Google Pixel 7a vs Google Pixel 7
Google announced its brand new mid-ranger during Google I/O 2023, the Pixel 7a. That device is quite similar to the Pixel 7, one of Google’s flagship phones. It not only resembles it when the design is concerned, but in many other ways. The A series device has also never been so closer to the price tag of one of Google’s flagship offerings. So, what gives? Well, they are similar, but there are some notable differences that need highlighting. Therefore, we’ll compare the Google Pixel 7a vs Google Pixel 7 to give you a better idea of what to purchase.
There are a number of subtle differences between the two phones, and a couple of more notable ones. There’s a reason the Pixel 7a is a mid-range offering, and not a flagship. We’ll first list their specs, and then check out their designs, displays, performance, battery life, cameras, and ultimately… audio performance. Let’s get started, shall we?
Specs
| Google Pixel 7a | Google Pixel 7 | |
| Screen size | 6.1-inch fullHD+ flat OLED display (90Hz refresh rate) | 6.3-inch fullHD+ flat AMOLED display (90Hz refresh rate, 1,400 nits peak brightness) |
| Screen resolution | 2400 x 1080 | 2400 x 1080 |
| SoC | Google Tensor G2 | Google Tensor G2 |
| RAM | 8GB (LPDDR5) | 8GB (LPDDR5) |
| Storage | 128GB (UFS 3.1), non-expandable | 128GB/256GB (UFS 3.1), non-expandable |
| Rear cameras | 64MP (f/1.9 aperture, 26mm lens, 0.8um pixel size, OIS, Dual Pixel PDAF) 13MP (f/2.2 aperture, 120-degree FoV, 1.12um pixel size) |
50MP (Samsung ISOCELL GN1 sensor, 1.2um pixel size, f/1.85 aperture, 82-degree FoV, Super Res Zoom up to 8x) 12MP (ultrawide, 1.25um pixel size, f/2.2 aperture, 114-degree FoV, lens correction) |
| Front cameras | 13MP (f/2.2 aperture, 20mm lens, 1.12um pixel size) | 10.8MP (1.22um pixel size, f/2.2 aperture, 92.8-degree FoV, Fixed Focus) |
| Battery | 4,385mAh, non-removable, 20W wired charging, 18W wireless charging Charger not included |
4,355mAh, non-removable, 21W wired charging, 23W wireless charging, reverse wireless charging Charger not included |
| Dimensions | 152 x 72.9 x 9mm | 155.6 x 73.2 x 8.7mm |
| Weight | 193.5 grams | 197 grams |
| Connectivity | 5G, LTE, NFC, Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi, USB Type-C | 5G, LTE, NFC, Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi, USB Type-C |
| Security | In-display fingerprint scanner (optical) | Face Unlock In-display fingerprint scanner (optical) |
| OS | Android 13 | Android 13 |
| Price | $499 | $599/$699 |
| Buy | Amazon | Amazon |
Google Pixel 7a vs Google Pixel 7: Design
At first glance, these two phones look awfully similar. They have the same design language, they’re similar in size, and both have a camera visor on the back with two cameras in it. There are differences here, though, that’s for sure. First of all, the Pixel 7 includes thinner bezels than its sibling. It has a larger display, and they’re almost the same size, those bezels are the main reason why.
You will notice a display camera hole on both phones, which is centered. They both also include flat displays. Now, the camera visor is included on both phones, but on the Pixel 7 it connects to the frame, while on the Pixel 7a, it does not. It may look like it does, but there is a separation between them. Also, there is glass on the back of the Pixel 7, while the Pixel 7a has a plastic backplate. Both phones do include an aluminum frame, however.
The Pixel 7a is slightly shorter, narrower, and thicker than its sibling. The difference really is minimal, though. It is also slightly lighter, by around 3.5 grams. The Pixel 7a offers IP67 certification, while the Pixel 7 comes with IP68 certification. So it has the upper hand in that regard as well. The in-hand feel is… well, they feel similar in the hand. They both also feel like well-built machines. The Pixel 7 definitely offers a more premium design, though.
Google Pixel 7a vs Google Pixel 7: Display
There is a 6.1-inch fullHD+ (2400 x 1080) OLED display included on the Pixel 7a. That display is flat, and it supports a 90Hz refresh rate. We’re looking at a 20:9 display aspect ratio here. That display is protected by the Gorilla Glass 3. The Pixel 7, on the other hand, also has a 90Hz OLED display, but this one measures 6.3 inches. It supports HDR10+ content, and gets up to 1,400 nits of peak brightness. It also offers a 20:9 aspect ratio, though it’s protected by the Gorilla Glass Victus.
