Fairphone 4 vs Google Pixel 7a: A Detailed Comparison
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Pixel 7a wins on performance, camera quality, and display brightness. However, the Fairphone 4's modular design, repairability, and commitment to ethical sourcing make it a compelling choice for environmentally conscious buyers willing to compromise slightly on raw power.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Fairphone 4 | Google Pixel 7a |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 18, 19, 20, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 71 | 1, 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 bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 41, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GWKK3 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (4CA) Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G 2.3 Gbps DL | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / 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 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, September 30 | 2023, May 10 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, October 25 | Available. Released 2023, May 10 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame, plastic back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 162 x 75.5 x 10.5 mm (6.38 x 2.97 x 0.41 in) | 152 x 72.9 x 9 mm (5.98 x 2.87 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 225 g (7.94 oz) | 193.5 g (6.84 oz) |
| IP54, dust and water resistant MIL-STD-810G compliant | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~409 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~429 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.3 inches, 97.4 cm2 (~79.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.1 inches, 90.7 cm2 (~81.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | OLED, HDR, 90Hz |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 570 & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 570) | Octa-core (2x2.85 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.35 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7225 Snapdragon 750G 5G (8 nm) | Google Tensor G2 (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Mali-G710 MP7 |
| OS | Android 11, upgradable to Android 15 | Android 13, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgrades |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM |
| - | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 48 MP, f/1.6, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS 48 MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF TOF 3D, (depth) | 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 |
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama |
| Single | 25 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/2.78", 0.9µm | - |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 25 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/2.78", 0.9µm | 13 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS, NavIC |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.0, OTG, DisplayPort | USB Type-C 3.2 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Standard 5-year warranty | - | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 20W wired, 50% in 30 min | 18W wired, PD3.0 7.5W wireless |
| Type | Li-Ion 3905 mAh, removable | Li-Po 4385 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Gray, Green, Speckled Green | Charcoal, Snow, Sea, Coral |
| Models | - | GWKK3, GHL1X, G0DZQ, G82U8 |
| Price | About 400 EUR | € 179.90 / $ 150.00 / £ 170.00 / ₹ 25,980 |
| SAR EU | 0.49 W/kg (head) 0.99 W/kg (body) | - |
Fairphone 4
- Sustainable and ethical sourcing
- Modular design for easy repair
- Longer software support commitment
- Decent performance for everyday tasks
- Repairable
- Lower performance than Pixel 7a
- Less impressive camera
- Less bright display
- Slower charging
Google Pixel 7a
- Excellent camera quality
- Bright and vibrant display
- Fast performance with Tensor G2
- Wireless charging
- Clean Android experience
- Less repairable
- Less sustainable
- Potentially shorter lifespan due to repair limitations
- Charging speed could be faster
Display Comparison
The Pixel 7a boasts a significantly brighter display (1070 nits) compared to the Fairphone 4, offering better visibility outdoors. While the Fairphone 4's display is perfectly adequate, the Pixel 7a's panel provides a more immersive and vibrant viewing experience. Both offer a smooth 90Hz refresh rate.
Camera Comparison
The Pixel 7a is the clear winner in the camera department. Google's computational photography is renowned, producing stunning images with excellent dynamic range and detail. The Fairphone 4's camera is decent, but it doesn't match the Pixel 7a's consistent quality and advanced features.
Performance
The Google Pixel 7a's Google Tensor G2 chipset delivers noticeably faster performance than the Fairphone 4's Snapdragon 750G. Everyday tasks are snappy on both, but the Pixel 7a handles demanding games and multitasking with greater ease. The Tensor G2's AI capabilities also enhance features like photography and voice assistance.
Battery Life
The Pixel 7a's endurance rating of 76h suggests significantly better battery life than the Fairphone 4. While the Fairphone 4 offers decent battery performance, the Pixel 7a can easily last a full day and a half with moderate use. Both support wired charging, but the Pixel 7a also includes convenient wireless charging.
Buying Guide
Buy the Fairphone 4 if you prioritize sustainability, longevity, and the ability to repair your phone yourself. Buy the Google Pixel 7a if you want a top-tier camera, a vibrant display, and a smooth, feature-rich Android experience, and don't mind a less repairable device.