The Google Pixel 7a is the new go-to mid-range Android gadget. It’s so good that I’m wondering why anyone would want to buy a regular Pixel 7. I wanted a smaller, less expensive device with similar camera capabilities to the Pixel 7 Pro, so I went with the Pixel 7. However, Google is clearly going to have a hard time explaining why anyone should spend the additional $200 on the extra features of the base Pixel 7 now that the Pixel 7a is available for just $500 and is so good.
Fortunately, I was able to trade in my Pixel 3 and save money on my Pixel 7. However, if you’re in a similar situation, you might want to look into the Pixel 7a to save money on an Android phone that can still take great pictures. Google is putting a lot of effort into the algorithms of its Pixel camera because it has shown that they can take beautiful pictures thanks to the Tensor G2 processor made by Google. This AI centered chip is in both the base Pixel 7 and the 7a, once more permitting the less expensive kin to stay aware of its more established sibling.
The 7a offers some other top of the line cell phone treats, similar to remote charging, a screen with a 90Hz revive rate, and face opening. If you haven’t already purchased a Pixel 7, the best deal is the Pixel 7a.
The Pixel 7a packs some pretty colors
The Pixel 7 and Pixel 7a are not really perceivable from the back, save for their particular colorways. Both have double back camera frameworks inserted into what is currently the mark Pixel camera bar, with matching aluminum managing around the case. The Pixel 7 and 7a’s camera bars differ in width, but from a distance, they appear to be the same device. The Pixel 7 is only about three millimeters larger than the 7a. They even weigh the same, with the Pixel 7a being only four grams lighter.
The Pixel 7a is available in four colors. Notwithstanding the standard high contrast contributions, there is a sky blue variation of the Pixel 7a, included here, and a red-orange rendition accessible solely through the Google Store. In person, the colors are stunning and complement the soft hues of the Pixel hardware lineup. The Pixel 7a is also dust- and water-resistant under IP67, so if you quickly remove it from the pool, an accidental drop won’t harm it.
The Pixel 7a has a 6.1-inch OLED display. The phone’s default refresh rate is 60Hz, but it can be changed to 90Hz. When compared to the 7a’s default of 60 Hz, the 7’s constant 90 Hz scrolling is noticeably smoother. In order to maximize battery life, I put the phone through its paces with its default settings. I’ll show you the results in a moment. Like the Pixel 7, the phone has an FHD+ display resolution and a high-brightness mode in direct sunlight.
The Pixel 7a runs on almost identical internals to the Pixel 7. The Pixel 6a had 8GB of RAM and a Google Tensor G2 processor, two more gigabytes than this year’s model. I live with that measure of Slam day to day with the ordinary Pixel 7 and can affirm that this is enough for consistent use, including Pokémon Go, TikTok, exchanging among Gmail and Slack, and each and every other quick thing that I do on a cell phone to finish my work. Even at fingerprint and face unlock, it is quick. Due to its long-term benefits, this kind of hardware coupling is welcome in mid-range devices. As long as the chip is supported, Google can quickly distribute software updates to the device. This move likewise reflects Apple’s arrangement with its cell phones, including the iPhone SE, which all use a variation of its natively constructed Bionic processor.
Like the Pixel 7, the Pixel 7a feels smart and quick. Commonly, mid-range gadgets at this cost, similar to the Samsung System A54 and last year’s Pixel 6a, maximize at 6GB. However, I will say, as an ongoing Pixel 7 client, that I would favor Google adding more Slam to its more modest leader setup assuming it’s setting the A-series standard at 8GB.
Because Google has tuned the Tensor processors for machine learning, they are not as powerful as Qualcomm’s Snapdragon variants. At the time of writing, Geekbench 6 was not available for the 7a. In any case, I ran WebXPRT 2015 benchmarks, which we use to gauge highlights like program based face location and photograph altering. Only 50 points separated the Pixel 7a and its predecessor, the Pixel 6a.
