HTC U23 Pro vs Google Pixel 7a: A Detailed Showdown

The mid-range smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and two contenders vying for your attention are the HTC U23 Pro and the Google Pixel 7a. Both offer compelling features, but cater to slightly different needs. Let's dive into a comprehensive comparison to help you decide which one is right for you.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Google Pixel 7a emerges as the overall winner thanks to its superior camera, smoother software experience, and brighter display. While the HTC U23 Pro boasts impressive battery life and a slightly faster chipset, the Pixel 7a's strengths outweigh its weaknesses for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names	HTC U23 Pro	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, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41	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, 7, 20, 28, 41, 78 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	2023, May 18	2023, May 10
Status	Available. Released 2023, May 18	Available. Released 2023, May 10

Body
Build	Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), plastic frame, plastic back	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, plastic back
Dimensions	166.6 x 77.1 x 8.9 mm (6.56 x 3.04 x 0.35 in)	152 x 72.9 x 9 mm (5.98 x 2.87 x 0.35 in)
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM + eSIM
Weight	205 g (7.23 oz)	193.5 g (6.84 oz)
	IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m 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 (~393 ppi density)	1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~429 ppi density)
Size	6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~84.4% screen-to-body ratio)	6.1 inches, 90.7 cm2 (~81.8% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	OLED, 120Hz	OLED, HDR, 90Hz
	-	Always-on display

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.36 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A510)	Octa-core (2x2.85 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.35 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
Chipset	Qualcomm SM7450-AB Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 (4 nm)	Google Tensor G2 (5 nm)
GPU	Adreno 644	Mali-G710 MP7
OS	Android 13	Android 13, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgrades

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC	No
Internal	256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB 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	Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama	Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama
Quad	108 MP, f/1.7, (wide), 1/1.67", 0.64μm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 5 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens	-
Video	4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, OIS

Selfie camera
Features	HDR	HDR, panorama
Single	32 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.2", 0.7µm	13 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1.12µm
Video	1080p@30fps	4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	No
35mm jack	Yes	No
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes, with stereo speakers

Comms
Bluetooth	5.2, 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	USB Type-C 3.2
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band	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

Battery
Charging	30W wired 15W wireless 5W reverse wireless Reverse wired	18W wired, PD3.0 7.5W wireless
Type	Li-Ion 4600 mAh	Li-Po 4385 mAh

Misc
Colors	Snow White, Coffee Black	Charcoal, Snow, Sea, Coral
Models	2QC9200, 2QC9100, 2QCB100	GWKK3, GHL1X, G0DZQ, G82U8
Price	About 220 EUR	€ 179.90 / $ 150.00 / £ 170.00 / ₹ 25,980

HTC U23 Pro

Excellent Battery Life
Slightly Faster Chipset
Reverse Wireless Charging
IP67 Water and Dust Resistance

Less Impressive Camera
Lower Display Brightness
Slower Charging Speed
Less Polished Software

Google Pixel 7a

Superior Camera Quality
Brighter Display
Clean Android Experience
Guaranteed Software Updates
Compact Design

Slower Charging Speed
Less Battery Endurance (slightly)
Tensor G2 can throttle under sustained load

Display Comparison

The Pixel 7a takes a clear lead in the display department. Its 1070 nits peak brightness significantly outshines the U23 Pro's 727 nits, making it much easier to view content outdoors. Both phones feature OLED panels with vibrant colors and good contrast, but the Pixel 7a's brightness advantage is noticeable.

Camera Comparison

This is where the Pixel 7a truly shines. Google's computational photography is unmatched, delivering consistently excellent photos and videos in various lighting conditions. The U23 Pro's camera is decent, but it lacks the Pixel's dynamic range, detail, and overall image quality. The Pixel 7a also benefits from features like Magic Eraser and Photo Unblur.

Performance

The HTC U23 Pro's Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chipset offers a slight edge in raw processing power compared to the Google Tensor G2. However, Google's Tensor G2 is optimized for AI and machine learning tasks, resulting in a smoother and more responsive user experience, particularly with Google's suite of apps. Real-world performance feels comparable.

Battery Life

The HTC U23 Pro holds a slight advantage in battery endurance, boasting an 83-hour rating compared to the Pixel 7a's 76-hour rating. However, the difference is not substantial, and both phones should easily last a full day of moderate use.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the HTC U23 Pro? Users prioritizing long battery life and a slightly more powerful processor for gaming might find the U23 Pro appealing. Who should buy the Google Pixel 7a? Those seeking a top-tier camera, clean Android experience, and guaranteed software updates should opt for the Pixel 7a.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Which phone has better software support?

The Google Pixel 7a has a significant advantage with guaranteed software updates and feature drops directly from Google, ensuring a longer lifespan and access to the latest Android features.

❓ Is the HTC U23 Pro good for gaming?

The U23 Pro's Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 chipset provides decent gaming performance, but the Pixel 7a's Tensor G2, while optimized for AI, can sometimes throttle under extended gaming sessions.