Google Pixel 7a: Everything you need to know

Google has finally complete the Pixel 7 line-up with the cheapest model in the series: the Google Pixel 7a.

With the same chipset as its big brothers, plus an upgraded camera and the introduction of wireless charging, the Pixel 7a could be exceptionally competitive in the mid-range market this year, and might be one of the best value phones around.

Here’s what you need to know about the phone that could be the benchmark for mid-range Android phones in 2023 – or go ahead and read our Pixel 7a review to find out what we think of it.

When will the Google Pixel 7a be released?

The Pixel 7a launched at Google’s annual I/O conference on 10 May, and the company is making the phone available to buy from the official Google Store immediately, though it may take a little longer for the phone to arrive at other retailers.

How much does the Google Pixel 7a cost?

The Pixel 7a only comes in one version, keeping the pricing simple. It costs $499/£449/€509. (Available now from Google).

That’s an increase from the $449/£399/€459 Pixel 6a, though between current inflation and some of the phone’s upgraded features, that increase doesn’t seem too unreasonable.

Just as importantly, it’s still a decent amount cheaper than the $599/£599/€649 Pixel 7, representing real value for money.

What are the Google Pixel 7a specs and design?

Much like last year’s 6a, the Pixel 7a is impressively similar to the standard Pixel 7, sharing some of its best features – though there are differences that explain the price gap.

First up, the 7a is a little smaller. It’s 6.1in display isn’t as big as the 7’s 6.3in panel, and as a result the phone as a whole is a little lighter – though only by 4g. It’s not as slim as the Pixel 7, at 9mm thick, but overall still feels fairly svelte and compact.

The design is otherwise similar to the other Pixel 7 phones though, with a matching camera bar across the back, though this sticks out a little less here. The phone comes in a choice of four colours: Charcoal, Snow, and Sea will be widely available, but the bright Coral is a Google Store exclusive.

Impressively, the 7a also has an IP67 rating, meaning it’s fairly safe from dust and water damage.

The screen itself is an OLED panel with a Full HD+ resolution and a 90Hz refresh rate. That’s now the same as the regular 7, though in fairness it does lag behind the competition: smoother 120Hz screens are now the standard across other mid-range phones, though for most people the difference is relatively minor.

The display includes a fingerprint sensor, but also the selfie camera that allows you to use face unlock. That might not seem remarkable, but previous Pixel a phones have omitted the tech (as, indeed, have some of the flagships). It returned in the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro though, and now looks to be part of the 7a too.

The phone is meanwhile powered by the Tensor G2, Google’s own in-house chipset that’s also found in both the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro. In those phones it’s arguably a little underpowered compared to other flagship options, but in the 7a it should offer the perfect amount of power to compete with mid-range rivals.

To keep things simple, it only comes in one version: with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage.

The camera has had some upgrades too, with a new 64Mp main camera, alongside a 13Mp ultrawide and 13Mp selfie camera. These aren’t the same cameras found in the other Pixel 7 phones, so it’s likely that the 7a will lag behind them in quality a little, but every lens is higher resolution than the Pixel 6a equivalents, so this should be an upgrade on last year.

One definite upgrade is the inclusion of wireless charging – a first for a Pixel a. It’s only at slow-ish 7.5W speeds, but most standard wireless chargers don’t go a lot faster than that anyway. The phone also supports 18W wired charging over USB-C, but remember that Google doesn’t include a charger in the box.

As for the battery itself, the 4385mAh cell isn’t the biggest around, but is likely enough to last the day.

Finally, software. It won’t surprise you to hear that the Google phone will launch with Android 13, the latest version of the operating system. It will also get the same update promise as Google’s premium phones, with three major OS updates (so through to Android 16) plus five years of security patches in total.

Here are the full specs:

• 6.1in, FHD+, 90Hz OLED
• Google Tensor G2 chipset
• Google Titan M2 security chip
• 8GB RAM
• 128GB storage
• Cameras:
  • 64Mp, f/1.9 main camera
  • 13Mp, f/2.2 ultrawide
  • 13Mp, f/2.2 selfie camera
• 4385mAh battery
• 18W wired charging
• 7.5W wireless charging
• IP67 rating
• 5G
• Android 13
• 72.9 x 152.4 x 9.0mm
• 193g

If you’re not 100% sold on the 7a, check out our roundup of the best Pixel 7 and 7 Pro deals and best Pixel 6a deals to see if you can grab a bargain.