Still relevant or ready to retire?

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  Google Pixel 7a

  Flagship specs, mid-range price

  $399 $499 Save $100

  The Pixel 7a is a fantastic mid-range choice for those seeking an exceptional photography experience without breaking the bank. The Pixel 7a doesn’t compromise on other aspects, making it a compelling all-rounder. The seamless user experience with Pixel’s near-stock interface and extended priority software support make it a future-proof choice.

  Pros

  • Smooth 90Hz display
  • Takes excellent photos
  • Almost flagship Pixel experience

  Cons

  • Average battery life and thermals
  • 18W charging is still slow

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  Google Pixel 5a

  An oldie but a goodie

  The Pixel 5a is still relevant with its well-rounded performance, coupled with Google’s consistent updates. It offers the best battery life on a recent Pixel device, and the camera can still deliver unexpected goodness. Don’t discount this old horse yet, especially if you can get it at a discount.

  Pros

  • Camera system is quite capable
  • Headphone jack!
  • Great battery life

  Cons

  • Only has one more year of software support
  • Limited availability
  • No wireless charging

Pitting the Pixel 5a against the latest and greatest budget-friendly phone from Google, the Pixel 7a, may seem a little unfair. Still, you’d be surprised what tricks an over two-year-old phone can pull off – even without Google’s very own Tensor chip onboard.

There’s no denying the Pixel 7a is one of the best budget Android phones you can get today, but we still have a lot of love for the reliable Pixel 5a. It may be worth your while to wait for the inevitable Pixel 8a later this year, but if you’re considering upgrading to a Pixel 7a from the 5a right now, we’ve put both in the ring to help you decide.

Price, availability & specs

The Google Pixel 7a debuted in May 2023 across 17 countries – marking one of the most widely available Pixel devices in recent memory. In the US, you can grab the Pixel 7a for $499, and if you’re with Verizon, there’s an mmWave version priced at $549. We’ve already spotted Pixel 7a discounts of up to $100 on Google’s official site and through third-party retailers like Amazon.

As for the Google Pixel 5a, it debuted in 2021, though its availability was constrained by the pandemic, leading to sales exclusively in the US and Japan. Launched at $449, its presence has become increasingly scarce over recent years. While new units can still be found from outlets like Amazon, multiple listings offer renewed or pre-owned Pixel 5a units for as low as $200 — the only option worth considering if you want to buy a 5a now.

• 	Google Pixel 7a	Google Pixel 5a
  SoC	Google Tensor G2	Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G
  RAM	8GB LPDDR5	6GB
  Storage	128GB	128GB
  Battery	4,385mAh	4,680mAh
  Operating System	Android 13	Android 14
  Front camera	13MP, f/2.2	8MP, f/2.0
  Dimensions	152.4 x 72.9 x 9mm	156.2 x 73.2 x 8.8mm
  Ports	USB-C	USB-C
  Rear camera	64MP, f/1.9 main with OIS; 13MP, f/2.2 ultrawide	12.2MP, f/1.7 main; 16MP, f/2.2 ultrawide
  Connectivity	NFC	NFC
  Colors	Charcoal, Snow, Sea, Coral	Mostly Black
  Display type	OLED, 90Hz	OLED, 60Hz
  Weight	193g	183g
  Charge speed	18W wired, 7.5W wireless	18W wired
  IP Rating	IP67	IP67
  Stylus	No	No
  Display dimensions	6.1″	6.34″
  Display resolution	1080 x 2400	1080 x 2400
  Charge options	Wired, Wireless	Wired
  SIM support	Dual SIM (Nano SIM and eSIM)	Nano SIM/eSIM
  Cellular connectivity	5G, mmWave, LTE	LTE, 5G
  Wi-Fi connectivity	WiFi 6E	Wi-Fi 6
  Bluetooth	Bluetooth 5.3	Bluetooth 5.0

Design

Even though they both come from the Pixel family, the Pixel 7a looks substantially different from the 5a, thanks to a fresh design approach introduced with the Pixel 6 series. While the Pixel 5a went for a metal unibody covered in a matte plastic finish, the Pixel 7a takes a more refined route with an aluminum frame paired with a polycarbonate back.

Both phones are on equal footing regarding handling the elements, flaunting an IP67 protection rating that keeps them dust and waterproof. However, the Pixel 7a sweetens the deal by supporting wireless charging, a feature absent in the 5a.

