Google Pixel 7A Review with Pros and Cons
Google has fixed lots of issues with Pixel 7A whether it’s a faster refresh rate, cameras, or even performance. So let’s find out in this review whether it’s worth Rs 43,999 or $499.
Contents
Google Pixel 7A Review
Google Pixel 7A is made of different kinds of users who value the software, and cameras whereas if you’re that user who is okay with decent cameras then it’s better to consider the OnePlus 11R 5G.
So yes, the Google Pixel 7A is worth buying but it’s not for everyone as it doesn’t have the powerful processor which is a big letdown as this is Rs 43,999 smartphone but if you wanted the best cameras, software, wireless charging, and even IP67 rating then consider the Pixel 7a.
Also, Pixel 7a and Pixel 7 don’t have a huge difference.
| Pixel 7a | Pixel 7 |
|---|---|
| 18W Wired Charging | 20W Wired Charging |
| 7.50W Wireless Charging | 20W Wireless Charging |
| [email protected] Video recording with only Rear Cameras | [email protected] Video recording with all the Cameras |
| IP67, dust and water resistant | IP68 dust/water resistant |
| Huge Bezels | Gorilla Glass 3 on the Front |
| Plastic Back | Glass Back |
| Gorilla Glass 3 on Front | Gorilla Glass Victus on Front |
| Rs 55,999 | Rs 43,999 |
Display
This is where things get tricky because the Pixel 7a doesn’t have a good-looking display at all. Yes, it has huge bezels all around it which doesn’t feel or look like a Rs 43,999 smartphone from any angle.
Also, it also has a plastic back which is kind of attached to the Aluminum frame. This is another reason why some of the users have got defective units and the back side is not properly attached to side frames.
It will be good to see how this phone does in the long term because summer is here, so let’s wait and see.
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Pixel 7A has 194 grams of weight which is not that heavy or even light, because of the plastic on the back.
Google has also added the IP67, dust and water-resistant which means, you can get a bath with it or use it in the rain and nothing will happen.
The front is protected with the Corning Gorilla Glass 3 which is not the best but hey, this is what you get when you pay Rs 43999 for Google Device in India.
The in-display fingerprint sensor is not fast but it gets the job done along with that, you also get a face to unlock option. Now, of course, the 90Hz refresh rate is as smooth as it can get.
The good news is, Google has added HDR10 which even works well with Netflix and other OTT platforms.
Overall, for the price of Rs 43999, the Pixel 7a doesn’t have a display at all.
Performance and Audio
The new G2 chip is made by Samsung, so don’t expect much from it. Also, this is not a gaming chipset at all
So if you want to buy gaming smartphones, consider phones like OnePlus 11R, iQOO 9T, or even the recently launched POCO F5 5G, which is available at Rs 29,999.
Google has also included a whopping 19 5G bands which are n1, n2, n3, n5, n7, n8, n12, n20, n25, n28, n38, n40, n41, n66, n75, n76, n77, n78, and n79.
So there is nothing to worry about the 5G connectivity at all.
Now, of course, the phone doesn’t have the 3.5mm audio jack but it does have a solid speaker which will give you the best audio experience.
You also get dual SIM support but with eSIM. Another good news is, the phone does have NFC, so you will be able to make contactless payments which is a crucial feature for me as I don’t love to carry credit cards all the time.
Also, if you’re a casual user then a little bit of gaming won’t harm the device but if you gonna play games like Genshin Impact then Pixel 7a will turn into fire.
One more thing, don’t take videos with Pixel 7a around the afternoon because the phone will get stuck into the camera app and you will have to wait for a few seconds to get normal.
So yes, Google Tensor G2 is an average processor which is not made for power-hungry users at all.
Software
Pixel 7a runs on Android 13. Also, Google has promised three years of OS updates and five years of security updates.
In short, Google Pixel 7a will get updates up to Android 16.
You will also get some exclusive Pixel features like, magic ensure, an audio recorder app, and much more.
You may already know that Pixels are the first devices to get Android OS updates, so if you’re one of those users who love to use the latest Android OS then it’s better to go with Pixel 7a.
Now, you won’t get some features that you get with OneUi or even MIUI. So for more customization, consider a phone from Samsung or Xiaomi but if you love clean and simple UI then you won’t get a better smartphone than Pixels.
Cameras
I didn’t see a huge difference between Pixel 7 and Pixel 7a except for the [email protected] option in Pixel 7’s front cameras.
The 64MP primary sensor does all the magic and at this movement, you won’t get a better camera smartphone than the Pixel 7a under Rs 50,000 in India.
The OIS also does its job and you will be more than happy with its performance.
Again, the colors are close to natural, you won’t get saturated colors like OPPO devices. Altho, you do get Pro mode where you can play around with the cameras.
In short, whether it’s colors or even dynamic range, everything seems perfect unless we move to portrait mode.
Yes, the portrait mode is still not as good as other phones. I don’t know why Google didn’t work on it. What we can do is, wait and see what Google does till then use the primary sensor.
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13MP ultra-wide is wider compared to Pixel 7 and yes it does take good images under low light and even under bright light.
You can also shoot videos up to [email protected]/60fps with all the sensors except for the front cameras.
The 13MP front camera is a solid sensor that takes great images in all kinds of lighting conditions. Again, the portrait mode is not perfect with even the front camera too.
Now, if I have to review the Pixel 7a cameras in one paragraph then it will go like this,
Google Pixel 7a has the best cameras under Rs 50,000 except for the portrait mode which is hit or miss. So if you’re looking for the best camera phone then you won’t get a better option than the Pixel 7a under 50k.
