versions of the Google phone that have appeared for approval, under the names GHL1X, GWKK3 and GODZQ. Each “use the same identical internal printed circuit board layouts”, which points to them being different SKUs of the same model, with many hoping for a Pixel Fold.

There’s also been mention of a fourth device – the G82U8.

There are currently no details about the size or appearance of the new phones in question, but there is much industry speculation.

Suggestions are that the Pixel 8 won’t launch until the end of the year, and an appearance before the FCC usually points to a fast turnaround.

Recent leaks point to a new device having a 90Hz display and an improved camera system. There’s also word of wireless charging.

Talk now seems to suggest a launch of at least one of these new products being launched at the Google I/O developer conference in May.