Customer Ratings & Reviews

With the price of phones ever skyrocketing as the features and specs included continue to plateau, mid-range phones are an increasingly attractive prospect for all but the most extravagant of spenders. Keeping that in mind, the Google Pixel 7a is an excellent value proposition. Though it is, of course, a step down from the Pixel 7, the discounted price may be enough to offset the compromises buyers would be making and for those in the market for a mid-range versus high-end phone, the 7a is a no-brainer. Upon unboxing the phone, my first impressions are great. The packaging is minimal and there is no plastic, which is fantastic. Google seems to have leaned hard into angling towards sustainability in its approach with the 7a, as the 7a is also made of recycled materials. There is no power brick, which is unfortunate but not unexpected at this point, and there is very little in the box — a SIM card removal tool, USB-C to USB-A adapter, and a USB-C to USB-C cable sit under the Pixel 7a itself. The color I received was the charcoal color, an understated black that there is little to say about. The back is made of plastic instead of the glass seen in higher-end flagships, but to my delight, the phone doesn't feel cheap or plastic-y. Clean, sleek, and even stylish: the 7a manages to look quite sophisticated, lacking the speckled look that recycled tech products often seem to have. Other colorways include snow (white), sea (light blue), and coral (a vivid orangey pink, the same hue as seen in Google's Nest devices). Using the phone is, generally, quite pleasant. I tested it for over a week and was happy to see that there were few bugs or issues in day-to-day use, which was not my experience with older Pixel devices (my last one being with a Pixel 3). When I did experience bugs, they were relatively minor ones like the phone freezing while switching between apps. I had no issues with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectivity either and Google's VPN worked surprisingly well, even with apps and sites that I fully expected to run into issues with, such as Netflix or banking sites. That said, I would like to see more functionality added to the VPN service, such as options for changing server location, but having a VPN so readily available is surprisingly useful when on the go and connecting to public networks. Battery life is great and aided further by the Adaptive Battery feature. For power-hungry users, the Extreme Battery Saver mode will likely be a life-saver but I found that I got through the day safely without needing to top up and with juice to spare. The phone itself feels snappy and the OLED screen is vivid and does an incredible job of pushing the colors. The Smooth Display setting enables a 90Hz refresh rate which is a neat option to have in helping animations and scrolling feel more fluid and smooth, but it comes at the cost of battery drain and I found the 60Hz default more than adequate for everyday use. Vanilla Android is smooth and the lack of bloatware is a breath of fresh air. Pixel phones also are in a fortunate position when it comes to security and software updates, being poised to receive security updates for a guaranteed five years and likely to receive software updates for a longer period than other Android flagships might. Speaking of security, the biometric security on the 7a is also a little more expansive than on other mid-range devices; offering both face unlock and fingerprint unlock is a great boon, and both unlock the phone quickly when activated. One area where this phone is truly unique is Google's AI features. Note that some of the photo editing tools are rolled out to Google Photos, which means that they can be used on any device, including non-Google and even non-Android devices. Still, I found that the photo editing tools were largely hit or miss for me; magic eraser and camouflage were neat in theory but I couldn't see myself using them to do things like remove entire people from a landscape like in the example photos used online. What I found far more interesting were the Pixel-exclusive AI features like the call features, live translation, and live caption, which I truly do think could be game-changers for how people use their phones (with a bit of polishing). Other AI features seemed to range wildly in real-world applications; At A Glance, for example, was pretty practically useful, but I found the AI-suggested apps to be a miss. Another area where Pixel phones shine is in photography. The Pixel 7a is great at photos and videos, especially in daylight. The 7a does lack a telephoto lens, meaning it relies on digital zoom for magnification. This does unfortunately have an impact on photo quality, especially past the 2x and 4x magnification point, but beyond that, the 7a does generally live up to the Pixel reputation of fantastic cameras. Sadly, however, the 7a is not a perfect phone. Some issues are fairly minor and easy to overlook. The plastic back, while sleek and pretty to look at, is a fingerprint magnet. Within minutes of handling it, it already looked greasy and was coated in fingerprints. The phone itself is large and heavy, especially as a woman with smaller hands, being larger and heavier than even some flagships. I also found it slightly annoying that occasionally, for whatever reason, biometric unlock wouldn't work and I would still be required to input my pin, which I haven't experienced with other devices. The placement of the fingerprint scanner on the screen also seemed suboptimal for my preferences; having it on the power button makes it more natural to use, though with face unlock as an option it becomes less of an issue. Some issues might be enough to make a person in the market for a new phone look to the Pixel 7 instead. For instance, while the speakers are decent and, being stereo, have a good amount of balance, they have mediocre audio quality at best and come off as tinny, particularly when listening to music. This can be almost painfully tinny when the volume is maxed out. The screen also gets fairly bright indoors and accordingly, I found that adaptive brightness worked brilliantly in indoor settings, but outdoors the brightness was middling, and I wished that there was just a bit more brightness to make using the phone outdoors easier. Charging is also abysmally slow, taking around 2 hours to reach a full charge from 0%; this is mitigated in part by having such a decent battery life that you likely won't need fast charging anyways, but it is still worth noting. Other issues are not exactly pressing enough to make one turn away from the Pixel 7a nor easy to overlook. One such issue is the "Real Tone" feature, which purports to help capture the skin tones of people of color "beautifully and accurately." I am Asian with medium-tanned skin and found that the camera sometimes struggled to do so with my skin tone, especially in low light conditions and most notably when using the front-facing/selfie camera, where it lightened my skin. The selfie camera also seemed to make selfies come out "soft" despite turning off face retouching. After fiddling with settings for a half hour, I couldn't seem to figure out how to make it stop lightening my skin or softening my photos taken with the front camera. The frustration and irony in the well-intentioned Real Tone feature not being able to manage not lightening a person of color's skin were not lost on me and although I loved the photos taken with the back camera, I can't help but feel some bitterness that I cannot for the life of me get the front-facing camera to take a photo of me that looks like me on a device that's supposed to "beautifully and authentically" reflect people of color's skin tones. Another issue is that the 7a runs noticeably hot with even light to moderate use, like browsing the web or taking photos, which does make me worry about its overall health and the battery's longevity. It never gets scalding and I haven't seen a notification that the phone is overheating yet, but I do worry that with more intense use such as video calls this will become a more pressing concern. Ultimately, the 7a performs well as a mid-range contender. There is nothing it does horribly at, and even areas where it excels. When compared to a Pixel 7, there are few reasons to shell out more for the 7 when the 7a holds its own so well. The issues the 7a does have aren't dealbreakers and are acceptable compromises in this category, or can be addressed through software updates in the future. It is also significant to note that in daily usage, there were more positives than drawbacks and that using the 7a was a largely enjoyable experience. I highly recommend giving the 7a a try, especially for the more casually oriented shutterbugs among ye.

