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Google Pixel 7a

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25 Verified Hands-On Reviews

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Expert reviews [25]

84
Total expert reviews: 25
  • with a score: 15
  • without a score: 10
Highest score by Expert Reviews
100
Average score based on 25 reviews
84
Lowest score by Digital Trends
60

Score distribution:

80-100
60-80
40-60
20-40
0-20
60
The Google Pixel 7a offers a solid smartphone experience with its compact design, impressive camera system, and smooth display, but its battery life and lack of reverse wireless charging may be disappointing for some users. Considering its pricing and competition from other Pixel models, it may not be the most compelling option in its range.
+ pros
  • Compact design and water resistance: The Pixel 7a maintains a compact size with a 6.1-inch display and offers water resistance, making it convenient for users on the go.
  • Impressive camera system: The Pixel 7a's 64MP main camera and 13MP ultrawide sensor capture detailed and vibrant photos.
  • Smooth display: The Full HD OLED screen with a 90Hz refresh rate provides smoother scrolling and better graphics.
  • Clean and simple user interface: The Pixel 7a runs on Android 13 with a fast, responsive, and easy-to-use user interface.
- cons
  • Disappointing battery life: The Pixel 7a drains quickly even with light to medium use, which may be a letdown for users who rely heavily on their smartphones.
  • No support for reverse wireless charging: The lack of this feature limits the convenience of wirelessly charging other devices using the Pixel 7a.
  • Awkward pricing compared to sibling models: The Pixel 7a's price puts it in a difficult position compared to the slightly higher-priced Pixel 6a and Pixel 7, which offer better features.
  • Competition from other models: The Samsung Galaxy A54 is mentioned as a strong competitor in the same price range, suggesting that there may be better options available.
70
The Google Pixel 7A is the top choice for a midrange phone this year, offering a brighter and smoother-scrolling 90Hz screen, an impressive camera system, and Google's custom Tensor G2 chipset. It is a solid midrange option with notable upgrades and a competitive price.
+ pros
  • Brighter and smoother-scrolling 90Hz screen: The 90Hz screen provides a better user experience with smoother scrolling and improved visuals.
  • Updated camera: The camera system on the Google Pixel 7A delivers high-quality photos in various lighting conditions, making it one of the best in its price range.
  • Wireless charging: The phone supports both wired and wireless charging, providing convenience and flexibility for users.
  • Google's custom Tensor G2 chipset: The Tensor G2 chipset offers impressive performance, handling challenging tasks with ease.
  • Sturdy design: The aluminum frame and Gorilla Glass 3 panel make the phone durable and resistant to damage.
- cons
  • Slower in-display fingerprint scanner: The in-display fingerprint scanner on the Google Pixel 7A is slower compared to others in its class.
  • Average battery life: The battery life of the phone is average with moderate use, which may not be sufficient for heavy users.
  • Additional cost for mmWave 5G: The Verizon version of the phone offers mmWave 5G for an additional cost, limiting its accessibility for some users.
  • Some camera features may not be necessary or accurate: While the camera has clever features like Top Shot and Magic Eraser, they may not always be necessary or provide accurate results.
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Expert consensus

The Google Pixel 7a has received positive reviews for its design, camera capabilities, display, performance, battery life, and speakers, making it a suitable choice for users who prioritize these features.

The Google Pixel 7a has received positive reviews from experts for its design, camera capabilities, display, performance, battery life, and speakers. The phone features a sleek and modern design with a range of color options to choose from. It has a high-resolution main camera that performs well in low light conditions, and a detailed front-facing camera with an ultra-wide focal length.

The display is sharp and vibrant, with a 90Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling and gaming. The performance is solid for everyday tasks and demanding applications, with 8GB of RAM and ample storage space. The battery life is good, lasting a full day with heavy use, and the speakers offer a satisfactory audio experience.

Overall, the Google Pixel 7a is a suitable choice for users who prioritize camera quality, a vibrant display, smooth performance, and good battery life.

Design

The Google Pixel 7a has received positive reviews for its compact and sleek design, featuring a sturdy aluminum frame, a polycarbonate or composite plastic back panel, and a distinctive camera bar, as well as offering a range of color options and an in-display fingerprint sensor for convenient unlocking.

