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Beating The Competition: Features That Make Google Pixel 7a Shine

Google made an unexpected move by introducing both the Pixel 7 and the Pixel 7 Pro as part of the Pixel 7 series. They expanded the series further with the release of their latest A series smartphone, the Pixel 7a. Despite being the most budget-friendly option within the 7 series, it features high-end internal specifications. With its commitment to delivering nearly flagship-level performance, excellent cameras, and a pure Android user experience, has the Google Pixel 7a successfully attracted buyers in the mid-range smartphone market?

Pixel 7a Design: A Familiar Yet Refined Look

The design of the Google Pixel 7a remains consistent with the familiar Pixel look. It features the horizontal rear camera bar, which, while present, is not as bulky as seen in the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro models. The Pixel 7a is notably smaller in size at 73 x 152 x 9mm and a bit lighter at 193g, making it more pocket-friendly in a world of ever-increasing smartphone sizes. You have the choice of Charcoal, Snow, Sea, or Coral colors, with Google matching the camera bar to your selected color.

The phone's buttons and ports are sensibly placed, with the power button and volume rocker on the right side and the nanoSIM slot on the opposite side. The 18W USB-C port is at the bottom, flanked by speaker openings for a symmetrical look.

Google emphasizes the durability of the Pixel 7a, claiming it to be the sturdiest A series device to date, due to a new mid-frame architecture that enhances screen protection in case of accidental drops. It also maintains an IP67 rating for water and dust resistance.

A significant addition is the reintroduction of face unlocking, a feature that was absent from Pixel phones for some time. It now complements the traditional under-screen fingerprint and PIN unlock methods.

Pixel 7a’s Display Accuracy

The Google Pixel 7a features a 6.1-inch 1080p OLED screen with a 90 Hz refresh rate, which falls slightly short of the 120 Hz displays found in devices like the A54 and high-end flagship phones. However, for those accustomed to the standard 60 Hz displays, the 90 Hz option brings a noticeable boost in smoothness and visual appeal. It's worth noting that the 90 Hz setting is turned off by default, likely to conserve battery life. To enjoy the smoother experience, you can activate the "Smooth Display" option in the display settings.

One significant advantage of this display is its brightness, especially when exposed to direct sunlight. Google claims that it can reach 25 percent higher peak brightness compared to the 6A model. This feature ensures better visibility in bright outdoor conditions.

In terms of color performance, the Pixel 7a excels. It offers two display modes: Natural and Adaptive. The Natural mode is particularly impressive for color accuracy. In this mode, the Pixel 7a's display covers 93% of the sRGB color gamut, achieving a total volume of 94% and an average Delta E of 0.86. To put it simply, a Delta E value of less than one is considered virtually perfect in terms of color accuracy.

Android 13 On The Pixel 7a

The Google Pixel 7a operates on the same Android 13 version as its premium sibling, the Pixel 7 Pro, and other devices in Google's smartphone lineup. This shared software ensures a fast, well-optimized, and aesthetically pleasing user experience. Additionally, it includes the valuable feature of free access to Google's VPN, enhancing your data security when connected to public Wi-Fi networks.

Google's commitment to software support is commendable. They pledge to provide a minimum of five years of software updates and security patches, ensuring the longevity of your device. This support includes at least three major Android OS updates. To put this in context, Samsung backs many of its phones for five years, Fairphone aims for six years of support, and Apple sets a high standard by supporting its iPhones for up to seven years. The extended support not only adds value to your Pixel 7a but also contributes to reducing electronic waste and promoting sustainability in the tech industry.

Pixel 7a Camera Overview: Raising The Bar

The Google Pixel 7a distinguishes itself in the camera department, while still maintaining the same software and shooting capabilities as its counterparts in the Pixel series.

The Pixel 7a showcases a 64 MP main rear camera, accompanied by a secondary 13 MP 120-degree ultra wide lens. For selfies, there's a single 13 MP front camera discreetly placed in a small hole-punch notch at the top center of the screen. Notably, all of these cameras have higher resolutions than the pricier Pixel 7, with the main lens offering 64 MP compared to 50 MP.

Despite its lower price point, the Pixel 7a performs exceptionally well in camera tests, delivering stunning shots across various lighting conditions and environments. Images are characterized by impressive detail and vibrant color reproduction.

Google's Night Sight feature now operates twice as fast, resulting in nearly instantaneous low-light image capture with reduced post-processing time.

While the Pixel 7a lacks a dedicated telephoto lens, it can digitally zoom up to 8x because of Google's "Super Res Zoom" technology. This method involves cropping the image while leveraging Google's software enhancements to deliver surprisingly good results.

The ultrawide sensor, while not as outstanding as the primary camera, still offers plenty to appreciate. Although some detail is sacrificed when fitting more into the frame, it accurately represents colors, and image processing effectively corrects optical distortion in the corners.

Moreover, the Pixel 7a introduces additional software-based camera features, such as the Photo Unblur mode and Magic Eraser, which can remove unwanted elements from images. Additionally, the Real Tone feature ensures accurate skin tones in portrait mode.

When it comes to portrait photography, the Pixel 7a excels, providing clear subject definition, well-balanced tonality, and distinct facial features, with a pleasing background blur. Video recording is also admirable, offering 4K resolution at 60fps with effective stabilization for detailed and steady footage, even during rapid movements.

