Google Pixel 7a: The Affordable Premium Phone
Google recently launched the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro smartphones in India, with the Pixel 7 starting at ₹55,999 and the Pixel 7 Pro starting at ₹70,999. The Google Pixel 7a, a more affordable version of the Pixel 7, was also launched at ₹43,999.
So, should you spend an extra ₹12,000 for the Pixel 7 over the Pixel 7a? Or is the Pixel 7a a good upgrade from the Pixel 6a?
Here is a comparison of the two phones:
- Price: The Pixel 7a is ₹12,000 cheaper than the Pixel 7.
- Screen: The Pixel 7 has a slightly larger 6.7-inch display than the Pixel 7a’s 6.1-inch display. Both displays have a 1080p resolution and a 90Hz refresh rate.
- Processor: Both phones are powered by the Google Tensor G2 chip.
- RAM: The Pixel 7 has 12GB of RAM, while the Pixel 7a has 8GB of RAM.
- Storage: Both phones have 128GB of storage.
- Camera: The Pixel 7 has a triple-lens rear camera system, while the Pixel 7a has a dual-lens rear camera system. Both phones have a 13MP front-facing camera.
- Battery: The Pixel 7 has a 5000mAh battery, while the Pixel 7a has a 4385mAh battery.
Overall, the Pixel 7 is a more premium phone than the Pixel 7a. It has a larger display, more RAM, and a better camera system. However, the Pixel 7a is still a great phone and it is a lot cheaper than the Pixel 7. If you are on a budget, the Pixel 7a is a great option. But if you can afford it, the Pixel 7 is the better phone.
As for whether the Pixel 7a is a good upgrade from the Pixel 6a, it depends on your needs. If you are looking for a better camera system, the Pixel 7a is a good upgrade. But if you are happy with the camera on the Pixel 6a, the Pixel 7a may not be worth the upgrade.
Ultimately, the decision of which phone to buy depends on your individual needs and budget. If you are looking for the best possible phone, the Pixel 7 is the way to go. But if you are on a budget or you don’t need all the bells and whistles, the Pixel 7a is a great option.
Details and Software Features of the Google Pixel 7a:
The Google Pixel 7a is powered by the Google Tensor G2 SoC, the same processor that powers the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro models. This processor is more powerful and power-efficient than the previous generation Tensor processor, and it also adds some additional camera and photo editing features.
The Pixel 7a comes with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. There are no other storage options available. The phone does not support expandable storage, so you will need to make sure that 128GB is enough for your needs.
The Pixel 7a runs Android 13 out of the box. This is the latest version of Android, and it comes with a number of new features and improvements. The Pixel 7a will also receive three years of software updates and five years of security updates, which is one of the best in the industry.
The fingerprint reader is located in the 6.1-inch full-HD+ OLED display, which has a 90Hz refresh rate. It is not as troublesome as the Pixel 6a’s fingerprint reader and works reliably.
The Pixel 7a is powered by a 4,385mAh battery, which is smaller than the Pixel 6a’s battery. Charging speeds are capped at 18W for wired charging and 7.5W for wireless charging. Google does not provide a charger in the box.
The software experience on the Google Pixel 7a is typical for a Pixel device. It runs Android 13 with the slightly customized Pixel software experience. There are no additional apps or bloatware. Google promises three years of software updates and five years of security updates. There are also the usual feature drops.
Design of the Google Pixel 7a:
The Google Pixel 7a has a premium look at first glance, but it is just as prone to smudges and dust as the Pixel 6a. The smudges are less noticeable on the Snow finish, but the Sea and Charcoal finishes may be more difficult to keep clean. The rear panel is made of plastic, just like the Pixel 6a, so it is prone to scratches. While the design of the Pixel 7a mimics the premium look of the Pixel 7, the materials used are not the same.
I found that the edges of the rear panel on my unit were slightly misaligned. They did not have a seamless fit where they met the metal frame. The same is true for the metal rear camera band, which could have been finished better. It is noticeably sharper than the camera module on the Pixel 7. The previous Pixel 6a did not have any of these imperfections, so it is disappointing to see them on the new model. However, you can simply put a case on the phone and forget about it.
The Google Pixel 7a weighs 193 grams, which is slightly heavier than the Pixel 6a at 178 grams. However, it is still compact and easy to use with one hand. The extra weight is likely due to the addition of wireless charging, which is not available on the Pixel 6a. This could also be the reason why Google chose to give the Pixel 7a a smaller battery. I like that the Pixel 7a has an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance. This means that it can withstand being submerged in up to 1 meter of water for up to 30 minutes. This is a rare feature in a phone in this price range, and it is one of the things that sets the Pixel 7a apart from its competitors.
Cameras of Google Pixel 7a:
The Google Pixel 7a has a triple-lens rear camera system that includes a 64-megapixel main sensor with OIS, a 13-megapixel ultrawide sensor, and a 13-megapixel selfie camera. The cameras have been upgraded from the Pixel 6a, and the results are noticeable.
The main camera takes sharp and detailed photos in good lighting conditions. The ultrawide camera is also good, and it can be used to take wider shots. The selfie camera is also good, and it takes clear and sharp selfies.
The Tensor G2 SoC also brings some handy camera tricks to the Pixel 7a. The Long Exposure mode allows you to take long exposure photos without a tripod. The new Night mode is almost twice as fast as the Pixel 6a’s Night Sight mode, and it produces better results. The Photo Unblur feature removes minor blurring from images.
