HMD Ridge Pro vs Google Pixel 7a: Which Mid-Range Phone Reigns Supreme?
| Phones Images | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing camera quality and software experience, the Google Pixel 7a is the clear winner. However, the HMD Ridge Pro offers a compelling value proposition for those seeking a dependable daily driver with respectable performance at a significantly lower price.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | HMD Ridge Pro | Google Pixel 7a |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 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 | SA/NSA | 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 / 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 | Not announced yet | 2023, May 10 |
| Status | Cancelled | Available. Released 2023, May 10 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | - | 152 x 72.9 x 9 mm (5.98 x 2.87 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | - | 193.5 g (6.84 oz) |
| - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~396 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~429 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.64 inches, 106.4 cm2 | 6.1 inches, 90.7 cm2 (~81.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 120Hz | OLED, HDR, 90Hz |
| - | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.85 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.35 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM4450 Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 (4 nm) | Google Tensor G2 (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 613 | Mali-G710 MP7 |
| OS | Android 14 | Android 13, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgrades |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM |
| - | UFS 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 |
| Features | LED flash, HDR | Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama |
| Triple | 50 MP, (wide), PDAF 5 MP, (ultrawide) Auxiliary lens | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | - | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 50 MP | 13 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS, NavIC |
| Radio | Unspecified | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 3.2 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | Wired, QC4 | 18W wired, PD3.0 7.5W wireless |
| Type | 5500 mAh | Li-Po 4385 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Mocha, Snow, Glacier Green | Charcoal, Snow, Sea, Coral |
| Models | - | GWKK3, GHL1X, G0DZQ, G82U8 |
| Price | - | € 179.90 / $ 150.00 / £ 170.00 / ₹ 25,980 |
HMD Ridge Pro
- Potentially more affordable price point
- Qualcomm Quick Charge 4 support for fast wired charging
- Efficient 4nm Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 chipset
- Likely inferior camera performance
- Less powerful processor compared to the Tensor G2
- Missing details on display quality and battery capacity
Google Pixel 7a
- Superior camera quality and image processing
- Powerful Google Tensor G2 processor
- Bright and accurate display
- Higher price tag
- Slower 18W wired charging
- Wireless charging is relatively slow at 7.5W
Display Comparison
The Google Pixel 7a boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured peak of 1070 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. While the HMD Ridge Pro’s display specifications are not provided, it’s likely to be dimmer. The Pixel 7a’s display technology is also likely to offer superior color accuracy and viewing angles, benefiting content consumption. The absence of LTPO on either device suggests neither offers adaptive refresh rates, a feature increasingly common in this price bracket.
Camera Comparison
The Pixel 7a’s camera system is a major strength, leveraging Google’s computational photography expertise. While specific sensor details are not provided, the Pixel 7a excels in both photo and video capture, particularly in challenging lighting conditions. The HMD Ridge Pro’s camera specifications are not detailed enough to make a direct comparison, but given its price point, it’s unlikely to match the Pixel 7a’s image quality or feature set. The Pixel 7a’s image processing algorithms are a key differentiator, delivering consistently excellent results with minimal user effort.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Google Pixel 7a’s Tensor G2 (5nm) utilizes a tri-cluster configuration with Cortex-X1 performance cores clocked at 2.85 GHz, offering a substantial performance advantage over the HMD Ridge Pro’s Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 (4nm). The Snapdragon 4 Gen 2, while efficient, features Cortex-A78 cores at 2.2 GHz, geared towards efficiency rather than raw speed. The Tensor G2’s 5nm process also contributes to better thermal management under sustained loads, potentially reducing throttling during demanding tasks. The Pixel 7a’s likely faster LPDDR5 RAM further enhances its multitasking capabilities.
Battery Life
The Google Pixel 7a has an endurance rating of 76 hours, indicating strong battery life. It supports 18W wired charging with PD3.0 and 7.5W wireless charging. The HMD Ridge Pro supports QC4 wired charging, but its battery capacity is unknown. While QC4 can deliver faster charging speeds than 18W, the overall battery experience depends on the combination of battery capacity and charging efficiency. The Pixel 7a’s wireless charging capability is a convenience the Ridge Pro lacks.
Buying Guide
Buy the HMD Ridge Pro if you need a reliable smartphone for everyday tasks, prioritize battery life over top-tier performance, and are on a strict budget. Buy the Google Pixel 7a if you value a superior camera system, benefit from Google's AI-powered features, and appreciate a smoother, more refined software experience, even if it means paying a premium.