These phones come with similar physical dimensions and in-hand ergonomics, with the Pixel 7a being just a smaller and heavier smidgen. Color-wise, the Pixel 5a is provided in any color you want as long as that color is a dark green shade known as ‘Almost Black.’ The Pixel 7a brings more variety with color options like Charcoal, Sea, Snow, and the Google Store exclusive Coral.

Aesthetically, the biggest change comes in the placement of the camera module. The Pixel 5a keeps its two-camera setup in a regular square module. The Pixel 7a goes bold, stretching the cameras across the whole width of the device – a unique style that still stirs up the same mix of reactions it did when it first showed up in the Pixel 6 series. Finishing off the design scoop, the Pixel 5a placed its physical fingerprint reader in the middle at the back’s top, while the Pixel 7a brings in an in-display fingerprint scanner right on the screen.

Display

The Pixel 7a and 5a have screens that aren’t too different. The Pixel 5a rocks a 6.3-inch OLED display with a 2400 x 1080 resolution. On the other side, the Pixel 7a goes a tad smaller with a 6.1-inch OLED display and the same 2400 x 1080 resolution. This subtle difference in size leads to the Pixel 7a scoring a slightly higher PPI of 429 than the Pixel 5a’s 415 PPI. Both screens are protected by Corning’s Gorilla Glass 3, a feature that could do with an upgrade.

Both displays offer vivid OLED colors, punchy blacks, and ample brightness levels. However, the true upgrade has happened in the refresh rates. While the Pixel 5a offers a standard 60Hz screen, the Pixel 7a display has an adaptive 90Hz refresh rate. This means things like scrolling and animations look extra smooth on the Pixel 7a – it’s a small touch that makes a big difference in how things feel.

Interestingly, Google chose to ship the Pixel 7a with Smooth Display turned off, citing battery-saving reasons. This setting can be tricky for first-time users, but make sure you turn it on right away to get the most out of your screen.

Shifting to the sound department, both phones come with stereo speakers, but the Pixel 7a doesn’t have that trusty 3.5mm headphone jack that you’ll still find on the Pixel 5a.

Software

The Pixel 5a debuted with Android 11 and has been cruising along with updates, currently running Android 13. So far, so good, but its update cycle is anticipated to conclude around August 2024, in line with Google’s commitment to a three-year lifespan for OS and security updates.

The Pixel 7a is fresh off the boat, starting its journey on Android 13. Google promises three years of OS updates and five years of security updates for the Pixel 7a, meaning you’re not only getting the next 3 OS updates but also covered with security updates until 2028.

Both phones run on the trusty, mostly stock Pixel user interface, which keeps things clean and familiar. Both phones come with Google’s handy Assistant, which can answer questions, set reminders, and even make calls for you. Plus, you’ll get Pixel-exclusive features like the Call Screen, which helps filter out pesky spam calls, and the Recorder app that can transcribe spoken words into text in real time. However, the Pixel 7a gets access to some of Google’s Tensor-specific AI features.

Performance

Under the hood, the Pixel 5a runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G processor – a step below the flagship 8-series chipsets from Qualcomm. It packs 6GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 128GB of UFS 2.1 storage. In contrast, the Pixel 7a employs Google’s in-house Tensor G2 chip, which is somewhere around last year’s Qualcomm 8-series chips in terms of raw power. The 7a also has 8GB of faster LPDDR5 RAM and greatly improved UFS 3.1 storage.

In benchmarks, the Tensor G2 surpasses the SD765G chipset by a significant margin, which is unsurprising given the 2-year gap. It’s not that the Pixel 5a is sluggish by any means. However, the combination of its mid-range chip and a 60Hz display means you’ll notice the performance gap between these two devices in almost every activity – whether it’s casual social media scrolling or diving into graphics-intensive games.

Yet, there’s a caveat regarding the Tensor G2’s real-life performance, particularly its thermal efficiency. Like other phones in the Pixel 7 series, the Pixel 7a tends to heat up during regular use. While all phones tend to get hot during heavy tasks like gaming or 4K video recording, the Tensor chip also struggles to maintain a cool temperature during everyday tasks. Hopefully, Google can address this before the anticipated release of the Pixel 8 later this year.

Battery life

Tensor’s thermal efficiency woes also spill over to the battery performance, making it one area where the Pixel 5a dominates over the 7a. The Pixel 5a has a battery capacity of 4680mAh, and the 7a is already at a disadvantage with a slightly lower 4385mAh capacity.