Overall This is such a great phone. I've been on the market in search for my next device after being an iOS user since the 5th generation and skipping everything after the 2nd itteration of the 10th. This certainly ticks a lot of boxes for me. It's smooth, fluid, and a responsive system with great features. The display quality alone is stunning and a big upgrade. Features The screen is one of the first things you'll notice powering this up. It's bright, vivid and very smooth from animations, app icons, or text on the display. The OLED helps bring this all together. Another area you'll quickly notice is the silky smooth front and back glass. Put a case on it ASAP as you'll realize it can actually get a little slippery from how smooth both sides are. Additionally, you'll want the case beacuase the body is a massive lint magnet. I don't know how many times I've reached into my pocket to pull my phone and see it covered in everything from particles of fabric from clothes, hair, and who knows what else. The 64MP rear camera makes your photography pop! Maybe not a welcome feature to everyone, but the camera is a blend of smart AI powered (as in point at something then click to shoot) and pro camera functionality such as EV and ISO range settings. During setup, the phone asks for a pin of 4 or more digits then prompts for a fingerprint. In security settings you can enable face unlock for an added option to opening your device. I've seen little to no issues with face unlock except for the occasional "not enough light" prompt. With fingerprint unlock, I've had the occasional "try again" untill it locks you out and forces a pin. I'm currently not certain if this is a limitation of the device or an isseue on my end. For transparancy, I've recently found myself in a situation that limits the sensation at the tips of my fingers. This makes pressing the screen, or pressing in a speecific way, somewhat challenging. Nevertheless, it would seem to be using the screen/digitizer as it creates a circle of light for your fingerprint to be read. According to Google, this gets up to 34 hours on a single charge. This is probably accurate as I am currently getting roughly 24hrs with moderate use. Messages, occasional browsing, an occasional call, and a game here and there. Wireless charging sweetens the deal. Performance I gave a few games a try and got very positive results. A variety from fps, rpg, clickers, racing, and rts. Everything gave between 30 to 60 fps. I've included some pictures but due to their orientation it was either to include game content or the fps counter. I ended dopting for content in most. While gaming, especially in settings with a lot of assets on screen, the phone can get fairly warm. Nothing to the extreme of being burned but still warm. It also offers some gesture actions, including tap to wake, double tap the rear glass for customizable actions, and camera shortcuts. At the end of the day, it's very smooth and nothing I've tried with it has caused it to slow down. Conclusion This is a fantastic phone. With an amazing display, wireless charging, nice aesthetics, long battery life, and a superb camera. And this is supposed to be the budget model? This sets a new bar for budget phones. This without a doubt is worth 5-stars.

