When selecting the right smartphone, people need help as many models are on the market. Here is a comparison between the Pixel 7 and the Pixel 7a so you can make the right decision when choosing the one for you. We will compare their characteristics, efficiency, and the price for the services offered. The significant distinction between the Pixel 7 and the 7a is the camera system and extra functionalities. Read on and find out which is best for you!
Comparison of Pixel 7 & Pixel 7a Features
This is the brand new Google Pixel 7A and the Google Pixel 7. These two are not only twins regarding their design but could be twins in the family of phones with the same brand. Therefore, if you are here wondering which one you should buy, let me help you because there are some distinctions you may need to notice, and that's why you may make the wrong choice.
Feature |
||
Network Technology |
GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
Dimensions |
155.6 x 73.2 x 8.7 mm |
152 x 72.9 x 9 mm |
Weight |
197 g |
193.5 g |
Build |
Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back, aluminum frame |
Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, plastic back |
SIM |
Nano-SIM and eSIM |
Nano-SIM and eSIM |
Water Resistance |
IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) |
IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) |
Display Type |
AMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM), 1400 nits (peak) |
OLED, HDR, 90Hz |
Display 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) |
Display Resolution |
1080 x 2400 pixels |
1080 x 2400 pixels |
Display Protection |
Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
Platform |
Android 13, upgradable to Android 14 |
Android 13, upgradable to Android 14 |
Chipset |
Google Tensor G2 (5 nm) |
Google Tensor G2 (5 nm) |
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) |
GPU |
Mali-G710 MP7 |
Mali-G710 MP7 |
Memory |
128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
128GB 8GB RAM |
Main Camera Modules |
50 MP wide, 12 MP ultrawide |
64 MP wide, 13 MP ultrawide |
Main Camera Features |
Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama |
Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama |
Main Camera 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 Modules |
10.8 MP ultrawide |
13 MP ultrawide |
Selfie Camera Features |
Auto-HDR, panorama |
Auto-HDR, panorama |
Selfie Camera Video |
4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
Loudspeaker |
Yes, with stereo speakers |
Yes, with stereo speakers |
3.5mm Jack |
No |
No |
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 |
Bluetooth |
5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
5.3, A2DP, LE |
Positioning |
GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5) |
GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS, NavIC |
NFC |
Yes |
Yes |
Infrared Port |
No |
No |
Radio |
No |
No |
USB |
USB Type-C 3.2 |
USB Type-C 3.2 |
Sensors |
Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
Battery Type |
Li-Ion 4355 mAh, non-removable |
Li-Po 4385 mAh, non-removable |
Charging |
20W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min (advertised), 20W wireless, Reverse wireless |
18W wired, PD3.0, 7.5W wireless |
Colors |
Obsidian, Lemongrass, Snow |
Charcoal, Snow, Sea, Coral |
Models |
GVU6C, GQML3, GO3Z5 |
GWKK3, GHL1X, G0DZQ, G82U8 |
Price |
$ 239.99 / € 327.27 / £ 239.00 / ₹ 38,999 |
$ 240.94 / € 311.15 / £ 217.49 / ₹ 34,990 |
Performance Tests |
AnTuTu: 813114 (v9), GeekBench: 3288 (v5.1), GFXBench: 59fps (ES 3.1 on screen) |
AnTuTu: 765281 (v9), GeekBench: 3191 (v5.1), 3631 (v6), GFXBench: 62fps (ES 3.1 on screen) |
Display Contrast Ratio |
Infinite (nominal) |
Infinite (nominal) |
Loudspeaker |
-26.2 LUFS (Good) |
-26.5 LUFS (Good) |
Battery Endurance Rating |
96h |
76h |
1) Price Comparison
The two phones differ in price, which is quite evident. The Google Pixel 7 is much more costly, which indicates that it possesses better features and functionalities than the Google Pixel 6. However, the speaker must wonder if such marginal improvements are worth paying such a price differential.
2) Design and Construction
The two phones are designed very similarly, and it is rather difficult to distinguish between them because they have the same shapes, colors, and styles. The Pixel 7A is slightly more compact, but the main clue is the narrower camera bar on the back compared to the Pixel 7, which has a larger one.
Nevertheless, there is a big difference between the two's construction quality. The Pixel 7 features an aluminum and glass design, giving the phone a luxurious look and feel. At the same time, the construction of the Pixel 7A is made from plastic, which offers a budget feel. The Pixel 7A's plastic back has a glossy look, while the Pixel 7 has a glass back that provides a better sense than the plastic one but will easily crack if dropped.
3) Water and Dust Resistance
Both phones have water and dust protection features. The Pixel 7A has an IP67 rating, while the Pixel 7 boasts an IP68 rating, meaning that the Pixel 7 can withstand more water for a longer time. However, this could be a significant difference if you are into water-related activities.
Check Out: Refurbished Google Pixel vs. iPhone: Which One Is Best?
4) Processor Performance
Both phones have the same processor, the G2 chip, and the latest and most sophisticated Google phone processors. It is decent enough for daily use and 3d gaming; however, overall performance could be better than Apple and Samsung, which may become more apparent in the following years due to the growth of apps and OS. These phones struggle with the more demanding tasks or games because the Tensor G2 chip gets hot quickly and has a short battery life, mainly when playing games.
5) Display Quality
Both phones have a 90Hz display with 1080 x 2400 pixels resolution. The Pixel 7a is slightly smaller in size, with a display of 6.1 inch, but it has a somewhat more robust front panel than the Pixel 7 and is thus slightly more resistant.
However, the Pixel 7's screen size is 6.3 inches, while the Pixel 7A's is 6.1 inches. This makes the text on the Pixel 7 more accessible to read at the default font size. Also, it has a neater appearance with narrow frames around the screen compared to the Pixel 7A, which has broader frames.
