Google has just announced their latest two smartphones that are about to hit the market, the Pixel Fold and the Pixel 7a. In this post, I want to focus on the Pixel 7a and what it brings to the table in the mid-range budget phone market and if it could best bang for your buck under £500.
So, what are we going to look to see if this could be the best new budget phone?
- Build
- Screen Quality
- Battery Life
- Camera System
- Software
- Price
I feel that these are all key areas that the average consumer will be considering when they are looking into their next smartphone. So let’s jump straight into it.
Build Quality
The Google Pixel 7a is made from recycled aluminium, glass, and plastic and is scratch, dust, and splash resistant. This is different to the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro, which you would expect to see, as this is a mid-range phone rather than a flagship offering.
The other bit difference between the Pixel 7a and its sibling is that it does not have the Gorilla Glass Victus instead, it uses the Gorilla Glass 3. This is also the smallest of the three phones at 6.1 inches, which, I think, makes it a really nice size to hold in the hand and will easily fit into your pocket.
Screen Quality
There are a few differences in the screen quality, but from the specs, you are still getting a really decent screen for the price that you are paying. As mentioned, you are getting a 6.1-inch FHD+ OLED screen, which is just about the same as what you would get on the Pixel 7. The Pixel 7 Pro has the best screen, which is, of course, going to be the case with it being the flagship phone.
It is not clear what the peak brightness is as in the specs, and it just states that there is a high brightness mode. It does, however, have a 90 Hz refresh rate, again the same as the Pixel 7. Likewise, it also has the same HDR and Always on Display support, the same as the rest of the Pixel 7 lineup.
Battery Life
The Pixel 7a actually has a slightly bigger battery than the Pixel 7 and lasts over 24hrs with its adaptive battery and could go for up to 72 hours on extreme battery saving.
Another bonus is that it does come with wireless charging, but it does not have power-sharing. I think that most people would expect their phones to come with wireless charging. I can’t remember the last time that I charged my phone using a cable.
Camera System
The 7a does have a different sensor from the others, but in general, it looks like it has a lot of what the Pixel 7 also has in terms of they both having an ultra-wide camera etc. So, you should still be getting those great Google photos on this mid-range budget phone.
From some of the reviews I have seen, it has been mentioned that you might get the odd blurry photo when capturing moving subjects. But this can be said for higher-end phones as well.
As with most things, if you want the best specs and the camera system is the main selling point for you, then I would recommend going for the Pixel 7 Pro. Having had one, I can safely stay the camera on the Pro is excellent.
Software
You will get Android 13, of course, with the latest Pixel offering, but you also get the same Google Tensor G2 chip as well as Titan M2 security chip. You will also get the below, the same as the other Pixel Device on 7 lineups.
- Fingerprint Unlock
- Face Unlock
- Google One VPN
- Security Core
So, you will experience that silky Google Software experience across all the Pixels.
Price
And onto the main point, the price point. In the UK, this device will set you back £449. You can get up to a further £220 off with an eligible trade-in, which means you can potentially pick this up for a bargain £229.
And if that’s not a bargain enough, when you buy it from Google, they will throw in a pair of the Pixel Buds A-series for free. I really wish that Apple would introduce offers like this.
Conclusion
Google has packed a lot into the mid-range phone. It doesn’t have all the features of the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro, but it still shares a fair few of them. Although I haven’t had this phone in hand and used it for the price, I think that it looks to be a bargain.
Making this a must-look at option if you are on a budget and looking for a phone under £500 and potentially half that with that trade-in option.