Excellent camera for the price ; Plenty of upgrades over the Pixel 6a ; Smart software ; Some nice colour options

Middling battery life ; Achingly slow charging

Google’s mid-range series of smartphones has never been this good. While I would have liked to see better battery performance, the rest of the Pixel 7a is a triumph.

Classy design Interesting camera zoom feature Fast 100W wired charging Slim and lightweight

No IP rating Terrible selfie camera Irritating auto brightness adjustment

“The Realme 11 Pro+ takes mid-range phone design and battery charging speeds to the next level, but the selfie camera, software, and durability let it down.”

Clean Android interface, exclusive features, timely updates.

Limited availability.

In summary, with the 7a, Google appears to have simply created a more affordable Pixel 7, making the latest a-series model the go-to option for someone just looking for

Most compact Pixel 7 device Water-resistant 64MP main camera 90Hz refresh rate Wireless charging Four fun colors

Not great with low light photos Battery life is disappointing No reverse wireless charging Price puts it in an odd place

“The Google Pixel 7a is a big upgrade from its predecessor, but it's increased price puts it in a tough spot, considering the Pixel 6a got a deep price cut and the Pixel 7 is just a little bit more.”

Excellent contrast ; Punchy colours ; Dynamic sound

Poor dark details ; Tough competition from Sony

The Pixel 7a is a big improvement over the more expensive Pixel 7, making it very easy to recommend.

Performance capability well beyond its price point ; Great camera improvements for this generation ; Android software just runs best on Google

Battery life isn't great – and charging rather slow ; Pricier and chunkier than its predecessor ; Screen is fairly heavy on bezel

After some battery wobbles that had me temporarily concerned, I've quickly come to regard the Google Pixel 7a as the best affordable phone you can buy right now. It's got the power, the cameras and the looks to impress. Sure, the screen's edge bezel is...

Almost as fast as the Pixel 7 Pro ; Great photo capabilities and editing tools ; Slick Android interface is a pleasure

Battery won't last all day ; Only three years of OS update support ; Too expensive given the compromises

The Google Pixel 7a is like a gas-guzzling roadster. It's faster than it should be, looks great in photos, and needs to be refueled often along the way.

$499 price point ; Bright, vivid 90Hz display ; Excellent photos ; Exclusive Pixel features ; Solid support

Mediocre speakers ; Performance can’t match flagships

The Pixel 7a is the phone that many wanted the Pixel 7 to be last year. At under $500, it is the phone that most Android fans should buy unless they absolutely need a telephoto lens or top-tier gaming performance. Google’s value-based dominance continues.

Affordable price ; Great camera performance ; Solid battery life ; Native 90Hz display ; Wireless charging

Slippery without case