Google Pixel 7 Pro vs Pixel 7a: The Ultimate Showdown

Google's Pixel lineup offers incredible camera capabilities and a clean Android experience, but the Pro and 'a' series cater to different needs and budgets. This comparison dives deep into the Pixel 7 Pro and Pixel 7a, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses to help you make the right choice.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Pixel 7 Pro offers a superior display, more versatile camera system, and faster charging, justifying its higher price for power users. However, the Pixel 7a delivers excellent value with a near-identical processor and impressive camera, making it a fantastic choice for budget-conscious buyers.

PHONES
Phone Names Google Pixel 7 Pro 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, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - GE2AE1, 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, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 257, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - GE2AE1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GWKK3
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 75, 76, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GP4BC1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GHL1X, G82U8
Launch
Announced2022, October 062023, May 10
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, October 13Available. Released 2023, May 10
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, plastic back
Dimensions162.9 x 76.6 x 8.9 mm (6.41 x 3.02 x 0.35 in)152 x 72.9 x 9 mm (5.98 x 2.87 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + eSIMNano-SIM + eSIM
Weight212 g (7.48 oz)193.5 g (6.84 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass VictusCorning Gorilla Glass 3
Resolution1440 x 3120 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~512 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~429 ppi density)
Size6.7 inches, 110.6 cm2 (~88.7% screen-to-body ratio)6.1 inches, 90.7 cm2 (~81.8% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeLTPO AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM), 1500 nits (peak)OLED, HDR, 90Hz
 Always-on displayAlways-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (2x2.85 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.35 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (2x2.85 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.35 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetGoogle Tensor G2 (5 nm)Google Tensor G2 (5 nm)
GPUMali-G710 MP7Mali-G710 MP7
OSAndroid 13, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgradesAndroid 13, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgrades
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB 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
FeaturesLaser AF, Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panoramaDual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama
Single10.8 MP, f/2.2, 21mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.22µm-
Triple50 MP, f/1.9, 25mm (wide), 1/1.31", 1.2µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 48 MP, f/3.5, 120mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.55", 0.7µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 126˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.9", 1.25µm, AF-
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, OIS, 10-bit HDR4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, OIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaHDR, panorama
Single10.8 MP, f/2.2, 21mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.22µm13 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1.12µm
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.3, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS, NavIC
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.2USB Type-C 3.2
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometerFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 Ultra Wideband (UWB) support-
Battery
Charging23W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min 23W wireless Reverse wireless18W wired, PD3.0 7.5W wireless
TypeLi-Ion 5000 mAhLi-Po 4385 mAh
Misc
ColorsObsidian, Snow, HazelCharcoal, Snow, Sea, Coral
ModelsGP4BC, GE2AE, GFE4JGWKK3, GHL1X, G0DZQ, G82U8
Price€ 248.84 / $ 204.00 / £ 259.99 / ₹ 36,999€ 179.90 / $ 150.00 / £ 170.00 / ₹ 25,980
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 83h -
Camera Photo / Video-
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)-
Loudspeaker -24.8 LUFS (Very good) -
Performance AnTuTu: 796369 (v9) GeekBench: 3187 (v5.1) GFXBench: 34fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)-

Google Pixel 7 Pro

  • Superior display (larger, higher resolution, 120Hz)
  • More versatile camera system (telephoto lens)
  • Faster charging (wired & wireless)
  • Premium build quality
  • Longer battery life

  • Higher price
  • Larger size may not be ideal for everyone

Google Pixel 7a

  • More affordable
  • Excellent camera performance for the price
  • Compact and pocketable
  • Same Tensor G2 processor as the Pro

  • Slower charging
  • Less versatile camera system (no telephoto)
  • Smaller display with 90Hz refresh rate
  • Plastic build

Display Comparison

The Pixel 7 Pro boasts a larger 6.7-inch QHD+ OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 1090 nits, offering a more immersive and vibrant viewing experience. The Pixel 7a features a slightly smaller 6.1-inch FHD+ OLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 1070 nits. While the 7a's display is still excellent, the Pro's larger size, higher resolution, and smoother refresh rate give it a noticeable edge.

Camera Comparison

The Pixel 7 Pro's camera system is significantly more versatile. It includes a 50MP main sensor, a 12MP ultrawide lens, and a 48MP telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom. The Pixel 7a features a 64MP main sensor and a 13MP ultrawide lens. While the 7a's main sensor captures excellent images, the Pro's telephoto lens and additional features like Super Res Zoom provide greater flexibility and creative options.

Performance

Both phones share the same Google Tensor G2 chipset, ensuring comparable performance in everyday tasks and most games. However, the Pixel 7 Pro's additional RAM (12GB vs 7a's 8GB) might provide slightly better multitasking capabilities and smoother performance with demanding applications. Real-world performance differences are likely to be minimal for most users.

Battery Life

The Pixel 7 Pro has a larger battery (5000mAh) and achieves an endurance rating of 83 hours, slightly outperforming the Pixel 7a's 4385mAh battery with an endurance rating of 76 hours. The 7 Pro also supports faster 23W wired and wireless charging, while the 7a is limited to 18W wired and 7.5W wireless charging.

Buying Guide

The Pixel 7 Pro is ideal for photography enthusiasts, power users who demand the best display and performance, and those who appreciate premium build quality. The Pixel 7a is perfect for everyday users, students, or anyone seeking a flagship-like experience without breaking the bank.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Pixel 7 Pro worth the extra money?
If you prioritize a premium display, a more versatile camera system with telephoto capabilities, and faster charging, then the Pixel 7 Pro is worth the investment. Otherwise, the Pixel 7a offers excellent value for its price.
❓ Do both phones receive the same software updates?
Yes, both the Pixel 7 Pro and Pixel 7a receive the same timely software updates and feature drops directly from Google, ensuring a consistent and up-to-date Android experience.