The Google Pixel 7a: Budget-Friendly Powerhouse Or Just a Pretty Face?
In 2022, Google took the bold step of entering the Indian smartphone market with its Pixel 7 series, making its devices more accessible than ever before. This year, they doubled down with the Pixel 7a, a "pocket-friendly" version of the Pixel 7, priced at Rs. 43,999. But with the Pixel 7 now available at around Rs. 55,999, is the 7a worth the price difference? Is it a true upgrade over the Pixel 6a, or just a design refresh with a few minor changes? Let’s dive in and find out.
A Premium Look, But a Plastic Reality
The Pixel 7a might deceive you with its premium aesthetic. Google has borrowed the signature design language of the Pixel 7 with the distinctive camera bar and sleek, modern look. However, the reality is that the rear panel is still made of plastic, just like the Pixel 6a. While this is typical for this price point, it does mean the phone is susceptible to smudges and scratches. In fact, the plastic rear panel on my review unit exhibited noticeable misalignment, where the edges met the metal frame, an issue absent in the Pixel 6a.
Despite its weight of 193g, making it slightly heavier than its predecessor, the Pixel 7a remains compact and well-suited for one-handed use. The added weight, however, might be attributed to the inclusion of wireless charging, another first for the A series. While welcome, it unfortunately comes at the expense of battery capacity, which has shrunk compared to the Pixel 6a.
On the plus side, the Pixel 7a retains the IP67 dust and water resistance rating, making it one of the few phones in its segment to offer this crucial feature.
Tensor Power and Familiar Software
Under the hood, the Pixel 7a boasts Google’s latest and greatest in processing power: the Tensor G2 SoC. This same chipset powers the Pixel 7, 7 Pro, and the recently released Pixel Fold, making the 7a a truly formidable performer in its price range. Alongside the enhanced processing power, the Tensor G2 unlocks new camera features and improved efficiency.
While Google continues to offer only one storage option, this time it’s a generous 128GB of UFS 3.1 storage, albeit without expandable options. The absence of a free cloud storage option (beyond temporary promotional offers) might be a concern for those needing lots of storage. But the Pixel 7a finally breaks the barrier with 8GB of RAM, a welcome upgrade for a phone designed for multitasking.
The 90Hz OLED display is a major step up from the Pixel 6a’s 60Hz panel, delivering a smoother and more fluid user experience. It’s bright, supports HDR10 for a vibrant visual experience, and the in-display fingerprint sensor, a slight weakness in the Pixel 6a, is thankfully reliable right out of the box.
Google’s software experience remains unchanged, offering clean and bloatware-free Android 13 with the familiar Pixel software overlay. The Pixel 7a benefits from Google’s promise of three years of software updates and five years of security updates, ensuring long-term support.
Performance: A Smooth Operator But With Battery Concerns
The Pixel 7a is a smooth operator, thanks to the powerful Tensor G2. Android 13 runs seamlessly, multitasking is effortless with 8GB of RAM, and the 90Hz display adds a noticeably fluid feel to navigating the interface. Games like Call of Duty: Mobile ran flawlessly at high settings, a feat even the Pixel 6a struggled with.
However, this performance comes at a cost: a smaller battery than the Pixel 6a. While the battery performance isn’t abysmal, our video loop test showed a relatively average 12 hours and 39 minutes of runtime, significantly less than the Pixel 6a, making it a potential concern for power users. My own daily use which included social media browsing, video streaming, and some gaming barely got me through a full day with 10 percent left.
The 18W wired charging, while faster than the Pixel 6a’s 15W charging, still requires a lengthy two hours and seven minutes to fully charge. This is especially frustrating given the lack of a charger in the box. While the Pixel 7a does offer wireless charging, a feature absent on the Pixel 6a, it’s a small consolation given the limited battery life.
Camera Upgraded, But Still Some Room for Improvement
The Pixel 7a’s cameras have received a significant upgrade. The main camera boasts a 64-megapixel sensor with OIS, a huge step up from the Pixel 6a’s 12-megapixel sensor. The ultra-wide camera has also been bumped up to 13-megapixels, and the selfie camera is now a 13-megapixel shooter, all capturing 12-megapixel binned images for better detail and sharpness.
The Tensor G2 SoC brings further enhancements. While not featuring the Pixel 7’s Action Pan mode, the 7a offers Long Exposure mode, delivering impressive long exposure photos without a tripod. The new Night mode, almost twice as fast as the Pixel 6a’s Night Sight, significantly improves low-light photography. The Photo Unblur feature is a welcome addition, effectively mitigating minor blurring in photos, proving especially helpful when capturing moving subjects.
Despite the upgrades, the Pixel 7a still doesn’t have a dedicated macro mode. I did manage to capture some close-ups with impressive detail, but the lack of a dedicated mode could be a drawback for those who enjoy macro photography. As a caveat, I also found that the Pixel 7a tends to overheat when using more processor-intensive camera modes like Portrait mode or Long Exposure, leading to occasional performance reductions.
Comparing the Pixel 7a and Pixel 6a, the improvements in overall detail, dynamic range, and color accuracy are evident. The ultra-wide camera provides a wider field of view, though barrel distortion and purple fringing are still noticeable. Selfies in daylight appear slightly softer on the Pixel 7a, and the tighter frame makes it difficult to include more than two subjects.
Low-light performance, however, is a definite win for the Pixel 7a. The new sensor and processing power deliver significantly sharper results, especially noticeable with moving subjects. The Night Sight mode effectively reduces noise and produces images with impressive detail and sharpness.
Verdict: A Worthy Upgrade, But Consider the Competition
The Pixel 7a represents a significant upgrade over the Pixel 6a, offering a premium design, powerful performance, excellent camera improvements, and a clean software experience. Despite the smaller battery and limited charging speeds, the Pixel 7a delivers exceptional value, making it a strong contender in the mid-range market.
However, you should consider the competition. The OnePlus 11R 5G boasts faster charging, a larger battery, and equally capable performance, but lacks IP rating and wireless charging. The Pixel 7, while more expensive, offers a superior build quality and more versatile camera system.
Ultimately, the Pixel 7a’s appeal lies in its unique blend of features: a premium design, powerful performance, exceptional camera capabilities, and the convenience of wireless charging. If you prioritize these features and are open to the trade-offs in battery and charging speed, the Pixel 7a makes a compelling choice.
