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As the year is wrapping up, let's take a quick look back at the gadgets that helped us live our best lives while also not breaking the bank.
For the balance between features and price, the Google Pixel 7A really can't be beat for a budget-friendly Android phone.
It doesn't compromise much on features (in fact it borrows a few things you usually only get on premium flagships like wireless charging and high-ish refresh rates) and comes in at under $500 bucks making it more accessible for those wanting to buy their phone outright.
Pixel 7a features: The video version
For those who'd rather see a quick video with a few features in action, here ya go!
Pixel 7a Overview:
Announced in May 10th, 2023, the Pixel 7a stole a lot of great features from the previous fall's pixel flagships. If you wanted a big screen, then the Pixel 7 Pro was still the better option in the pixel lineup in mid 2023. But for a regular-sized screen, the Pixel 7a had a lot to like:
- 6.1 inch display
- 60-90 Hz variable refresh rate
- Under display fingerprint sensor
- Face Unlock via front-facing camera
Cameras
Pixel 7a cameras weren't quite as powerful as the Pixel 7 (and far from the Pixel 7 Pro). However, many people never tap into the full power of their phone's pro-level cameras anyway.
The Pixel 7a cameras are definitely sufficient for most people's day-to-day photography and video needs:
- Three cameras (two rear-facing, one front-facing)
- Rear cameras (64 MP ultrawide and 13 MP wide)
- Selfie camera (13 MP)
- All cameras capable of 4K video capture
- Surprisingly good image stabilization
Pixel 7a: Additional features
Sometimes when you compare the flagship line to the budget friendly line there are some nice-to-have, but not need-to-have features that are left out. In the case of the Pixel 7a, Google, I think, was quite generous with what they included:
- Wireless charging (first time we saw this on an a-series phone from Google)
- Tensor G2 chip (at the time, this was Google's most modern smartphone chip)
- Variety of color options (some color schemes are arguably better than what was available in the flagship lineup)
- Multiple authentication/unlock methods (including Face Unlock and Fingerprint ID)
- Nano and eSIM
- Included Google One VPN
- Five years of security updates
- Added utility when used with official Pixel Stand (smart home controls)
Is the Google Pixel 7a still a good phone to buy?
With the release of the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro, and all the cool AI capabilities that come with their new Tensor G3 chip, there's a bigger gap in the Pixel lineup capabilities when you compare the 7a to the 8 versus comparing the 7a to the 7 when the Pixel 7a was first released.
It's not all great. You're locked in to only one sizing configuration (8GB of memory and 128 GB of storage). It's not the strongest Gorilla Glass or the best dust and water resistance compared to flaghsip standards. And if you do know a lot about photography, you can't dial in too deeply to configure camera features.
That said, I still think this is a very good choice of a phone for someone who wants to own their device outright. And there's arguably enough of a savings to still justify picking up the 7a and saving a few hundred bucks rather than jumping to the 8.
Budget-friendly smartphone
Pixel 7a
Best budget phone of 2023
The Pixel 7a is a great android phone for those looking for a feature-rich mobile device without breaking the bank. With wireless charging, decent cameras (supported by Google's excellent image processing), and a low cost, the Pixel 7a is worth considering if you're due for an upgrade, but you don't want to pay flagship prices.
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