Both of these displays are very good, but the Pixel 7’s has a couple of advantages. First and foremost, it comes with better protection. The Gorilla Glass Victus is a number of generations ahead of Gorilla Glass 3. In fact, Gorilla Glass 3 is rather prone to microscratches, compared to the Victus. On top of that, the Pixel 7’s display also gets slightly brighter outdoors, even though both are perfectly usable in such conditions, even in direct sunlight.
Do note that our Pixel 7a review unit came with a display refresh rate set to 60Hz. So, it’s possible you’ll have to change that before you start using the device. Presuming the same will happen with retail models, that is. Both displays do offer vivid colors, and deep blacks. The viewing angles are also very good on both panels, as is the touch response, Quite frankly, the vast majority of users would be more than happy with either of these panels.
Google Pixel 7a vs Google Pixel 7: Performance
When it comes to performance, these two phones feel pretty much the same during usage, to be quite honest. That is not surprising at all considering that their performance-related internals are the same, and the same goes for the software builds. The Google Tensor G2 fuels both of these smartphones, while both devices include 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM. UFS 3.1 flash storage is also included on both phones.
They do feel really snappy, though not to the level of many Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 or Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 phones. The Tensor G2 is a really good chip, but it’s not the most powerful on the market. Google relies heavily on machine learning, though, and chances are that both of these two phones will offer good performance for quite some time. Don’t get me wrong, the performance is great, but it’s not as snappy as on some other phones. That is nitpicking, but there you have it.
When it comes to gaming, however… well, these two phones are not made for gaming. They can handle the vast majority of games on the Google Play Store without a problem, but if you load some of the most demanding games out there (like Genshin Impact), the performance won’t be perfect. Once again, this is nitpicking, but we’re only trying to provide you with a full picture. In regular, day-to-day performance, they’re great and completely lag-free.
Google Pixel 7a vs Google Pixel 7: Battery
The Pixel 7a includes a 4,385mAh battery, while the Pixel 7 comes with a 4,355mAh battery. The difference here is not big at all. That goes for both the battery capacity, when it comes to battery life, we did note considerable differences. The Pixel 7 did offer better results for us, but we’ve seen Pixel phones get better when it comes to battery life as time goes by, so… it’s possible something similar will happen with the Pixel 7a.
We’ve been able to pull out around 6 hours of screen-on-time on the Pixel 7a (though the battery life varies wildly from day to day), while the Pixel 7 was usually able to cross the 8-hour screen-on-time mark. Your experience may differ wildly, though, of course. Your usage will be entirely different, not to mention the apps you have installed, and your signal strength. Perhaps you will see better results than we did. Also, we do believe the Pixel 7a battery life will become way more reliable after a couple of software updates. It wouldn’t be the first time.
When it comes to charging, you’re getting 20W wired charging on both devices. That charging will take you up to 50% in about 30 minutes, on both devices due to similar battery sizes. A full charge will take quite some time, over an hour and a half for sure. The Pixel 7a also offers 18W wireless charging, while the Pixel 7 supports both 20W wireless, and 5W reverse wireless charging. Neither phone comes with a charger, though.
Google Pixel 7a vs Google Pixel 7: Cameras
The Google Pixel 7a features a 64-megapixel main camera, and a 13-megapixel ultrawide camera (120-degree FoV) on the back. The Pixel 7, on the other hand, comes with a 50-megapixel main camera, and a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera (114-degree FoV). Some people may think that the Pixel 7a has a better main camera sensor, but it doesn’t. Also, the difference is noticeable in the end results, despite Google’s image processing magic.
That’s not to say that the images from the Pixel 7a are bad, not at all. They’re actually great, but the Pixel 7 does a better job overall. In good lighting, the Pixel 7a is not as good as the Pixel 7 when it comes to white balancing. The images tend to look a bit greener for some reason. The dynamic range is also worse on the Pixel 7a when we directly compare the two. That is especially noticeable in HDR situations.
What’s interesting is that the ultrawide camera shots during the day provided basically the same results. The differences were very small, though the Pixel 7a does offer a wider FoV. So, it kind of has an advantage in that regard. Images from the main camera during nighttime are better on the Pixel 7, but the difference is not that easily noticeable. If you do zoom in, you’ll see that the Pixel 7 images are sharper. Also, another thing to note is that the video stabilization is noticeably better on the Pixel 7. Google could fix some of these issues with software updates, of course, but the Pixel 7 is definitely the superior camera smartphone here.
Audio
Both the Pixel 7a and Pixel 7 have a set of stereo speakers included. Those speakers are good on both phones. They are loud enough, and are detailed enough. They’re nothing to write home about, though, but most people will be happy with the performance.
What you do not get here is a 3.5mm headphone jack. If you want to connect your headphones via a wire, you’ll need to utilize the Type-C USB port at the bottom. As far as wireless connections go, the Pixel 7a is equipped with Bluetooth 5.3, while the Pixel 7 comes with Bluetooth 5.2.
