Google Pixel 7a

The Google Pixel 7a is the 2023 mid-range phone from Google's A-series, and it brought the second-generation Tensor chip, a 90 Hz display and wireless charging to a price of 499 dollars. It has a 6.1-inch OLED screen, 8 GB of RAM, a 64 MP main camera with a new 13 MP ultrawide and an IP67 rating, all in a compact aluminium-framed body. This page is based on the published specifications and manufacturer information, and it covers the phone's place in the lineup, its design and screen, the chip and software, the cameras, the battery and who the Pixel 7a still suits.

Where the Pixel 7a fits in the lineup

Google announced the Pixel 7a at its I/O developer conference on 10 May 2023 and put it on shelves the same day at 499 dollars in the United States. It followed the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro of autumn 2022 and shared their design language and, in the case of the processor, their chip. Google's goal with the A-series is to keep the most important parts of the flagship experience, the camera software, the clean Android build and regular updates, while cutting costs in materials, display and charging.

The phone has since been succeeded by the Pixel 8a and, for the generation after that, by the Pixel 9a and the Pixel 10a. That makes the 7a a good example of a budget Pixel that is now best considered on the used and refurbished market. The Pixel 7a vs Pixel 9a comparison shows how much the line advanced in two generations, and the rankings page places it against other phones on a common scale.

Design and display

The Pixel 7a follows the design of the Pixel 7 family, with a camera bar across the back, but with a new midframe. Google says the aluminium housing uses 100 percent recycled content, and the phone measures 152 by 72.9 by 9.0 millimetres and weighs 193.5 grams. It is a small and light phone by 2023 standards and fits easily in one hand. It was sold in Charcoal, Snow and Sea, plus Coral, which Google restricted to its own store in the US. The phone has an IP67 rating, which means protection against dust and immersion in shallow water.

The display is a 6.1-inch OLED with a 1080 by 2400 resolution, around 429 pixels per inch, and a refresh rate of up to 90 Hz, which Google calls Smooth Display. The step from 60 Hz to 90 Hz was one of the biggest visible upgrades over the Pixel 6a, but it does not match the 120 Hz of most rivals at this price or of the Pixel 8 family. There is an always-on display with At a Glance and Now Playing. Google does not list a peak brightness figure for this panel in its published specification, so it should be treated as a conventional mid-range display. A fingerprint reader sits under the screen, and Face Unlock is also available.

Performance and software

Inside is the Google Tensor G2, the same chip used in the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro, together with the Titan M2 security coprocessor. Memory is 8 GB of LPDDR5, and storage is 128 GB of UFS 3.1, with no larger option and no card slot. Google says it is noticeably faster than the Pixel 6a, based on internal testing of pre-production hardware, which is a manufacturer claim to read as such. Tensor G2 is not a benchmark leader against Snapdragon chips of its day, but it handles camera processing, speech recognition and on-device translation well, which is what Google designed it for.

The phone launched with Android 13. Pixel Call Assist is the group of call features that includes Direct My Call, Call Screen, Hold for Me, Clear Calling and Wait Times, and the Pixel Speech suite adds Live Translate, Recorder speaker labels, Assistant voice typing and voice message transcription. Magic Eraser and Photo Unblur in Google Photos work on the phone as well. Wi-Fi 6E is supported in the main markets, together with Bluetooth 5.3, NFC and Google Cast, and the phone has a USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port, dual SIM with one nano SIM and an eSIM, stereo speakers and two microphones. Because Google's published pages for this model do not give a software update commitment in the sources used here, check Google's update page for the current end-of-support date before buying a unit that is now several years old.

Cameras

The camera is the headline feature. The main sensor is a 64 MP Quad PD Quad Bayer camera with a 1/1.73-inch sensor, an f/1.89 aperture, an 80-degree field of view and optical plus electronic image stabilisation. Google says the sensor is 72 percent larger than the one in the Pixel 6a and captures 44 percent more light. The ultrawide camera is new for the A-series at 13 MP, with a 120-degree field of view and autofocus. There is no telephoto lens, so zoom relies on Super Res Zoom, which Google says reaches up to 8x using the main sensor and software.

The front camera is a 13 MP ultrawide camera with a 95-degree field of view and a fixed focus. Video is available in 4K at 30 or 60 frames per second from the rear camera and in 4K at 30 frames per second from the front. Slow motion goes up to 240 frames per second, and Cinematic Pan and the usual stabilisation modes are present. Google says Night Sight is twice as fast as on the Pixel 6a and, for the first time on an A-series model, adds Long Exposure mode. Real Tone, Top Shot, Face Unblur and Portrait Mode are also part of the camera app.

The result is a camera package that is excellent for the money in daylight and capable in low light, but limited in reach. Anyone who regularly photographs distant subjects or wants a dedicated macro tool will find the single main sensor restrictive, and the 13 MP ultrawide will not match the detail of the main camera.

Battery and charging

The battery is rated at 4,385 mAh typical and 4,300 mAh minimum, and Google quotes more than 24 hours of battery life with up to 72 hours in Extreme Battery Saver mode. Those are manufacturer claims, and the 90 Hz screen and 5G radio will shorten the figure in practice. Wired charging is described as fast charging in the published pages without a wattage figure in the sources used here, so no exact speed is stated on this page. Qi wireless charging is supported. Like other recent Pixels, the phone ships without a charger in the box.

Who the Pixel 7a is for

It is a sensible choice for people who want a compact Android phone with a very good main camera, a clean interface and wireless charging, and who are happy to buy used or refurbished. It also suits a first smartphone or a secondary device. People who want a high refresh rate, a telephoto lens or a long update horizon should compare the Pixel 8, which has a 120 Hz screen, a newer chip and a seven-year support promise, and the Pixel 7a vs Pixel 8 comparison explains the step up.

Compromises to weigh

• Refresh rate: 90 Hz is smooth but behind the 120 Hz screens of newer phones.
• Storage: 128 GB is the only option, with no card slot.
• Zoom: no telephoto lens, so zoom beyond 2x relies on software.
• Age: the Pixel 7a is several years old, so check the remaining update period.
• Charging: no charger in the box and a modest 4,385 mAh cell.

In short, the Pixel 7a was a strong value phone at launch and remains a competent, compact option today, provided its age and the missing telephoto are acceptable.