Asus Zenfone 7 vs Google Pixel 7a: A Head-to-Head Showdown

The Asus Zenfone 7 and Google Pixel 7a represent different approaches to the mid-range smartphone market. The Zenfone 7 boasts a unique rotating camera and flagship-level specs from a couple of years ago, while the Pixel 7a delivers Google's signature software experience and impressive camera capabilities at a competitive price. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to see which one comes out on top.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Google Pixel 7a wins overall thanks to its superior battery life, cleaner software, and consistently excellent camera performance. While the Zenfone 7 offers more raw power and a unique rotating camera, the Pixel 7a's value and user experience are hard to beat.

PHONES
Phone Names Asus Zenfone 7 Google Pixel 7a
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 29, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71 - GWKK3, G0DZQ
5G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 28, 38, 77, 78 SA/NSA1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GWKK3
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat19 1800/150 Mbps, 5G 3.6 Gbps DLHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 -1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GHL1X, G82U8
Launch
Announced2020, August 26. Released 2020, September 012023, May 10
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2023, May 10
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, plastic back
Dimensions165.1 x 77.3 x 9.6 mm (6.5 x 3.04 x 0.38 in)152 x 72.9 x 9 mm (5.98 x 2.87 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + eSIM
Weight230 g (8.11 oz)193.5 g (6.84 oz)
 -IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 6Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~429 ppi density)
Size6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio)6.1 inches, 90.7 cm2 (~81.8% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper AMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+, 700 nits (HBM)OLED, HDR, 90Hz
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (2x2.85 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.35 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+)Google Tensor G2 (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 650Mali-G710 MP7
OSAndroid 10, upgradable to Android 12, ZenUIAndroid 13, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgrades
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (dedicated slot)No
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 3.1
Main Camera
Dual-64 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 13 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm
FeaturesDual-LED flash, HDR, auto panorama (motorized rotation)Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama
Single5 MP, f/2.6, AF-
Triple64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.4, 80mm (telephoto), PDAF, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 113˚, 17mm (ultrawide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF-
Video8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS, HDR4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, OIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesDual-LED flash, HDR, auto panorama (motorized rotation)HDR, panorama
SingleVGA13 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1.12µm
TripleMotorized flip-up main camera module-
Video8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS, HDR4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio-
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX Adaptive5.3, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS, NavIC
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-CUSB Type-C 3.2
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
Battery
Charging30W wired, PD3.0, 60% in 34 min, 100% in 93 min Reverse wired18W wired, PD3.0 7.5W wireless
Stand-byUp to 450 h (2G) / Up to 430 h (3G)-
Talk timeUp to 14 h 10 min (2G) / Up to 7 h 10 min (3G)-
TypeLi-Po 5000 mAhLi-Po 4385 mAh
Misc
ColorsAurora Black, Pastel WhiteCharcoal, Snow, Sea, Coral
ModelsZS670KS, ASUS_I002D, I002DGWKK3, GHL1X, G0DZQ, G82U8
PriceAbout 910 EUR€ 179.90 / $ 150.00 / £ 170.00 / ₹ 25,980
SAR1.03 W/kg (head)     1.28 W/kg (body)     -
SAR EU0.52 W/kg (head)     -
Tests
Audio quality Noise -82.1dB / Crosstalk -80.7dB-
Battery lifeEndurance rating 42h-
Camera Photo / Video-
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) / 2.422:1 (sunlight)-
Loudspeaker Voice 66dB / Noise 63dB / Ring 76dB-

Asus Zenfone 7

  • Rotating camera for versatile selfies
  • Flagship-level Snapdragon 865 performance
  • Fast charging (30W)
  • Reverse wired charging

  • Older design
  • Shorter battery life
  • Less refined camera software
  • Potentially slower software updates

Google Pixel 7a

  • Excellent camera with Google's computational photography
  • Clean and timely software updates
  • Long battery life
  • Bright and vibrant display
  • Wireless charging

  • Slower charging speed (18W)
  • Less raw processing power than Zenfone 7
  • Tensor G2 can occasionally exhibit thermal throttling

Display Comparison

The Pixel 7a takes the display crown with its significantly brighter screen (1070 nits vs. Zenfone 7's unspecified brightness, but likely lower). While the Zenfone 7 boasts an impressive contrast ratio, the Pixel 7a's visibility in direct sunlight is a major advantage. Both phones offer excellent color accuracy and sharpness.

Camera Comparison

Google's computational photography expertise shines in the Pixel 7a. It consistently delivers stunning photos with excellent dynamic range and accurate colors. The Zenfone 7's rotating camera offers versatility (allowing for both front and rear cameras to be used for high-quality selfies), but its image processing isn't as refined as the Pixel 7a's. Video quality is comparable on both devices.

Performance

The Zenfone 7's Snapdragon 865 still holds its own, offering plenty of power for most tasks. However, the Pixel 7a's Google Tensor G2 chip provides a smoother, more responsive experience, especially when it comes to AI-powered features and machine learning tasks. The Tensor G2 also handles demanding games well.

Battery Life

This is a clear win for the Pixel 7a. Its endurance rating of 76h significantly surpasses the Zenfone 7's 42h. The Pixel 7a will easily last a full day of heavy use, while the Zenfone 7 may require a midday top-up.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the Asus Zenfone 7? Power users who prioritize raw performance and are comfortable with a slightly older but still capable device. Those intrigued by the rotating camera system might also find it appealing. Who should buy the Google Pixel 7a? Users who value a fantastic camera, clean and timely software updates, and long battery life, all at a reasonable price.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Zenfone 7's rotating camera worth it?
The rotating camera is a unique feature that allows for high-quality selfies and creative shooting angles. However, it doesn't significantly improve overall image quality compared to the Pixel 7a.
❓ Which phone gets faster software updates?
The Google Pixel 7a receives faster and more frequent software updates directly from Google, ensuring you have the latest features and security patches.