Overall, the cameras on the Google Pixel 7a are a big improvement over the Pixel 6a. They are sharp, detailed, and capable of taking good photos in a variety of conditions.
Noticed that the Pixel 7a heats up quickly when capturing photos and videos outdoors, especially when using the more processor-intensive camera modes like Portrait mode or Long Exposure. On several occasions, when I switched to video mode to record 4K videos, I received a pop-up notification stating that the device was too hot and that video quality may be reduced. However, the camera app did not close. I also had background photo backups disabled when I was reviewing it, so that did not contribute to the heating.
Thankfully, the Google Pixel 7a’s imaging capabilities are quite capable. The daylight imaging quality of the Pixel 7a is quite impressive. The new cameras and processor improve the dynamic range and overall details in photos. These improvements are not immediately noticeable, but they can be seen when you zoom in on the photos. The Pixel 7a also produces more accurate color tones than the Pixel 6a. There is no macro mode, but the close-up photos taken with the Pixel 7a are still good.
The new ultra-wide camera offers a wider field of view than the previous model. There is some barrel distortion and purple fringing, but the ultra-wide photos taken with the Pixel 7a are still among the best you can get on a smartphone at this price point.
Selfies taken with the Google Pixel 7a in daylight are a bit soft and lack detail compared to the selfies taken with the Pixel 6a. The new 13-megapixel selfie camera also has a narrower field of view, which makes it difficult to fit more than two people in the frame. In low light, the Pixel 6a actually takes better selfies than the Pixel 7a.
Shooting with the rear cameras in low light was a much better experience on the Pixel 7a than on the Pixel 6a. The Tensor G2 processor allows the Pixel 7a to capture sharper images of moving subjects, such as kids and pets. When using the dedicated Night Sight mode, the Pixel 7a produces sharper and more blur-free photos of moving subjects than the Pixel 6a. The level of detail is similar in both phones, but the colors are better on the Pixel 7a. In more dimly-lit scenes, the Pixel 7a also produces slightly better detail and sharpness. The ultra-wide camera captures decent quality images in low light when used with the Night Sight shooting mode, but there is a lot of crushed blacks in the shadows.
Although the Google Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro models have better camera hardware and features, the Pixel 7a still takes good video. However, it lacks certain features such as multi-directional PDAF and laser autofocus, and it does not support HDR10 recording.
4K 30fps video recording on the Pixel 7a has good detail in daylight, but it can show purple fringing in bright spots. 4K 60fps video looks a lot better, with a steady framerate. In low light, the Pixel 7a manages better quality video with less noise than the Pixel 6a, when recording at 4K 30fps and 60fps.
Performance of Google Pixel 7a:
It ran Android 13 smoothly without any hiccups, and the 8GB of RAM helped with multitasking. The 90Hz refresh rate also made the interface feel more fluid.
The display was bright and colorful, and it was also HDR10-certified. This means that it can display HDR content from streaming services like Netflix and YouTube.
In benchmarks, the Pixel 7a scored better than the Pixel 6a and on par with the Pixel 7. It managed 7,16,837 points in AnTuTu, and 1,396 and 3,116 points in Geekbench’s single and multi-core tests respectively. In terms of graphics, the Pixel 7a managed 90fps, 85fps and 60fps in GFXBench’s T-Rex, Manhattan 3.1 and Car Chase test suites, respectively.
The Google Pixel 7a can handle most games well, but it does get warm when playing demanding games. The 90Hz refresh rate is a nice touch, but it does take a toll on battery life.
In my tests, the Pixel 7a lasted for 12 hours and 39 minutes in the standard video loop battery test. This is average for a small phone, but below average for its segment. With my typical daily use, the Pixel 7a barely made it through a full day.
Overall, the Pixel 7a is not a phone for power users. If you are looking for a phone that can handle gaming and other demanding tasks, you should look elsewhere.
Google does not include a charger in the box with the Pixel 7a. I plugged the phone into a 61W USB PD charger, but it still took 2 hours and 7 minutes to fully charge. This is slower than the claimed 18W charging speed by Google.
The Pixel 7a does support wireless charging, which is another first for a Pixel A-series device. This is convenient for keeping the phone topped up when not in use, but it requires you to have a wireless charging pad.
Personally, I would have preferred a bigger battery or faster charging speeds. The smaller battery and slower charging speeds are the main downsides of the Pixel 7a.
Conclusion
The Google Pixel 7a has received a number of upgrades, including the Tensor G2 SoC, a new rear camera system, and a 90Hz display. However, the selfie camera has been downgraded and the battery life has been reduced.
The Pixel 7a is now on par with the competition in terms of performance and camera quality. It also comes with a clean Android 13 interface, which is a major advantage over other phones in this price range.
If you are looking for a phone with fast charging, then the OnePlus 11R 5G is a better choice. However, the Pixel 7a offers wireless charging and an IP rating, which the OnePlus 11R 5G does not have.
Overall, the Pixel 7a is a good value for money phone that offers a unique set of features. It is a worthy upgrade for those who are using a Pixel 6a.
The Pixel 7a’s only real competitor is the Pixel 7, which is priced at Rs. 55,999. The Pixel 7 offers a more polished design and build quality, more capable camera hardware, and more reliable battery life. These things would matter to power users, and they might be willing to spend the extra money for the Pixel 7.
