After multiple leaks, the day has finally come, and Google took to its I/O stage to reveal the Google Pixel 7a. The new handset is finally available as the cheapest offering in the Pixel 7 family. The phone brings neat upgrades over the past generation and has the very same Tensor G2 that powers the higher Pixel 7 series variants. The phone starts at a price of INR 44,000 in India. The prices for the US are $499 for the sub-6GHz variant and about $549 for the mmWave 5G version. In India’s case, worth noting, that this is a very neat deal as it keeps the launch price of the Pixel 6a. The phone means some upgrades for the Pixel 6a, and let’s dive into these specs without further ado.
Google Pixel 7a specifications and features
The Google Pixel 7a brings a set of upgrades that are a first for the A-series. It packs a 6.1-inch OLED display that now runs at 90 Hz. That’s below current flagships with 120Hz or 144Hz, however, that’s a milestone for the series. It finally ditches the old 60 Hz refresh rate. If we look at Apple, the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus have just a 60 Hz refresh rate and cost more. Moving on, the phone has a Full HD+ resolution and quite old Gorilla Glass 3 protection. However, it’s better than nothing and will still protect you from some scratches.
The Google Pixel 7a boasts an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance. The phone has a metal frame and a plastic back. As per Google, the phone users recycled aluminum, glass, and plastic. For example, the visor is built with 100% recycled aluminum. The phone sells in Charcoal, Sea, and Snow.
One of the most notable upgrades in this device is the new Google Tensor G2 CPU. It boasts 8 GB of LPDDR RAM and has 128 GB UFS 3.1 storage. The chipset is not the only upgrade, as the phone boasts 2 GB extra RAM in comparison to the Pixel 6a with its 6GB. The Tensor G2 is Google’s most cutting-edge chipset. While it should not be on par with the flagship Snapdragon offerings, Google is focused on the consistency of the performance and the experience. The phone will still perform nicely like any other Pixel 7 series phone. On top of that, Google promises five years of security updates.
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Some neat improvements on the camera
The phone also gets notable upgrades in the camera department. For the first time, we have a 64-Megapixel camera on an A-series Pixel device. Thanks to the camera upgrade, the phone gets Super Res Zoom with up to 8x zoom. The 64-Megapixel shooter is a 1/1.73 Quad Bayer. It’s not the same on the Pixel 7 but has OIS as well. The phone also gets a 13-Megapixel ultrawide camera with a 120-degrees FoV and Dual Pixel Autofocus feature. The front-facing snapper is also a 13-Megapixel shooter with fixed focus and a slightly large 95º FoV. The rear camera can record 5K video at up to 60fps, the front one tops out at 4K@30fps.
The Pixel 7a draws power from a huge 4,385 mAh battery with support for 18W charging. That wired charging is some sort of a disappointment for those out of Google’s ecosystem of Pixel phones. If we look at Chinese phones, they’re going up to 240W charging… But well, Google, Samsung, and Apple can join their hands in a conservative approach when it comes to charging. The good side is that for the first time in the a-series, we have wireless charging. It will also charge an 18W wirelessly, and that is good. The phone has a USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2, but there is only a USB C-to-C cable with USB 2.0 wiring.
Worth mentioning that the Pixel 7a is fully enabled for the mmWave 5G as well as sub-6GHz networks. Worth noting, that the mmWave support is limited to some regional variants. It will probably be up in markets such as the US and Canada, where mmWave networks are well established. The phone is a dual-SIM device but has one nano-SIM and support for an additional eSIM.
Pricing and Availability
The Pixel 7a is up in the US from Google’s Store and BestBuy. In India, the device is available through Flipkart and there is an INR4,000 discount for HDFC Bank Card clients or INR 4,000 off for those trading in an old phone. In India, there is a 1-year warranty and free screen damage protection from one year. We expect Google to disclose details on availability in the next few days.