Typically, with advancements in processor generations, you’d anticipate improvements in battery efficiency. However, the Snapdragon 765 G’s commendable energy-efficient design, coupled with the underwhelming thermal management of Tensor, paints a rather one-sided picture. In practical terms, the Pixel 5a can deliver around 8–10 hours of screen-on-time (SoT) in most scenarios, while the Pixel 7a might clock in at approximately 6 hours at best.

Both phones provide 18W wired charging speeds, allowing them to fully recharge from 0 to 100% in about 1.5 hours. Notably, the Pixel 7a offers wireless charging, even if at a relatively slow speed of 7.5 watts.

Camera

The Pixel 5a features a dual camera arrangement with a 12.2MP f/1.7 primary lens and a 16MP ultrawide f/2.2 lens – a standard combination for flagship Pixels. This setup enables 4K video recording at 60fps and Full HD videos at up to 240fps. An 8MP front camera is also present, capturing Full HD videos.

Shifting to the Pixel 7a, Google finally bid farewell to the Sony IMX 363 camera sensor, a staple in nearly every Pixel until the 5a. The Pixel 7a introduces a 64MP f/1.89 main lens that can record 4K videos at 60fps and a 13MP f/2.2 ultra-wide camera capable of 4K recording at 30fps. Its front camera, at 13MP f/2.2, also captures 4K videos at 30fps, giving the Pixel 7a an overall win in video recording.

Despite the apparent 5-fold increase in resolution with the 64MP lens, the practical difference in real-world photo performance isn’t as pronounced. However, the Pixel 7a does edge out its predecessor in challenging lighting conditions, mainly due to its larger sensor size than the 5a. The Pixel 7a leverages its bigger sensor and 4-in-1 pixel binning technology to capture more light, improving low-light performance. That being said, Google’s reliance on software-driven enhancements does a great job of bridging the hardware gap, and both phones here are adept at producing the characteristic ‘Pixel look’ photos adored by users.

Should you wait for the Pixel 8a?

Google has been consistently releasing new Pixel A-series phones since 2019’s Pixel 3a. Right now, the Pixel 8 is already out and about, and it’s safe to say we can expect the Pixel 8a to come out later this year. While nothing is concrete, it’s likely to be released this summer, which puts those looking to get a new Pixel in a tricky, Hamlet-esque situation: to wait or not to wait?

The Pixel 8a is set to succeed the Pixel 7a as the top budget smartphone from Google, with a new Tensor G3 SoC, slimmed-down design, and the Pixel 8’s unique features. If the company’s 2023 flagships are anything to go by, the Pixel 8a is gearing up to stand out.

That said, the Pixel 7a is still knocking it out of the park, isn’t even a year old yet, and is available to grab right now. As with the Pixel 6a, the 7a should stick around at an all-new low price once the 8a arrives (tipped to stick with the $500 mark), so if you have your sights set on the 7a but want it even cheaper, you may want to wait it out.

It’s worth noting that Pixel phones include incremental upgrades rather than significant overhauls these days. While the latest model is sure to come with plenty of perks, the Pixel 7a has many defining features (like its fantastic cameras) that will make it a viable smartphone for years to come.

Ultimately, the decision comes down to waiting an extra few months to get an all-new Pixel 8a fresh off the press or picking up the best budget phone available right now. Or, of course, grabbing the even more affordable Pixel 5a. However, be aware that it won’t be getting any more software updates past August 2024, so the clock is ticking.

Which Pixel is right for you?

The Pixel 5a is still a great phone, which says a lot for a mid-range Pixel that came out in 2021. However, when it comes to everything except battery life, the Pixel 7a wins. This hardly comes as a surprise; after all, the 7a has two years on the 5a. With faster performance, improved cameras, and extended software support, you can’t go wrong making the jump to Pixel 7a.

While the Pixel 5a has its fair share of impressive feats, including longer battery life and a still-solid camera system, its support is the one thing letting this budget phone down. Since it won’t receive updates past August 2024, the Pixel 5a will soon be left behind, while more recent Pixels will get all the fancy new software features. If you still have a Pixel 5a, and it has no glaring performance issues, it might be worth sticking with it until the Pixel 8a’s expected release this summer. Otherwise, the Pixel 7a is a worthwhile bet.