The Google Pixel 7a has received positive reviews for its design. It has a compact and sleek form factor, measuring 72. 9 x 152. 4 x 9. 0mm and weighing 193 grams. The phone features a sturdy aluminum frame, a polycarbonate or composite plastic back panel that imitates the look of glass, and Gorilla Glass 3 protection on the front.

While it may not have the premium materials of higher-priced models, the Pixel 7a still offers a stylish and modern design.

The phone is available in four color options: Charcoal (black), Snow (white), Sea (blue), and Coral (orange). The Coral color is exclusive to the Google Store, while the other three colors are widely available across carriers and retailers. This provides users with a range of color choices to suit their preferences.

One notable design element of the Google Pixel 7a is the camera bar running horizontally across the rear panel. Made of a metal alloy, this camera bar is a distinctive feature of the Pixel lineup. The back panel has a brushed metal finish and curves to meet the curved metal frame of the phone.

The front of the device sports a 6. 1-inch tall display with a punch-hole notch in the center.

In terms of biometric security, the Google Pixel 7a includes an in-display fingerprint sensor. This sensor is located under the display, allowing for convenient and secure unlocking of the device.

Overall, the design of the Google Pixel 7a has been praised for its sleekness, modernity, and unique camera placement. It offers a range of color options and includes convenient features like an in-display fingerprint sensor.

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Camera

The Google Pixel 7a has a high-resolution main camera, impressive low-light performance, detailed front-facing camera, and usable zoom capabilities, making it a suitable choice for users who prioritize camera quality.

The Google Pixel 7a has a main camera with a resolution of 64 megapixels, which is considered high for a smartphone camera. The camera performs well in low light conditions, thanks to Google's Night Sight mode, which brings out impressive detail and vibrant colors even in dim lighting.

While it may not perform as well as the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro in low light, it still outperforms most other phones in this aspect.

The front-facing camera on the Pixel 7a is 13 megapixels and has an ultra-wide focal length, allowing for capturing a wider field of view in selfies. It takes detailed selfies with a pleasing bokeh effect in the background, especially in Portrait mode.

The front camera also features electronic image stabilization, reducing blurriness in videos and shaky photos.

The Pixel 7a does not have a dedicated telephoto lens, but it utilizes Super Res Zoom to digitally zoom up to 8x. The quality of the zoomed-in images is surprisingly good, thanks to Google's AI algorithms that enhance the image and reduce fuzziness or pixelation.

The 8x zoom shots remain sharp and retain a good amount of detail, although some minor editing may be required to fine-tune the images.

Overall, the Google Pixel 7a offers a high-resolution main camera, impressive low-light performance, detailed front-facing camera, and usable zoom capabilities. It is a suitable choice for users who prioritize camera quality and want to capture detailed photos in various lighting conditions, including low light.

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Display

The Google Pixel 7a features a 6.1-inch OLED display with a Full HD resolution, high brightness, and a 90Hz refresh rate, making it ideal for various multimedia activities.

The Google Pixel 7a has a 6. 1-inch OLED display with a Full HD resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels. The display offers a sharp and clear visual experience, with a brightness of 1,000 nits and a 90Hz refresh rate. It is protected by Gorilla Glass 3, ensuring durability.

The screen size and resolution make it suitable for various use cases, such as watching videos, browsing the internet, and playing games. The high brightness and refresh rate enhance the viewing experience, especially for multimedia content. Overall, the display of the Google Pixel 7a is highly praised by experts for its quality and performance.

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Performance

The Google Pixel 7a offers solid performance for everyday tasks and demanding applications, excelling in machine learning capabilities, but may not be the best for gaming due to heating issues.

The Google Pixel 7a offers solid performance for everyday tasks and demanding applications. Powered by the Google Tensor G2 chip, it may not be as powerful as Qualcomm Snapdragon processors, but it excels in machine learning capabilities. The GPU may not be the best for gaming, as it tends to heat up during longer gaming sessions.

However, for tasks like scrolling through social media, streaming videos, taking photos, and texting, the Pixel 7a is more than capable.

With 8GB of RAM, the Pixel 7a ensures smooth multitasking and overall performance. It is on par with many contemporary flagship smartphones. The 128GB storage capacity provides ample space for apps, photos, videos, and files. However, it's important to note that there is no expandable storage option.

