Google Pixel 7a
The Pixel 7a brings many of the flagship Pixel 7’s features to what should be a more budget-friendly device, including camera features like Unblur, Magic Eraser, and other Tensor 2-powered options.
The Google Pixel 4a, one of the last Nexus-like devices Google ever made, offered a fantastic camera, great performance, and a solid package for a budget-friendly price. It’s harder to get your hands on one now, though, and it’s hard to recommend it over newer devices with more features and performance.
ThePixel 4ais three years old and past its guaranteed software and security update period. So you are bound to wonder whether it’s time to upgrade to Google’s newest A-series offering – the Pixel 7a – and enjoy a more powerful and arguably better smartphone. Or can the Pixel 4a serve you for another year or maybe a couple more? Let’s find out.
Price, availability, and specs
Introduced in 2020, the Pixel 4a originally carried a price tag of $349, which made it aexcellent value. But as you’re able to expect, Google no longer sells the phone. You can still find it in refurbished form or even new at some odd places.
While an ultra-cheap and refurbished Pixel 4a may hold some value as a stop-gap phone, there is no reason to buy it new. But if you already own the Pixel 4a, and it’s in good condition, trading it in to buy the Pixel 7a can help you save up to $42 as per the latest estimate on the Google store. Although it doesn’t sound like a lot, you will get some value from the phone, which will be responsibly recycled or refurbished by Google.
On the other hand, the Pixel 7a debuted in May this year and carries a price tag of $499 for the sub-6Ghz 5G version and $549 for the mmWave 5G Verizon version. you’re able to order it from all popular retailers and carriers. It has also found a place in ourbest Androidandbudget phone recommendations.
As for specs, it’s hard for the Pixel 4a to keep up with the updated hardware found in the Pixel 7a:
The designs of the Pixel 4a and Pixel 7a couldn’t be any more different. The Pixel 4a is more akin to Google’s old-school Nexus devices, which were originally known for their stylish yet basic looks. On the other hand, the Pixel 7a continues Google’s new design style of going for clean aesthetics that make it a standout device, no matter whose hand it is in.
Of course, other major differences in the design include the lack of a 3.5mm headphone jack on the Pixel 7a. The Pixel 4a still offers a headphone jack, which some users may not want to part with just yet. Aside from that, their designs are somewhat similar, at least as far as the material goes. The Pixel 7a is made up of a 3D thermoformed composite with a tactile alloy frame, while the Pixel 4a is housed in a plastic material, which means both devices require a case to properly protect them from drops and scratches.
The Pixel 4a is also slightly smaller at just 5.8 inches compared to the Pixel 7a’s 6.1 inches. Unfortunately, neither device comes equipped with expandable memory, so you’ll be stuck with whatever internal storage you have in the phone by default.
Their styles are very different, though some similarities exist. If you want to stick with a more basic design, and take advantage of the headphone jack included in the Pixel 4a, then upgrading isn’t the most viable option, at least when choosing between these two devices. However, the cleaner look and feel of the Pixel 7a, along with the addition of face unlock and the improved body, make it a more refined device for those who want to stand out a bit more.
Despite three years of upgrades between them, the Pixel 4a and Pixel 7a offer similar displays. Both panels are OLED and offer similar resolutions. The Pixel 4a sports a 2340 × 1080 pixel display that runs at 60hz. The Pixel 7a shows a 2400 × 1080 display, making it slightly bigger. It also runs at 90hz, so the refresh rate will be smoother on the Pixel 7a.
Both devices feature Corning Gorilla Glass 3 panels, offering similar protection against fingerprints, scratches, and other wear and tear. Both also take advantage of HDR support, allowing for vibrant and beautiful visuals when watching videos and looking at photos.
The display isn’t where either of these devices outshines the other. No matter which phone you decide to stick with, you’ll have a similar experience — though it is difficult to write off the higher refresh rate of the Pixel 7a, which is very useful when playing mobile games or enjoying certain applications.