Google announced its brand new mid-ranger during Google I/O 2023, the Pixel 7a. That device is quite similar to the Pixel 7, one of Google’s flagship phones. It not only resembles it when the design is concerned, but in many other ways. The A series device has also never been so closer to the price tag of one of Google’s flagship offerings. So, what gives? Well, they are similar, but there are some notable differences that need highlighting. Therefore, we’ll compare the Google Pixel 7a vs Google Pixel 7 to give you a better idea of what to purchase.
There are a number of subtle differences between the two phones, and a couple of more notable ones. There’s a reason the Pixel 7a is a mid-range offering, and not a flagship. We’ll first list their specs, and then check out their designs, displays, performance, battery life, cameras, and ultimately… audio performance. Let’s get started, shall we?
Specs
| Google Pixel 7a | Google Pixel 7 | |
| Screen size | 6.1-inch fullHD+ flat OLED display (90Hz refresh rate) | 6.3-inch fullHD+ flat AMOLED display (90Hz refresh rate, 1,400 nits peak brightness) |
| Screen resolution | 2400 x 1080 | 2400 x 1080 |
| SoC | Google Tensor G2 | Google Tensor G2 |
| RAM | 8GB (LPDDR5) | 8GB (LPDDR5) |
| Storage | 128GB (UFS 3.1), non-expandable | 128GB/256GB (UFS 3.1), non-expandable |
| Rear cameras | 64MP (f/1.9 aperture, 26mm lens, 0.8um pixel size, OIS, Dual Pixel PDAF) 13MP (f/2.2 aperture, 120-degree FoV, 1.12um pixel size) |
50MP (Samsung ISOCELL GN1 sensor, 1.2um pixel size, f/1.85 aperture, 82-degree FoV, Super Res Zoom up to 8x) 12MP (ultrawide, 1.25um pixel size, f/2.2 aperture, 114-degree FoV, lens correction) |
| Front cameras | 13MP (f/2.2 aperture, 20mm lens, 1.12um pixel size) | 10.8MP (1.22um pixel size, f/2.2 aperture, 92.8-degree FoV, Fixed Focus) |
| Battery | 4,385mAh, non-removable, 20W wired charging, 18W wireless charging Charger not included |
4,355mAh, non-removable, 21W wired charging, 23W wireless charging, reverse wireless charging Charger not included |
| Dimensions | 152 x 72.9 x 9mm | 155.6 x 73.2 x 8.7mm |
| Weight | 193.5 grams | 197 grams |
| Connectivity | 5G, LTE, NFC, Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi, USB Type-C | 5G, LTE, NFC, Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi, USB Type-C |
| Security | In-display fingerprint scanner (optical) | Face Unlock In-display fingerprint scanner (optical) |
| OS | Android 13 | Android 13 |
| Price | $499 | $599/$699 |
| Buy | Amazon | Amazon |
Google Pixel 7a vs Google Pixel 7: Design
At first glance, these two phones look awfully similar. They have the same design language, they’re similar in size, and both have a camera visor on the back with two cameras in it. There are differences here, though, that’s for sure. First of all, the Pixel 7 includes thinner bezels than its sibling. It has a larger display, and they’re almost the same size, those bezels are the main reason why.
You will notice a display camera hole on both phones, which is centered. They both also include flat displays. Now, the camera visor is included on both phones, but on the Pixel 7 it connects to the frame, while on the Pixel 7a, it does not. It may look like it does, but there is a separation between them. Also, there is glass on the back of the Pixel 7, while the Pixel 7a has a plastic backplate. Both phones do include an aluminum frame, however.
The Pixel 7a is slightly shorter, narrower, and thicker than its sibling. The difference really is minimal, though. It is also slightly lighter, by around 3.5 grams. The Pixel 7a offers IP67 certification, while the Pixel 7 comes with IP68 certification. So it has the upper hand in that regard as well. The in-hand feel is… well, they feel similar in the hand. They both also feel like well-built machines. The Pixel 7 definitely offers a more premium design, though.
Google Pixel 7a vs Google Pixel 7: Display
There is a 6.1-inch fullHD+ (2400 x 1080) OLED display included on the Pixel 7a. That display is flat, and it supports a 90Hz refresh rate. We’re looking at a 20:9 display aspect ratio here. That display is protected by the Gorilla Glass 3. The Pixel 7, on the other hand, also has a 90Hz OLED display, but this one measures 6.3 inches. It supports HDR10+ content, and gets up to 1,400 nits of peak brightness. It also offers a 20:9 aspect ratio, though it’s protected by the Gorilla Glass Victus.
