Pixel 7a vs Pixel 6a5 new features in Google’s latest 5G smartphone

By Aman RashidAfter much hype and anticipation, the Google Pixel 7a is finally official in India. Long rumoured to be launched at Google I/O, the company finally took the wraps off their latest 5G smartphone at their annual conference. The phone is priced at Rs 43,999 and I am sure, Android purists in India, and around the world can’t wait enough to get their hands on Google’s brand-new offering. And why shouldn’t the people be excited? In fact, if the sales and interest around the Pixel 6a is any indication from the past 12 months, Google might just have another winner up their sleeves.

Of course, I will be reserving my final judgements about the Pixel 7a until I use the phone thoroughly. That said, the Pixel 7a does come with a bunch of new stuff that makes it a worthwhile upgrade over the Pixel 6a. In this article, we give you 5 new features of the Pixel 7a over the outgoing Pixel 6a.

1. 90Hz screen refresh rate

Almost all phones in recent memory above Rs 30,000 in India offer a 120Hz screen refresh rate. If not 120Hz, then at least there is a 90Hz refresh rate. However, when the Pixel 6a launched at a price of Rs 43,999, it had a lot going for it, including a good AMOLED screen. But, the screen refresh rate was only 60Hz. This changes with the Pixel 7a, as Google has equipped their latest offering with a 90Hz AMOLED panel, sourced from Samsung. And I know, for its current price tag, a 120Hz screen makes more sense. But for its worth, the 90Hz AMOLED is a step in the right direction, and finally, we can expect to see a fast and smooth user experience on a Pixel A-series smartphone.

2. 64MP upgraded camera hardware

The camera performance of the Google Pixel 6a is exceptional, placing it among the rare mid-range phones that can rival premium flagship smartphones in camera quality. However, it’s worth noting that the primary rear camera of the Pixel 6a uses an older Sony IMX363 sensor, which Google enhances with its software wizardry to achieve stunning results. But imagine if the hardware received an upgrade. Well, that’s precisely what Google has done with the Pixel 7a.

For starters, the Pixel 7a maintains its predecessor’s dual-rear camera system, but the main rear camera is a new 64MP Sony IMX787 sensor – a much-needed improvement over the IMX363. This is paired with a new 13MP Sony IMX712 sensor, i.e. the ultra-wide-angle snapper. Additionally, the front has also received an upgrade in the form of a new 13MP selfie snapper. Now, combine this with Google’s software finesse, and the Pixel 7a could potentially become the next champion of mid-range camera phones.

3. Tensor G2 chipset

One of the most interesting additions to the Google Pixel 7a is its chipset — Tensor G2. By the way, this is the same chip that also powers the Pixel 7 Duo. Now, while the Pixel 6a was a great phone, one of the things that it was criticised for was its tendency to overheat, courtesy of the Tensor chipset. However, this problem might get resolved with the Tensor G2 chip inside the Pixel 7a, as evidenced by the Pixel 7 duo. Additionally, while the CPU performance of the Tensor G2 is comparable to that of the Tensor chip in real-world scenarios, the newer chipset boasts a superior GPU, promising better gaming performance and overall efficiency in graphics-heavy tasks.

4. More RAM

While it was long rumoured that the Pixel 7a will be boasting more RAM than what we get on the Pixel 6a, Google finally brought the much-needed change to their latest offering. Along with being powered by the Tensor G2 chipset, the Pixel 7a finally gets the RAM upgrade, as the phone features 8GB coupled with 128GB in-built storage. And did you notice, this way, the internal hardware, i.e. the SoC, RAM and storage is exactly the same as the Pixel 7? The good thing is that you don’t need to pay as much as the Pixel 7.

5. Wireless charging

One other rumoured feature of the Pixel 7a that has come true and was not available on the Pixel 6a is wireless charging. Now, when I say wireless charging, don’t expect fast wireless charging here. In fact, rumours had suggested that the Pixel 7a will get wireless charging which will most likely be 5W. And while I don’t have the exact confirmation on the exact wattage, what I can say is that it is nonetheless a feature that should be available on a phone that costs upwards of Rs 40,000, and good that Google has added it to their latest offering. With that, if you decide to get the Pixel 7a, be rest assured that you don’t have to get in the hassle of wired charging if that’s not your thing as the smartphone is compatible with Qi-certified wireless charger.