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Even with a price rise the Pixel 7a can still be a bargain
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OPINION: Google products rarely get close to a release without every inch getting dissected in numerous leaks, and this week saw a load of new information about the company’s next slew of hardware.
While the highlight for most was likelythe deeper look at Google’s first foldable phone– the Pixel Fold really does look like the real deal – my eyesdarted straight to the reported price increasecoming to thePixel 7a.
The A series has long been Google’s more budget offering, taking many of the essential pieces of pricier products and shaving off some more ‘luxury’ additions. There have been A series earbuds without ANC, for example, and A series phones without high refresh rate screens and the like.
Consistently I have loved these cheaper Google products, especially thePixel 6awhich was one of my favourite small phones of 2022 and easily thebest camera phoneavailable at its low price.
So, the news that the Pixel 7a might come with a higher price is no doubt going to cause some concern. If the rumours are to be believed – and at this early stage everything should be taken with a hefty grain of salt – the phone will retail for $499 – a $50 bump from the original $449 price of the Pixel 6a.
In the UK, the 6a started at £399 – however when Google released thePixel 7it was priced at 599 both in £ and $, so there’s every chance the rumoured price rise could hit UK buyers further. A £499 Pixel 7a would be a far less tempting offer to many.
More features could equal better value overall
However, it does at least look like the Pixel 7a will come with a few extra tricks to make that price jump a little easier to swallow. One such trick is a 90Hz display, up from the 60Hz panel on the 6a, which will give the phone added zip when scrolling and gaming.
The slower display was one of my bigger criticisms of the Pixel 6a, especially when 60Hz panels, even on cheaper Android phones, were fairly scarce at the time it launched – and even more so now. I’ve always believed that high refresh rate displays don’t seem like an upgrade-worthy feature until you actually experience then, and then it becomes hard to go back.
Another rumoured upgrade is the addition of wireless Qi charging, a benefit previously reserved for the higher-end Pixels phones. Like the 90Hz refresh rate, I didn’t really see the need for wireless charging until I started using it – now it’s one of my favourite features.
Add to this rumours of an upgraded main camera and the sameTensor G2chipset that powers the high-end Pixel 7 Pro and the Pixel 7a doesn’t sound like a bad deal for $499.
For me however, the Pixel series is more about software than hardware and while other phones at this price point go harder on internals, none can compete with Google’s effort for pure software experience. Quick Android updates, a more tastefully designed UI and plenty of AI smarts thanks to Google Assistant are just some of the benefits from going with a Pixel.
The same leaks also claimed the Pixel 6a will stick around – and there arecountless excellent deals on this phone– so there will still be a true budget option in the Pixel range.
Yes, it’s a shame if the Pixel 7a comes in at price higher than the 6a, however these reported upgrades should make it worth it in the end.
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Max is the Editor of Trusted Reviews, and has been a mobile phone and technology specialist for over nine years. Max started his career at T3 straight after graduating from Kingston University. Max ha…
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Why trust our journalism?
Founded in 2003, Trusted Reviews exists to give our readers thorough, unbiased and independent advice on what to buy.
Today, we have millions of users a month from around the world, and assess more than 1,000 products a year.
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