The Pixel 7a only has 128GB of storage, which is not a lot. Because I take a lot of photos, download attachments for work, and scrape Instagram for memes, I prefer to purchase at least 256GB. Those files quickly add up. Google’s Pixel smartphone is one of many Android manufacturers that has eliminated the expansion slot in favor of other features.
Pixel 7a has a good battery, but not the best
Google claims that the Pixel 7a’s 4385 mAh battery can last up to 24 hours based on internal testing results. In our battery benchmark, where we ran down the gadget with a 24-hour YouTube video shown at 200 nits, the Pixel 7a went on around 16 hours and 11 minutes. That is one hour less than the Pixel 6a from last year and about half an hour less than the Galaxy S23 from Samsung. If you turn off the screen most of the time, you might get that full 24-hour battery life. But our tests show that even if you’re going out for a long day, you’ll still need a battery pack.
The Pixel 7a flaunts some leader level elements with the battery, including quick charging and Qi-viable remote charging. I do appreciate that this is a part of the 7a’s mid-range story because I prefer to use the numerous wireless charging pads in my home rather than plugging in devices. It’s great to know that the 7a can utilize those.
Pixel 7a’s flagship-level camera
The fact that the Google Tensor G2 CPU is the real benefit is that it is the reason the 7a takes photos like the Pixel 7 does. I was impressed because, despite the different camera glass, I could barely tell the difference in my photos between the two devices when I was shooting at night or on my daily walks.
The Pixel 7a has an 80-degree field of view, a 64-megapixel primary camera with OIS, an f/1.89 aperture, and other features. It can perform artificial intelligence improved advanced Super Res Zoom up to 8x. The front-facing camera has a 13-megapixel fixed focus lens, which is superior to the 10.8-megapixel sensor found in the Pixel 7. The second camera is an ultrawide camera with a 12-degree field of view. The front-facing camera on the Pixel 7 is muddy in low-light situations, which is my main issue, but I didn’t experience this with the Pixel 7a. At 60 frames per second, the Pixel 7a can record 4K video.
The Pixel 7a took some heavenly photographs. To distinguish between images taken with the Pixel 7 and those taken without it, I had to classify them as I took them. I likewise tried the Pixel 6a and Cosmic system A54 close by the Pixel 7a, and keeping in mind that the 6a kept up, the Universe A54 attempted to hone detail in low-light settings. But not the 7a, which was able to light up subjects and the distant sky on par with its flagship competitors. I saw a few distinctions in lucidity and shading between the Pixel 7’s focal points and those of the Pixel 7a. For instance, compared to the Pixel 7a, you can see more detail on the distant hills in the first photo sample I pasted above.
Don’t forget the Pixel feature drops
The Pixel 7a runs Android 13 right out of the box and comes with the promise of five years of consistent software updates. But Google’s way of enticing you to use its hardware is with a constant barrage of Pixel feature drops. They’ve previously included improvements to older devices like the Pixel 6 and exclusive features only for Pixel devices. The Pixel 7a will be added to the lineup so that you can take advantage of AI-infused capabilities like Call Assist and Magic Eraser.
Save on a flagship, buy the Pixel 7a
Even at $500 (the mmWave model costs $550, by the way), the Pixel 7a is a complete package if you’re looking for an Android smartphone to get you through the day. It currently costs slightly more than Samsung’s Galaxy A54, which is the same device. In return, you get a screen that refreshes at a faster rate and a battery that is slightly larger—Samsung included a 5,000 mAh unit. However, Samsung’s $450 device lacks a camera system comparable to that of its flagship models. In that regard, the Pixel 7a still holds the crown.
What will befall the base Pixel 7? Because it currently targets the same user base as the A-series, Google will need to beef up that particular release. In any event, to take astrophotography or a photograph of an individual’s face in a dim bar, you can do as such with the $500 Pixel 7a without springing the complete cost for one of Google’s leads.