Check out the camera samples of Google Pixel 7a (gDrive)
Battery Life
Smaller battery along with slower charging support means, Google Pixel 7a. I mean, we’re living in 2023 and yet the Rs 43999 comes with only 18W wired charging support is not acceptable at all.
The problem is, the Pixel 7a doesn’t lock the charging speed to 18W all the time, it runs around 13W to 15W as a result, it took about 1 hour and 46 minutes to charge from 0% to 100%.
Maybe this is a software issue or maybe it’s not, nonetheless, this is not an ideal choice if you use a smartphone a lot.
It also has massive 7.50W wireless charging which also doesn’t clock at 7.5W all the time, it runs around from 4W to 5W.
In short, the 4,385mAh battery won’t last all day all the time, you will have to charge the pixel 7a twice, if you’re a bit heavy user but if you just take calls and a little bit of social media then you will be okay with it.
Google Pixel 7A Pros and Cons
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Spectacular Cameras | Not the Best for Gaming |
| Superb Software Experience | Slower Wired and Wireless Charging |
| Faster RAM and Storage Support | Plastic Back |
| 19 5G Bands | Gets Bit Hot |
| Solid Stereo Speakers | Missing FM Radio |
| IP67 Rating | No Charger in the Box |
| NFC Support | The Front Bezels Look Ugly |
| Portrait Mode needs Optimization |
Verdict
Google Pixel 7A
Summary
Cameras and the Software are the highlighting part of Pixel 7a, other than that, there is nothing special about this device that it is worth Rs 43,999 price tag. However, if you’re okay with average performance, decent battery life, slower charging, decent display, and plastic build then consider the Pixel 7a otherwise, skip it.
Even after reading the Pixel 7A review, if you still have any sort of questions do drop them in the comment box below and now, I will see you there.
Google Pixel 7A FAQs
How many 5G bands does Pixel 7a have?
It has whooping 19 5G bands which are n1, n2, n3, n5, n7, n8, n12, n20, n25, n28, n38, n40, n41, n66, n75, n76, n77, n78, and n79.
How many OS updates will Pixel 7a get?
It will get three years of OS updates and five years of security updates. In short, Google Pixel 7a will get updates up to Android 16.
Does Pixel 7a support wireless charging?
Yes, it supports 7.5W wireless charging and 18W wired charging.
How much time does Pixel 7A take to charge from 0% to 100%?
With 18W wired charging, it takes about 1 hour and 46 minutes to charge from 0% to 100%.
Does Pixel 7A have NFC Support?
Yes.
Does Pixel 7A have FM Radio Support?
No.
Does Pixel 7A have a plastic back?
Yes, Pixel 7A has a plastic back while the front is protected with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 while the frames are made from Aluminum.
Why does Pixel 7a charge slowly?
Pixel 7a supports 18W wired charging but for some reason, it’s only charging between 13W to 15W, now this is all software issues and it should be fixed with the OTA update.
Is the Pixel 7A available to buy in India?
Pixel 7a is officially sold via Flipkart in India for Rs 43,999 price tag.
Does Pixel 7a have dual SIM Support?
Yes, it does have dual SIM support but for a second SIM card, you will have to use ESIM as it only comes with a single SIM card tray.
Reasons to Buy Pixel 7A?
There are a few reasons to buy Pixel 7A which are Good cameras, the best software experience, and IP67, dust and water resistant.
Reasons to Not Buy Pixel 7A?
There are tons of reasons to not buy the Pixel 7a which are average performance, decent battery life, slower charging, decent display, and plastic build.
Google Pixel 7A Full Specifications
| Price | 8GB Ram + 128GB storage: Rs 43,999 or $499. |
| Display | 6.10-inches FHD+ OLED Display 429 PPI Density HDR Panel 90Hz Screen Refresh Rate 81.80% Screen-to-Body Ratio IP67, dust and water resistant |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels resolution. |
| Dimensions | 152 x 72.9 x 9 mm Weight: 194g |
| Build | Glass front (Corning Gorilla Glass 3). Aluminum frame. Plastic Back. |
| OS | Android 13 3 Years of OS Updates. 5 Years of Security Updates. |
| RAM and Storage Speed | LPDDR5 Ram. UFS 3.1 Storage. |
| Chipset | Chipset: Google Tensor G2 (5 nm). CPU: Octa-core (2×2.85 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2×2.35 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4×1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) GPU: Mali-G710 MP7 |
| 5G Bands | 19 5G Bands. n1, n2, n3, n5, n7, n8, n12, n20, n25, n28, n38, n40, n41, n66, n75, n76, n77, n78, and n79. |
| SD-Card Slot | No Dual SIM with eSIM |
| Rear Cameras | 64MP Primary Sensor (OIS), 13MP Ultra-Wide. Video [email protected]/60fps, [email protected]/60fps. |
| Front Camera | 13MP Selfie Shooter. Video [email protected]/60fps, [email protected] |
| 3.5mm Jack | No. |
| Speakers | Stereo Speakers. |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 Version. |
| FM Radio | No. |
| NFC | Yes. |
| Wifi | Wifi 6.0/6E |
| GPS Type | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS, and NavIC. |
| Sensors | Proximity Sensor, Ambient Light Sensor, Accelerometer, Gyrometer, Magnetometer, Barometer, and Fingerprint Sensor. |
| Fingerprint Sensor | Yes, In-Display. |
| Battery | 4,385mAh (non-removable). 18W Wired Charging. 7.5W Wireless Charging. |
| Weight | 194 Grams. |
| Colors | Charcoal, Snow, Sea, and Coral |
| Model Number | GHL1X. |
| Warranty | 1 Year. |
| In the Box | Google Pixel 7a, USB-C to USB-C Cable, Quick Switch Adaptor, Support Card, Sim Tool. |
Images Credit: Fazli Halim
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