When running demanding applications or multitasking, the Pixel 7a performs well. It breezes through most apps and services, including graphically demanding games. It can handle tasks like exporting videos and rendering 3D game graphics without noticeable stutter or slowdown. The phone does get warm during intense gameplay, but it's not excessive.

With 8GB of RAM, multitasking and app switching are smooth.

Overall, the Google Pixel 7a offers excellent performance for everyday tasks and demanding applications. It may not be the most powerful device on the market, but it competes well with more expensive flagship devices.

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Battery Life

The Google Pixel 7a has a battery capacity of 4,385mAh and offers good overall battery life, lasting up to 13 hours and 25 minutes while streaming a YouTube video and up to 72 hours with Extreme Battery Saver mode enabled, but heavy usage and gaming can drain the battery faster.

The Google Pixel 7a has a battery capacity of 4,385mAh and offers good battery life overall. In a review by PCMag, the Pixel 7a lasted 13 hours and 25 minutes while streaming a YouTube video with maximum screen brightness, which was an improvement over its predecessor. Digital Trends claims that the phone can last up to 72 hours with the Extreme Battery Saver setting enabled.

Techpp. com mentions that heavy use can still result in a day and a half of usage. The Verge states that Google claims the Pixel 7a can go up to 72 hours on a single charge in Extreme Battery Saver mode. Expert Reviews reports that the Pixel 7a scored 23 hours and 49 minutes in their looping video benchmark, which is three hours longer than the Pixel 6a achieved.

However, heavy usage and gaming may drain the battery faster.

The total charging time for the Pixel 7a varies depending on the charging method and adapter used. PCMag states that using a fast-charging adapter, the phone was completely charged in 1 hour and 43 minutes. Phone Arena mentions that it takes two hours to charge the Pixel 7a from 0 to 100% with Google's own 30W USB-C wall adapter.

It's important to note that the box does not include any charging adapter.

The Pixel 7a does have fast charging capabilities, supporting up to 18W. However, charging speeds can vary depending on the charger used. Some reviewers mentioned that the phone charges slowly and takes around two hours to fully charge with Google's own 30W USB-C wall adapter. It's recommended to use a compatible charger that supports at least 18W or higher for fast charging.

In terms of battery performance during heavy usage or while using certain features/apps, the Pixel 7a generally performs well. It tends to end the day with around 30 to 40% of battery left during heavy usage and multitasking. However, heavy usage and gaming can significantly reduce battery life and may require charging before the end of the day.

The Pixel 7a lasts for approximately 4 hours and 20 minutes during gaming sessions. It lasts for 9 hours and 7 minutes during video playback and 15 hours and 27 minutes during web browsing. Overall, the Pixel 7a's battery performance is respectable and can easily last a full day with heavy use, but it may not be ideal for intensive gaming sessions.

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Speakers

The speakers on the Google Pixel 7a are generally considered to be good, offering a satisfactory audio experience with decent soundstage, strong and punchy sound, and good loudness, although they may lack deep bass and super-clear highs.

Based on expert reviews, the speakers on the Google Pixel 7a are generally considered to be good, offering a satisfactory audio experience. The stereo speakers produce a decent soundstage with strong and punchy sound, bright mids, and clear treble. While they may not excel in deep bass or super-clear highs compared to other devices, they are still above average.

The speakers have good loudness, making them suitable for light movie watching and listening to music. However, at higher volumes, there may be some reverberation or potential harshness. Overall, the stereo speakers on the Pixel 7a are considered to be of decent quality for everyday use and provide a better audio experience compared to some other smartphones.

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Position in ranking

We maintain a monthly ranking that sums up expert recommendations for all smartphones.

Rank Change Price Smartphone
Laptop Mag
The Verge
TechRadar
T3
Pocket-lint
Tom's Guide
IGN
Creative Bloq
Digital Trends
ZD Net
1
- $929
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
-
3
4
2
2
2
-
1
-
1
2
+1 Check price
iPhone 16 Pro Max
-
-
1
-
-
1
-
-
2
2
3
+1 $799
Google Pixel 9 Pro
-
-
2
-
-
3
2
5
4
-
4
+9 $0
iPhone 16
-
1
-
-
-
5
-
-
1
-
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