Pixel 7a vs. Pixel 7 vs. Pixel 7 Pro: Which Google Smartphone Is Best for You?

Now that the Pixel 7a has been released, it’s time to look at the three devices in the Pixel 7 line to note their differences. Each of the three phones shares a number of features, but the differences will help you decide which Pixel 7 phone is right for you.

Pixel 7 Prices

The price is the first and most obvious difference between the Pixel 7a, Pixel 7, and Pixel 7 Pro. The new Pixel 7a is the cheapest phone in the family, starting at $499. From there, the mid-level Pixel 7 goes for $599. The largest price gap exists between the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro, with the top-of-the-line model going for $899. (Last year’s Pixel 6a is still available for $349.)

Pixel 7a
(Credit: Eric Zeman)

The price might be the main deciding factor if you’re on a limited budget. Thankfully, all three phones are solid picks.

Pixel 7a, 7, and 7 Pro Specs

Despite the price differences, many of the phones’ underlying specs are surprisingly similar. First of all, each features Google’s homemade Tensor G2 processor, which includes a dedicated Titan M2 security coprocessor and fine-tuned algorithms to handle natural language processing and artificial intelligence tasks. Raw performance across the three phones was about equal in benchmarks.

The midrange Pixel 7
(Credit: Dave LeClair)

The only real difference between them here is the amount of memory available. The Pixel 7 and 7a both ship with 8GB while the Pro packs 12GB. This Pro’s larger allotment of memory gives it a bit of an edge when it comes to multitasking.

The more you spend, the more storage you get. The 7a is available only with 128GB of storage; the Pixel 7 is offered with either 128GB or 256GB; and the Pixel 7 Pro is available in 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB configurations. Cloud storage is available on all Pixel phones, so you can keep most of your stuff in the cloud, which makes storage less of a concern.

Pixel 7 Pro
(Credit: Dave LeClair)

Another key performance aspect to consider is battery life. We’ve had the chance to review all three phones and put the batteries through their paces by streaming a YouTube video over Wi-Fi with the screen brightness turned all the way up. The Pixel 7a lasted 13 hours and 25 minutes, the Pixel 7 lasted 12 hours and 10 minutes, and the Pro survived 10 hours and 50 minutes. If you want a phone that’ll last as long as possible, the cheaper Pixel 7a is for you.

Sizing Up the Pixel 7 Family

The screen is an important part of choosing a phone. After all, you’ll spend most of your time with the phone staring at the display. The Pixel 7a features a 6.1-inch display with a 2,400-by-1,080-pixel resolution and a pixel density of 429ppi. The Pixel 7 has a slightly larger screen at 6.3 inches, but it carries over the same resolution, making for a lower pixel density of 416ppi. The largest of the bunch, the 7 Pro features a 6.7-inch screen with a higher 3,120-by-1440-pixel resolution, giving it the highest pixel density at 512ppi.

The refresh rate is also important. Both the Pixel 7a and Pixel 7 feature 90Hz refresh rates, while the Pixel 7 Pro has a faster 120Hz refresh rate. The refresh rate mostly impacts scrolling behavior when navigating through apps and menus.

Pixel 7
(Credit: Dave LeClair)

All three phones feature a one-million-to-one contrast ratio, 24-bit color, and HDR. These give them the ability to play back high-quality media from the likes of Netflix and Disney+.

The screen size is directly proportional to the phone’s size. The Pixel 7a is the smallest of the three at 6.0 by 2.8 by 0.4 inches (HWD) and 6.8 ounces. The Pixel 7 measures 6.1 by 2.9 by 0.3 inches and 6.9 ounces. Finally, the Pro is the largest at 6.4 by 3.0 by 0.3 inches and 7.5 ounces.

Pixel 7 Phone Cameras Compared

Google emphasizes the cameras on its phones, but it’s not just about the hardware. Much of the Pixel camera magic comes from the software and features. In that respect, all three phones have the same computational photography and Google Photos tools at their disposal. That includes Magic Eraser, True Tone, Photo Unblur, and more.

Pixel 7 Pro cameras
(Credit: Dave LeClair)

Regarding the hardware, the Pixel 7a has a 64MP main sensor at f/1.9 and a 13MP ultrawide at f/2.2. Around the front, it comes with a 13MP selfie camera. The Pixel 7 includes a 50MP main sensor at f/1.85 and a 12MP ultrawide camera at f/2.2. It packs a 10.8MP selfie camera on the front. The Pixel 7 Pro has the best camera configuration. The main and ultrawide cameras are the same as the Pixel 7, but the Pro adds a 48MP, f/3.5 telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom. This last camera gives the 7 Pro incredible zoom powers that the 7a and 7 simply can’t match.

The Pixel 7 cameras
(Credit: Dave LeClair)

The overall quality of the Pixel cameras is great across the board. If the optical zoom is important to you, the Pixel 7 Pro is the way to go.

Which Should You Buy?

At the end of the day, budget, size, and cameras will be the biggest differentiators between the three phones. If you’re on a tight budget, the Pixel 7a is more than enough phone for most people. If you need the best cameras with the most zoom, get the Pixel 7 Pro.