The Google Pixel Fold stole the show at the tech company’s keynote at Google I/O Wednesday, but the foldable wasn’t the only smartphone that made its official debut under the Bay Area sky.
As is tradition, Google revealed the Pixel 7A, the latest entry in its stellar midrange smartphone line that has propelled it into the “best affordable smartphone” conversation in recent years. And much like its predecessors, the Pixel 7A appears ready to challenge for the crown.
The major upgrade to this year’s model is under its aluminum frame and Gorilla Glass 3-protected display. The Pixel 7A features the same Tensor G2 chip that powered last year’s Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro alongside 8GB of RAM, bringing updated power and performance to the sub-$500 tier of smartphones. The company also bolstered the Pixel 7A’s camera sensor, claiming that it is 72% larger than that featured in last year’s Pixel 6A.
That combination continues Google’s focus on packing its smartphones with solid photography performance across its offerings. The company carries over its array of photography tools, including Magic Eraser and Real Tone, into the Pixel 7A’s improved duo of rear cameras. Both get a boost over last year’s model: 64 MP main and 13 MP ultrawide cameras versus the Pixel 6A’s 12.2 MP main and 12 MP ultrawide cameras. The 13 MP selfie camera also represents a solid bump over its 8 MP predecessor.
The Pixel 7A’s 6.1-inch display includes its own upgrades, most notably in its refresh rate. The device features a 90Hz refresh rate, making everything from doomscrolling to playing videogames run smoother than any other Google midrange phone.
There will obviously be some drawbacks to a midrange phone, but Google appears to have done its best to minimize those. Battery life is likely to take a dip versus the company’s more premium options (though we finally have wireless charging on the A series!), though Google is still claiming “over 24-hour battery life.” The Pixel 7A’s memory still maxes out at 128GB and doesn’t feature a microSD slot for adding more space. And, of course, we can all lament the absence of a headphone jack.
Despite those letdowns, the Pixel 7A appears to be a marked improvement overall as the midrange smartphone market continues to prove that powerful phones don’t have to take sizable chunks out of your bank account. The Pixel 7A is available now for $499 with the Coral-colored model sold exclusively via the Google Store.