Both of these displays are very good, but the Pixel 7’s has a couple of advantages. First and foremost, it comes with better protection. The Gorilla Glass Victus is a number of generations ahead of Gorilla Glass 3. In fact, Gorilla Glass 3 is rather prone to microscratches, compared to the Victus. On top of that, the Pixel 7’s display also gets slightly brighter outdoors, even though both are perfectly usable in such conditions, even in direct sunlight.
Do note that our Pixel 7a review unit came with a display refresh rate set to 60Hz. So, it’s possible you’ll have to change that before you start using the device. Presuming the same will happen with retail models, that is. Both displays do offer vivid colors, and deep blacks. The viewing angles are also very good on both panels, as is the touch response, Quite frankly, the vast majority of users would be more than happy with either of these panels.
Google Pixel 7a vs Google Pixel 7: Performance
When it comes to performance, these two phones feel pretty much the same during usage, to be quite honest. That is not surprising at all considering that their performance-related internals are the same, and the same goes for the software builds. The Google Tensor G2 fuels both of these smartphones, while both devices include 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM. UFS 3.1 flash storage is also included on both phones.
They do feel really snappy, though not to the level of many Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 or Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 phones. The Tensor G2 is a really good chip, but it’s not the most powerful on the market. Google relies heavily on machine learning, though, and chances are that both of these two phones will offer good performance for quite some time. Don’t get me wrong, the performance is great, but it’s not as snappy as on some other phones. That is nitpicking, but there you have it.
When it comes to gaming, however… well, these two phones are not made for gaming. They can handle the vast majority of games on the Google Play Store without a problem, but if you load some of the most demanding games out there (like Genshin Impact), the performance won’t be perfect. Once again, this is nitpicking, but we’re only trying to provide you with a full picture. In regular, day-to-day performance, they’re great and completely lag-free.
Google Pixel 7a vs Google Pixel 7: Battery
The Pixel 7a includes a 4,385mAh battery, while the Pixel 7 comes with a 4,355mAh battery. The difference here is not big at all. That goes for both the battery capacity, when it comes to battery life, we did note considerable differences. The Pixel 7 did offer better results for us, but we’ve seen Pixel phones get better when it comes to battery life as time goes by, so… it’s possible something similar will happen with the Pixel 7a.
We’ve been able to pull out around 6 hours of screen-on-time on the Pixel 7a (though the battery life varies wildly from day to day), while the Pixel 7 was usually able to cross the 8-hour screen-on-time mark. Your experience may differ wildly, though, of course. Your usage will be entirely different, not to mention the apps you have installed, and your signal strength. Perhaps you will see better results than we did. Also, we do believe the Pixel 7a battery life will become way more reliable after a couple of software updates. It wouldn’t be the first time.
When it comes to charging, you’re getting 20W wired charging on both devices. That charging will take you up to 50% in about 30 minutes, on both devices due to similar battery sizes. A full charge will take quite some time, over an hour and a half for sure. The Pixel 7a also offers 18W wireless charging, while the Pixel 7 supports both 20W wireless, and 5W reverse wireless charging. Neither phone comes with a charger, though.
Google Pixel 7a vs Google Pixel 7: Cameras
The Google Pixel 7a features a 64-megapixel main camera, and a 13-megapixel ultrawide camera (120-degree FoV) on the back. The Pixel 7, on the other hand, comes with a 50-megapixel main camera, and a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera (114-degree FoV). Some people may think that the Pixel 7a has a better main camera sensor, but it doesn’t. Also, the difference is noticeable in the end results, despite Google’s image processing magic.
That’s not to say that the images from the Pixel 7a are bad, not at all. They’re actually great, but the Pixel 7 does a better job overall. In good lighting, the Pixel 7a is not as good as the Pixel 7 when it comes to white balancing. The images tend to look a bit greener for some reason. The dynamic range is also worse on the Pixel 7a when we directly compare the two. That is especially noticeable in HDR situations.
What’s interesting is that the ultrawide camera shots during the day provided basically the same results. The differences were very small, though the Pixel 7a does offer a wider FoV. So, it kind of has an advantage in that regard. Images from the main camera during nighttime are better on the Pixel 7, but the difference is not that easily noticeable. If you do zoom in, you’ll see that the Pixel 7 images are sharper. Also, another thing to note is that the video stabilization is noticeably better on the Pixel 7. Google could fix some of these issues with software updates, of course, but the Pixel 7 is definitely the superior camera smartphone here.
Audio
Both the Pixel 7a and Pixel 7 have a set of stereo speakers included. Those speakers are good on both phones. They are loud enough, and are detailed enough. They’re nothing to write home about, though, but most people will be happy with the performance.
What you do not get here is a 3.5mm headphone jack. If you want to connect your headphones via a wire, you’ll need to utilize the Type-C USB port at the bottom. As far as wireless connections go, the Pixel 7a is equipped with Bluetooth 5.3, while the Pixel 7 comes with Bluetooth 5.2.
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