If you were expecting the Google Pixel 7a and Pixel 4a to be massively different, then the software isn’t the place to look. Each device is made by Google, which means you can expect a smooth and clean Android experience on both. However, the Pixel 4a is no longer guaranteed to receive future Android updates, which means there could be some big differences coming into play onceAndroid 14releases.
Currently, the newest version of Android supported by the Pixel 4a is Android 13. Unlike the Pixel 4a, the 7a is guaranteed to continue receiving Android version updates till May 2026 and security updates till May 2028, making it the better device for long-term users who don’t want to worry about it becoming outdated in the next few years. The Pixel 4a is still a decent phone, though its lack of future guaranteed updates will soon make it obsolete and struggling to keep up.
Performance
The Pixel 4a was never top-of-the-line for performance, and its budget-friendly hardware is even more noticeable after three years. It’s equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G paired with an Adreno 618 GPU. This system chip isn’t terrible by any means, but it definitely struggles to keep up during more intensive usage, especially if you’re multitasking.
The Pixel 7a’s performance is more along the lines of what you’d expect from a flagship device, as it sports the same Tensor G2 processor found in Google’s more expensive Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro models. So, it can easily handle whatever you throw at it, whether it’s processor-intensive tasks or rendering 3D game graphics via the GPU. However, as we noted inour Pixel 7a review, the Tensor G2 runs hot, and you will feel the phone getting warm while you use it.
Overall, the Pixel 7a has a clear advantage over the 4a in terms of performance. Tensor G2 also gives you access to several software goodies that Google has spent the past few years updating and improving.
Battery life
The Pixel 7a has a larger battery than the Pixel 4a, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to see a lot of difference in daily usage and battery drain. The Pixel 4a’s battery is just 3140 mAh compared to the Pixel 7a’s 4385 mAh battery. With that extra battery capacity, you should expect some clear upgrades, but the Pixel 4a has always had a solid battery, especially with all of Google’s software tweaks.
That’s still apparent three years later, even though the increased capacity of the Pixel 7a and the continued tweaking of Google’s systems in the Android operating system mean that it can prioritize using the battery for what you need more precisely. Still, battery life is a tough one to judge. Ultimately, the Pixel 7a is the winner here, thanks to its increased capacity and the introduction of wireless charging in the A-series for the first time.
The Pixel 4a was very well known for its camera when the phone released in 2020, and it’s still a great smartphone camera today. However, the Pixel 7a offers users upgraded options, including a 64MP Quad Bayer wide camera and a 13MP ultrawide camera. All of that stacks well with the machine learning and AI systems that Google has built into Tensor, including the Magic Eraser tool, Unblur, and other features.
While both phones include solid features out of the box, the machine-learning elements make them truly stand out above the rest of the options out there; plus, the Pixel 7a delivers beautiful photos with tons of settings and options that you can tweak to ensure you always snap the best photo or video possible. The Pixel 7a also offers improved video recording, with options for 4K recording at 30 and 60fps compared to the Pixel 4a’s locked 30fps recording on 4K videos.
Of course, you may’t forget the front-facing camera. The Pixel 4a’s 8MP lens still stands up well, but when placed side-by-side with the Pixel 7a’s 13MP, it just doesn’t hold up as well, especially with Tensor’s additional camera features.
Should you upgrade?
If you were packing thePixel 5aor6a, the decision to upgrade to the Pixel 7a might not be as cut and dry. But the Pixel 4a has had a long and successful three-year-long stint. It has started showing signs of age, and the lack of any guaranteed future software updates can be a big problem. So, if you have the budget and are ready for a new phone, the Pixel 7a is a worthy successor with a flagship-grade processor, impressive cameras, and a long software support period.
A flagship device at a midrange price
However, if you primarily use the Pixel 4a for calling, texting, and occasional browsing and have managed to keep it in good shape, getting at least one more year out of the phone is still possible. Then, you’re able to probably jump directly to the Pixel 8a or the Pixel 7a once it’s a little cheaper.
A great device that’s starting to show its age
The Google Pixel 4a was one of the last Nexus-like devices Google ever made, and it offered a fantastic camera, great performance, and a solid package for a budget-friendly price. It’s a bit harder to get your hands on now, however.
