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We’re just over a week away from Google announcing the Pixel 7a, and a few other Pixel devices. But the Pixel 7a will likely be the best selling of the three new Pixel devices that are set to be announced at Google I/O on May 10.
This year, the rumor mill has given us pricing for the Pixel 7a, and it’s getting a price increase. This was expected, given how the prices of literally everything have jumped quite a bit in recent months. The rumors point to the Pixel 7a costing $499. That’s still a great price for a phone that will likely win the blind camera smartphone test once again.
However, there’s a problem. The Pixel 7 exists. The Pixel 7 debuted at $599, however over the past few months, it has been discounted to $499 quite often, and even $449 from time to time. So why would you buy a “mid-range” Pixel 7a, when the Pixel 7 exists at a lower or the same price. That’s going to make the Pixel 7a a tough sell for Google.
Pixel 7a specs are very similar to the Pixel 7
When you put the Pixel 7a and Pixel 7 side-by-side, the rumored specs and the official specs are pretty identical. The Pixel 7a will come with a 6.1-inch display, while the Pixel 7 has a 6.3-inch display. Otherwise, both are OLED 90Hz displays, and have the same resolution of 1080×2400. While we don’t know for sure, since it hasn’t leaked yet, the Pixel 7 will likely have a brighter display, as it is rated for 1400 nits peak brightness. It also supports HDR10+, while the leaks for the Pixel 7a point at just HDR.
Inside, both phones will sport the Google Tensor G2 chipset, with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. The Pixel 7 does have a 256GB option, however.
The batteries are fairly similar with the Pixel 7a having a 4500mAh capacity battery and 4355mAh on the Pixel 7.
Where things really start to differ is in the cameras. The Pixel 7 has a 50-megapixel main sensor, 12-megapixel ultrawide and a 10.8-megapixel front-facing camera. On the Pixel 7a, it’s getting a new camera that Google has never used before. That is a 64-megapixel main sensor, and then a 12-megapixel ultrawide. And of course the 10.8-megapixel front-facing camera.
That’s a bit odd because Google typically will debut new hardware components on their flagships and then move them down to the a-series. Instead, Google is using a 64MP camera on the Pixel 7a, while the Pixel 7 and Pro both use a 50MP camera. This is a rumor that I don’t think will be true, but we have seen it from many sources. And this could be why the Pixel 7a is getting a price jump.
Could the Pixel 7a replace the Pixel 7?
This is very unlikely, because Google hasn’t done this before. But could Google use the Pixel 7a to replace the Pixel 7? The difference in their MSRPs is already only $100, so there’s a very small line between the two right now. But this is even more unlikely, since Google is rumored to be keeping the Pixel 6a around. Something that they don’t typically do.
Now if they do keep the Pixel 6a around at its regular sale price of $299, that would make this lineup quite impressive. With the Pixel 6a at $299, Pixel 7a at $499, Pixel 7 at $599 and Pixel 7 Pro at $899.
The Pixel 7a will be the best sub-$500 phone on the market
As is the case every year, since Google unveiled the Pixel 3a back in 2019, the Pixel 7a will be the best sub-$500 smartphone on the market. And that’s because it is basically a flagship smartphone, at a sort of mid-range price. One could argue that the $499 price is not really “mid-range” anymore. But it’s still quite affordable compared to say, the Galaxy S23 which starts at $799.
Pixel 7a will come with a new camera, but it will have all of Google’s smarts. Making it one of the best cameras on the market. Along with having 128GB of storage, which is not something we typically see at this price. Especially when paired with 8GB of RAM. Samsung’s new Galaxy A54 5G comes with 6GB and 128GB at the base price of $449. That’s only $50 less, for less RAM and the same storage. It does of course have a much larger battery inside, to make up for it.
Would you buy the Pixel 7 over the Pixel 7a?
This is a hard question, especially since the Pixel 7a isn’t out yet, so I haven’t had a chance to try it out. But given the MSRP of each phone – that’s $499 for Pixel 7a and $599 for Pixel 7 – it’s a really tough decision. I do prefer smaller phones, so that might be what tempts me to the Pixel 7a. But then again the Pixel 7 is not that large either.
This is something that a lot of people are going to struggle with, once the Pixel 7a is announced on May 10. Especially since it is set to be available that same day.