Both phones have optical fingerprint sensors and support photo-based face unlock. The Pixel 7 has an AMOLED display, while Display 7a has a simple OLED display.
Check Out: Refurbished Google Pixel vs. Samsung: Comparison Guide
6) Camera Comparison
Another significant difference between the two phones is the Pixel 7 and 7A cameras. The primary and ultra-wide cameras of the Pixel 7 have larger sensors even though both phones have the exact megapixel count. This means that despite having a smaller sensor than the Pixel 7A, it captures better light, has more detailed images, accurate colors, and a shallower depth of field.
7) Main Camera Comparison
In the primary camera setup, the Pixel 7 has better color, depth of field, and sharper pictures than the Pixel 7A. The differences are evident, with the Pixel 7 producing better image quality.
Ultra Wide Camera Comparison
Likewise, the Pixel 7's ultra-wide camera, even though it does not have a significantly larger sensor than the primary camera, still captures better colors, depth of field, and image sharpness than the Pixel 7A's ultra-wide camera.
Selfie Camera
Regarding the selfie camera, since both phones have the same sensor size, the performance and image quality of the cameras are almost the same.
Camera Performance
Regarding daylight photos, both phones are almost identical, with slight variations in colors and temperature. As for zoom and night photography, the Pixel 7 is slightly better due to the absence of noise and more detail than the Pixel 7A. However, both can produce good photos in general, although with Sony, it is more often.
Video Recording
This is where the Pixel 7 shines more, especially in low light conditions, where the video recorded by the device is much more explicit and has more accurate colors than the Pixel 7A.
Check Out: Best Place to Buy Google Pixel 7 Pro
8) Software and Support
Google also provides a similar level of software experience on the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7A since both the devices come with Android 13 out of the box and will likely be among the first to get Android 14. These phones are unique because they have the Recorder app, phone call tools for dealing with IVR and holding time, and a free VPN. Pixel phones are also updated with new features semi-annually, called feature drops.
The two devices have face unlock and fingerprints for users' biometric authentication. But, only the Pixel 7 has spatial audio, which improves the surround sound when using headphones. This feature enhanced the experience of shows like Stranger Things in tests.
Google also provides at least three years of Android version updates and five years of security updates for both models. Therefore, the Pixel 7 will be supported until October 2025 and the Pixel 7A until May 2026.
9) Battery Life
Both the batteries are of the same capacity, and the phones come with the same Tensor G2 chip; thus, the battery life is comparable. Both can be used for a single day, although they may need to be charged earlier if used heavily for gaming or clicking pictures.
Curiously, even though the two devices have the same processor and the same type of screen, the Pixel 7A outperforms the Pixel 7 in terms of battery life. This difference may not affect users searching for longer battery life.
The Pixel 7A supports 18W charging, which is slower than the charging of the Pixel 7, which supports 20W charging. The Pixel 7A also supports wireless charging, though at a slower charging rate of 7. 5W speed, hence not very suitable for frequent charging.
Check Out: GrapheneOS: The Ultimate Mobile Operating System
Buy Refurbished Pixel 7 and 7A at Roobotech.
Why Choose Roobotech?
Roobotech is the leading store for refurbished mobile phones. We guarantee that you will get the best devices at low prices. This is because we are very strict about the refurbishing process of every Pixel 7 and Pixel 7A that we sell.
1) Quality Assurance
All the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7A refurbished at Roobotech have been checked and confirmed to be in good working condition as new devices. We do all this meticulously: We check every part, replace any defect, and ensure the software is updated. Our devices also have a warranty to ensure you can purchase confidently.
2) Pricing and Value
At Roobotech, we usually offer quality services at a reasonable price. Refurbished Pixel 7 and 7A models are cheaper than the new ones, enabling you to get the most out of these high-end smartphones at a relatively low price.
3) Environmental Impact
Selecting a refurbished Pixel 7 or 7A is economically wise and a way to fight climate change. Refurbishing preserves electronics' lifespan and decreases electronic waste, which is more environmentally beneficial.
4) Customer Support
Roobotech offers excellent customer service to assist in selecting suitable devices and any issues arising after purchase. We are pleased to ensure you have an outstanding shopping experience and will do everything possible to make it pleasant.
Look at the available refurbished Pixel 7 and 7A models and get a great cell phone without spending much money. Shopping has never been easier with Roobotech; you can shop with confidence.
Conclusion
Thus, compared to the Pixel 7A, the Pixel 7 features better build, screen, and especially the camera. The choice between the two mostly depends on the importance of the camera. Therefore, if so, the Pixel 7's upgraded camera is the way to go, even though it is more expensive. But if the clean Android experience is the priority and the camera is not that important, the Pixel 7A, with slightly better battery life and lower price, could be a better choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Pixel 7a superior to the Pixel 7?
The Pixel 7 is more premium in design than the Pixel 7a. These two perform well, and both have good cameras. For better performance and a camera on a low budget, you should go for the Pixel 7a.
How appropriate is the Pixel 7a?
The Pixel 7a, priced at $499, is an excellent phone for the budget. It has some cons but numerous pros, which could make it a somewhat more decent option than the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro.
Is the Pixel 7 case compatible with Pixel 7a?
No, the cases for Pixel 7 will not fit the Pixel 7a as they are two different devices. All the Pixel models are of various sizes and shapes.
Will the Pixel 7 become hot?
Your Pixel 7 can get hot when you use it for video calls, recording videos, streaming shows on Wi-Fi or 5G, or watching downloaded videos.
Is the Pixel 7a waterproof?
The Pixel 7a has an IP67 rating, which means it is protected from dust and water for thirty minutes up to one meter.