After numerous leaks, that day has finally arrived, and Google has taken to the I/O stage to unveil the Google Pixel 7a. The new phone is finally available as the cheapest offering in the Pixel 7 family. The phone has received significant improvements over the last generation and features the same Tensor G2 used in the higher end variants of the Pixel 7 series. The phone is priced at 44,000 Indian rupees in India. Prices in the U.S. are $499 for the below 6GHz variant and about $549 for the 5GHz version on the mm-wave. In India’s case, it’s worth noting that this is a very neat deal, as it retains the launch price of the Pixel 6a. The phone means some upgrades for the Pixel 6a, and let’s dive into those specs without further ado.
Also Read PS6: NEW LEAK CONFIRMS THE OFFICIAL LAUNCH DATE OF SONY’S NEXT GEN CONSOLE
GOOGLE PIXEL 7A SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES
The Google Pixel 7a offers a set of updates that are a first for the A-series. It features a 6.1-inch OLED display, which now runs at 90 Hz. This is lower than today’s flagships with 120 Hz or 144 Hz, but it’s a major milestone for the series. It finally did away with the old 60 Hz refresh rate. If we look at Apple, the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus have only 60 Hz refresh rates and are more expensive. Moving on, the phone has Full HD+ resolution and pretty old Gorilla Glass 3 protection. However, it’s better than nothing and will still protect you from some scratches.
Google Pixel 7a has an IP67 dust and water resistance rating. The phone has a metal frame and a plastic back panel. According to Google, the phone uses recycled aluminum, glass and plastic. For example, the visor is made of 100 percent recycled aluminum. The phone is sold in Charcoal, Sea and Snow colors.
One of the most notable updates to this device is the new Google Tensor G2 processor. It boasts 8GB of LPDDR RAM and has 128GB of UFS 3.1 storage. The chipset isn’t the only upgrade, as the phone boasts 2GB of extra RAM compared to the Pixel 6a with its 6GB. The Tensor G2 is Google’s most advanced chipset. While it shouldn’t be on par with Snapdragon’s flagship offerings, Google has focused on consistency in performance and experience. The phone will still perform as well as any other phone in the Pixel 7 series. In addition, Google promises five years of security updates.
SOME NEAT IMPROVEMENTS ON THE CAMERA
The phone also received notable improvements in the camera department. For the first time, the Pixel A-series has a 64-megapixel camera. Thanks to the camera upgrade, the phone has gained the Super Res Zoom feature with 8x zoom. The 64-megapixel camera has a 1/1.73 Quad Bayer sensor. It’s not the same as the Pixel 7, but it also has OIS. The phone also gets a 13-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera with a 120-degree angle of view and dual-pixel autofocus. The front camera is also 13-megapixel with a fixed focus and a slightly larger 95º viewing angle. The rear camera can record 5K video at up to 60 frames per second, and the front camera can record [email protected] frames per second.
The Pixel 7a gets its power from a huge 4,385 mAh battery with 18W charging support. This wired charging is kind of a disappointment for those outside of Google’s Pixel phone ecosystem. If we look at Chinese phones, they have charging up to 240W… But well, Google, Samsung and Apple can join forces in a conservative approach when it comes to charging. On the bright side, we have wireless charging for the first time in the a series. It will charge 18 watts without wires, and that’s a good thing. The phone has USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2, but there is only a USB C-to-C cable with a USB 2.0 connector.
It is worth noting that the Pixel 7a fully supports mmWave 5G and sub-6GHz networks. It is worth noting that mmWave support is limited to some regional variants. It will probably appear in markets such as the U.S. and Canada, where mmWave networks are well developed. 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 already on sale in the U.S. at Google Store and BestBuy. In India, the device is available through Flipkart, with a discount of INR 4,000 for HDFC Bank Card customers or INR 4,000 for those who turn in their old phone. In India, there is a 1-year warranty and free screen protection for one year. We expect Google to announce availability details in the next few days.