Pixel 7a’s Extended Battery Life In Daily Usage

Talking about the internal components of the Google Pixel 7a, it's powered by Google's Tensor G2 chipset, built on a 5 nm process. This octa-core processor runs at a clock speed of 2.85GHz, and it's the same chip that you'll find in other Pixel models from this year. The device comes with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, although it doesn't offer the 256GB storage option available in the Pixel 7.

In terms of performance, the differences between the Pixel 6a and 7a in benchmark tests are minimal, but there's still a lot to appreciate. The Pixel 7a exhibits remarkable speed, with benchmark scores of 1,061 for single-core and 3,309 for multi-core performance in Geekbench 5. 

One praiseworthy improvement was the Pixel 7a's increased refresh rate, moving from 60Hz to 90Hz. This enhancement opens the door to smoother frame rates in gaming applications. The Tensor G2 chipset also flexes its muscles in this aspect, as evidenced by the Pixel 7a's performance in benchmark tests like the GFXBench Car Chase, where it reaches 62 fps compared to previous 50 fps. In the Manhattan 3 benchmark, a slightly older and less graphically demanding test, it achieved a flawless 90fps.

What's particularly impressive is the Pixel 7a's battery life. It marks a substantial improvement over its predecessor, with the device scoring 23 hours and 49 minutes in a looping video benchmark. This is three hours longer than what the Pixel 6a managed. Furthermore, the Pixel 7a stands out as the longest-lasting phone in its price category, surpassing the competition by a comfortable margin.

Sustainability

With a focus on sustainability, Google may not specify an exact battery lifespan, but you can anticipate it enduring well beyond 500 full charge cycles while retaining at least 80% of its initial capacity. Repair options are readily available through both Google and third-party repair shops, with access to genuine replacement parts for maintenance and sustainability.

The construction of the Pixel 7a demonstrates a commitment to eco-friendliness. The phone incorporates recycled materials, including aluminum, glass, and plastic, accounting for approximately 21% of the device's weight. This approach contributes to reduced environmental impact by reusing materials.

Furthermore, Google actively engages in transparency regarding its products' environmental effects by publishing comprehensive environmental impact reports. This practice reinforces their dedication to sustainability and allows consumers to make informed choices about the products they use.

Pricing, Availability And Competition

The global release of the Google Pixel 7a took place on May 10, 2023. However, for eager customers in Pakistan, the expected launch of the Google Pixel 7a is slated for early 2024. While the exact pricing remains unconfirmed, it is expected to fall within the price range of PKR 150,000 to PKR 200,000, subject to the chosen storage configuration. Shoppers can look forward to acquiring this smartphone from authorized Google retailers as well as online outlets.

In the Pakistani market, the Google Pixel 7a will find itself in competition with several other mid-range smartphones, including the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G, OnePlus Nord 3, Xiaomi 12 Lite, Realme GT Neo 3, and Oppo Reno 7 Pro. These devices offer similar features such as 5G support, robust processors, and high-resolution displays. However, the Google Pixel 7a is anticipated to stand out significantly in terms of its camera capabilities and the assurance of prompt software updates.

On a broader scale within the mid-range smartphone arena, the Google Pixel 7a is poised to be a compelling contender in 2024. It has several advantages over its rivals, having the potent Google Tensor G2 processor, a high-resolution OLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, a triple-lens rear camera system with a 64 MP main sensor, extended battery life, and a streamlined, bloat-free software experience that receives timely updates. Nevertheless, it's important to note that the Google Pixel 7a may occupy a relatively higher price bracket in the mid-range category, potentially making it less competitive for cost-conscious consumers.

In summary, the Google Pixel 7a is expected to give a strong presence in the mid-range smartphone market in Pakistan, offering numerous advantages over its peers in terms of performance, display quality, camera capabilities, and software support. 

Is It Worth Purchasing?

Google has placed a strong emphasis on various photo features, some of which become apparent when you review your pictures in Google Photos. However, there are instances where the Pixel 7a's camera shows a bit too much cleverness. It sometimes automatically activates features like "Top Shot," capturing quick bursts of images in unusual situations. 

The Pixel 7a steals the show as the premier mid-range Android phone, delivering a finest smartphone experience in a smaller, more affordable package.

Equipped with Google's top-tier chip, ample RAM, and a generous amount of storage, the Pixel 7a exceeds most competitors in terms of speed. Its brilliant and vibrant screen, boosting a 90 Hz refresh rate, ensures smooth scrolling, a feature typically associated with high-end smartphones, along with the added convenience of wireless charging.

A key advantage of the Pixel 7a is its exceptional software and the promise of five years of support, which translates to extended usability. While the device's back is made of plastic rather than glass, it's a minor concern, as most users opt for protective cases. The battery life, lasting up to 34 hours, offers reliability for a full day's use, though it falls slightly short of the best.

The Pixel 7a is now the inarguable best mid-range Android phone, offering more than just exclusive camera capabilities. Although its screen may not match the Galaxy A54's in terms of quality, it has made major improvements that will satisfy most users. 

The Galaxy A54 owns a larger and smoother-scrolling display, with a promise of receiving four OS upgrades during its lifetime, one more than the Pixel 7a. However, the Pixel 7a's flagship-grade processor places it ahead in terms of current and future performance. The Tensor G2 chip competes strongly in the flagship class, standing alongside Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, making it one of the top processors available for a mid-range phone.