Google Pixel 7 vs Pixel 7a: A Detailed Comparison
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Pixel 7 offers a brighter display, faster charging, and slightly better battery life. However, the Pixel 7a delivers exceptional value with a comparable camera and performance, making it a compelling choice for budget-conscious buyers. The Pixel 7 is the premium choice, while the 7a is the smart buy.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Google Pixel 7 | Google Pixel 7a |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 - GQML3 | 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, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66, 71, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - GQML3 | 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, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / 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 - GVU6C | 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 | 2022, October 06 | 2023, May 10 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, October 13 | Available. Released 2023, May 10 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 155.6 x 73.2 x 8.7 mm (6.13 x 2.88 x 0.34 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 | 197 g (6.95 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 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~416 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~429 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.3 inches, 96.7 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.1 inches, 90.7 cm2 (~81.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM), 1400 nits (peak) | OLED, HDR, 90Hz |
| Always-on display | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-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) |
| Chipset | Google Tensor G2 (5 nm) | Google Tensor G2 (5 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G710 MP7 | Mali-G710 MP7 |
| OS | Android 13, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgrades | Android 13, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgrades |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM |
| UFS 3.1 | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 50 MP, f/1.9, 25mm (wide), 1/1.31", 1.2µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 114˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.9", 1.25µm | 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 | Laser AF, Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama | Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama |
| Single | 10.8 MP, f/2.2, 21mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.22µm | - |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS, OIS, 10-bit HDR | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR, panorama | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 10.8 MP, f/2.2, 21mm (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.22µm | 13 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1.12µm |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5) | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS, NavIC |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.2 | USB Type-C 3.2 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 20W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min 20W wireless Reverse wireless | 18W wired, PD3.0 7.5W wireless |
| Type | Li-Ion 4355 mAh | Li-Po 4385 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Obsidian, Lemongrass, Snow | Charcoal, Snow, Sea, Coral |
| Models | GVU6C, GQML3, GO3Z5 | GWKK3, GHL1X, G0DZQ, G82U8 |
| Price | € 199.00 / $ 179.26 / £ 189.99 / ₹ 28,499 | € 179.90 / $ 150.00 / £ 170.00 / ₹ 25,980 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 96h | - |
| Camera | Photo / Video | - |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | - |
| Loudspeaker | -26.2 LUFS (Good) | - |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 813114 (v9) GeekBench: 3288 (v5.1) GFXBench: 59fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | - |
Google Pixel 7
- Brighter Display
- Faster Charging (20W)
- Slightly Better Battery Life
- Premium Build Quality
- Higher Price
- Slightly Larger Size
Google Pixel 7a
- Excellent Value
- Brighter Display (1070 nits)
- Compact Size
- Great Camera
- Slower Charging (18W)
- Slightly Shorter Battery Life
- Plastic Build
Display Comparison
The Pixel 7 boasts a measured peak brightness of 974 nits, offering excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. The Pixel 7a steps up the game with a brighter 1070 nits peak brightness, making it even more comfortable to use outdoors. Both have excellent color accuracy and contrast, but the 7a edges out the 7 in brightness.
Camera Comparison
Both Pixels deliver exceptional camera performance thanks to Google's computational photography. The Pixel 7 has a slightly larger main sensor, potentially capturing more light in low-light conditions. Both offer excellent image quality, vibrant colors, and impressive dynamic range. The Pixel 7a's camera is surprisingly close to the flagship, offering a fantastic experience at a lower price.
Performance
Both phones share the same Google Tensor G2 chipset and octa-core CPU, ensuring comparable performance in everyday tasks and gaming. You'll experience smooth multitasking and responsive app loading on both devices. However, the Pixel 7's slightly better thermal management might prevent throttling during extended gaming sessions.
Battery Life
The Pixel 7 holds a slight advantage in battery life, achieving an endurance rating of 96 hours compared to the Pixel 7a's 76 hours. While both offer all-day battery life for moderate users, the Pixel 7 provides a bit more breathing room. The Pixel 7 also supports 20W wired and wireless charging, while the 7a is limited to 18W wired and 7.5W wireless.
Buying Guide
The Google Pixel 7 is ideal for users who prioritize a premium display, faster charging speeds, and slightly longer battery life. It's a great choice for those willing to spend a bit more for a flagship experience. The Pixel 7a is perfect for those seeking a fantastic camera and smooth performance without breaking the bank. It's an excellent value proposition for everyday users.