Welcome to May 2023, and Google has just made its ‘standard’ flagship look like an expensive luxury. The Pixel 7a is a 193g technical marvel that has all but deleted the gap between the ‘a-series’ and the premium Pixel 7. Finished in a 3D thermoformed composite back with a tactile alloy frame, it has arrived in the UK as the most complete mid-range phone in history. For the first time, Google has brought the high-refresh screen and wireless charging to its budget line, making it a formidable challenger to phones twice its price.
The technical headline is the upgrade to a 90Hz refresh rate on the 6.1-inch OLED (2400 x 1080) display, providing the fluid ‘Pixel’ experience that was previously missing from the affordable range. Under the hood, it is powered by the same Google Tensor G2 chip found in the Pixel 7 Pro, enabling high-end AI features like ‘Photo Unblur’ and ‘Clear Calling.’ The camera has also received a massive technical bump to a 64-megapixel main sensor, the highest resolution ever on a Pixel ‘a’ series, allowing for significantly improved ‘Super Res Zoom’ and 4K 60fps video recording.
Connectivity is robust with 5G, Wi-Fi 6E, and the return of the Titan M2 security chip. The 4,385 mAh battery is a standout, supporting both 18W wired and, for the first time, Qi wireless charging. It also features IP67 water resistance, ensuring it is as durable as it is smart. The Pixel 7a is a landmark bit of tech; by refusing to compromise on the screen, the silicon, or the camera, Google created a device that effectively redefined the ‘mid-range’ as a flagship in a different coat. It is the smartest value proposition of 2023.