Introduction

The main highlights of the Google I/O 2023 were the Google Pixel 7a, Pixel Fold and Google Pixel tablet. Google Pixel fanboys were eagerly waiting for Google Pixel 7a just after the launch of Google Pixel 7 and 7 pro in October 2022, as Google always launch a lesser version of their flagship smartphone that provides most of the flagship specs at a much lesser price. Last year Google Pixel 6a was a big hit, with few compromises the Pixel 6a was able to provide a true Android experience with a flagship-level camera at an affordable price. There were major downgrades in Pixel 6a that have been resolved by Google in this year's edition of the Google pixel series smartphone as Google Pixel 7a has an enhanced camera setup, better display and Google’s new tensor G2 chipset.

Google Pixel 7a Design - Resembles Google Pixel 7

Google Pixel 7a looks quite similar to Google Pixel 7 but it is more compact and there are key differences also. The back of the Pixel 7a is made up of plastic but the frame is metallic just like the Google Pixel 7 and 7 pro. Due to a plastic back, the smartphone does catch fingerprints and smudges. The phone in hand feel is very premium because of the metallic frame and compact size of the device. Google pixel 7a is 9mm thick with 152 x 72.9mm length and breadth. Google Pixel 7a and 6a have similar dimensions and from the front, the bezel and body-to-screen ratio is exactly the same, the main difference lies in the back where the Pixel 7a camera bar is adapted from its big brother Pixel 7. As per durability is concerned Google Pixel 7a comes with IP67 protection that protects the smartphone from water splashes and dust,Gorilla Glass 3 is there to protect from the front. The design is subjective manner but still, Pixel 7a looks very identical to Pixel 7 thus making it more premium.

Google Pixel 7a Display - Updated to 90 Hz

Google Pixel 6a was launched with a 60 Hz display that annoyed everyone who was waiting for its launch. But with Google Pixel 7a they fixed it by providing a 90Hz display as the smartphones from other brands coming at this price range generally offer at least a 90Hz display. The best thing about google pixel smartphones is that they provide an OLED panel with their low-end smartphones, Google Pixel 7a boasts 6.1 inches OLED, HDR, 90Hz display with a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels, the display is quite vibrant with a good viewing angle and the touch response is also very smooth all credits to 90Hz panel. There are only two downgrades in the display of Pixel 7a, first one it comes with Gorilla Glass 3 protection, as at this price range they could have provided Gorilla glass5 or victus protection, the other downgrade is its screen-to-body ratio as the smartphone has noticeable bezels and chin which makes this smartphone a bit outdated. Smartphones like Nothing Phone 1 which is priced at a similar price range come with a 120Hz display with minimal bezels which gives the handset a more modern look. The multimedia-watching experience of Google Pixel 7a is astonishing as Google OLED Display is known for its colour accuracy and Pixel 7a thus comes with Widevine L1 that let you watch your favourite shows in HDR.

Google Pixel 7a camera - The Midrange camera king

The major reason to buy a pixel phone is its camera, Google pixel hardware and its software algorithm plays a vital role in camera output. Google Pixel 7a comes with a dual camera set-up in which the main sensor is upgraded to 64MP wide sensor with F1.9 aperture and a 13 MP ultrawide camera that can capture 120˚ ultrawide shots. The picture output is very crisp with sharp details and the primary 64 MP Sony senor sometimes outcasts the Pixel 7 in normal light conditions which has a 50MP Samsung sensor, but Google Pixel 7 is capable of clicking better pictures in low light conditions and in video recording Google Pixel 7 gives superior outcome. The front camera also got upgraded when you compare it with its predecessor, the front camera is now a 13MP can which can record 4K videos at 30FPS. The video quality of Pixel 7a is very impressive as it can record stabilised videos all thanks to inbuilt OIS with the Pixel 7a camera. The overall camera performance has been bumped up when you directly compare the performance with Pixel 6a. Google Pixel 7a can be a must pick if you are looking for a camera-centric smartphone.

Google Tensor G2 powering Pixel 7a

From Google Pixel 6, the brand is relying on its own designed chipsets for better performance therefore Google used the Same Tensor G2 which they use in Pixel 7 main lineup. Google Tensor G2 is based on a 5NM chipset with 2.85 GHz of clock speed, Mali G710 GPU. The Titan M2 chip is bundled with Pixel 7a for an extra layer of security. Pixel A series smartphones are made to cater those who want a clean and snappy user experience, they are not made for intense gaming but Pixel 7a can perform casual gaming as Google Tensor G2 chipset scores more than 700,000 in antutu benchmark scoring which is higher than its predecessor but not equivalent to the Snapdragons flagships like 8 Gen 1 series. The Poco F5 is recently launched in the same price range with Snapdragon 7 plus gen 2 which is quite far better when it comes to the core performance between the two. The smartphone's performance is snappy and ideal for day-to-day use with ease as its Google stock android os provides more stability and the minimal level of bugs that are present in other smartphones.

Conclusion

There are many smartphones in the same price range that can outperform Google Pixel 7a in every aspect except one, the software experience. Google Pixel smartphones always get Android updates faster than everyone else. Apart from updates, the user experience and Pixel Exclusive features like a magic eraser, call screening, photo unblur etc are very fascinating and useful. When you compare the Pixel 7a with the 6a lots of specs has been upgraded from a 90 hz display, Tensor G2 processor,20 Watt fast charging, new camera sensor and wireless battery charging shows Google does listen to their customer wants. Google Pixel 7a does have some limitations like a more powerful chipset, and a more advanced display, fast battery charging when you compare it with smartphones from other brands but still Pixel 7a is a considerable deal.