The Google Pixel 7a is the new entry level pixel phone offered by Google made to enjoy the pure Android experience at a great price. Like all Pixel phones, the 7a runs the latest version of Android which currently is Android 13. Like its bigger siblings, 7 and 7 Pro, it’s powered by the Google Tensor G2 processor that can handle complex tasks. The 6.1-inch OLED display is smaller than the Pixel 7’s and supports up to 90Hz refresh rate that makes pictures and video look fluid and smooth. Setting up the phone was easy and quick. I used the eSIM card to get an immediate connection. From my experience with this phone, face recognition can only be used to unlock the phone. I have yet to encounter an app that I was able to open using that feature. For unlocking apps I use fingerprint unlock with the sensor placed behind the screen toward the bottom. It allows up to four fingers and the set up is simple. I recommend that you follow the directions and apply good pressure with your fingers when setting up for the first time. The Pixel 7A looks similar to its big brother Pixel 7, just a little smaller with a plastic back instead of glass. However the plastic has a great feel and provides a good grip. I really like the size of that phone; not too small, not too big. I have medium sized hands and it fits comfortably and the screen is big enough to use the keyboard with ease. One of the strengths of the Pixel 7a is its camera. I take all kinds of pictures for my job; buildings, parks and development areas, and people at meetings and while dining out. This entry level phone over delivers with quality and bright colors that challenge the best phone camera out there. It also has a number of software features that make it easy to take great photos, such as Night Sight, Long Exposure and Super Res Zoom among others. Everyday use, the battery lasts all day and I charge it wirelessly with the Pixel stand 2. I’ve been getting uneven charging speeds; they vary on a daily basis. Some days it’s super fast and some days the charging is sluggish. I did some research and this might be due because I opted for adaptive charging which varies the charging speed based on phone usage. For an entry level phone, the Pixel 7a has a number of premium software features that would only be available in high end phones. Features such as: Live Translate for translating text in real time. Hold for Me that can hold your calls while you're busy. Magic Eraser can remove unwanted objects from pictures. Motion Photos that captures short videos with every photo you take. Face Unblur can sharpen faces in blurry photos. The Pixel 7a is an impressive budget phone from Google that has so many high end features that it blurs the line between entry level and premium quality. For the price, it’s among the best Android phones in the market and I recommend it to anybody looking for a great smartphone with outstanding camera and overall functionality.

Bought Open Box phone sold as being in EXCELLENT condition. Drove 80 miles each way to pick it up. It had two scratches on it. Manager looked at it, agreed not in excellent condition. Geeks looked at it, said it works perfectly. What did the store do about it? NOTHING. Told me to call the corporate number. I then discovered the phones battery is TWO YEARS OLD and has been charged over 220 times. SOMEONE USED THIS PHONE FOR TWO YEARS AND BEST BUY REFURBISHED IT AND SOLD IT AS OPEN BOX IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. Corporate said I could return it.

I'm extremely impressed with this phone... at this price point, or at any price point. It has all the features of a typical halo device, but cells for less than half the competitor's halo devices. Let's break it down- excellent screen with a refresh rate of up to 90 hertz, tensor G2 custom chip that makes things like photo editing and translation smooth and fast, dual rear camera with Google's Super Res Zoom and long exposure option, Clear Calling that reduces background noise during phone calls, up to 3 days of battery life, IP67 water protection, wireless charging, 8GB of RAM, and VPN built-in, not to mention five years of updates compared to others manufacturers that provide only 2 years. Pictures from the 60 MP camera are phenomenal. Colors are accurate and not blown out like on some phones, and details are sharp. And if you take pictures with unwanted elements, it's super easy, and very impressive, to remove things with Magic Eraser. Battery life is true to the manufacturer's claim of 2 days (3 days on extreme power saving). If you are a power user and have high screen time, you should still be able to get a full day with plenty to spare. This is not just a phone where the manufacturer popped in a bunch of cheap features for the feature list. Everything is super high quality. Google describes this phone as, " priced just right". I would argue that is incorrect. This phone is UNDERPRICED for the top of the line features it provides. Premium, build and feel, at a price that is half it's competitors. For me, all things considered, this is probably the best phone currently available.

Loving it. I don't typically buy the latest and greatest or premium smartphones. My last phone purchase was a used Moto X4, when it was maybe 1-2 years old. I have been pretty happy with that, but as it hasn't been able to get updates in a long long time, I decided it was finally time to get something new. I also do not like big phones. I really liked the size of the X4. Like the size of my iPhone SE, which is shorter, even more. My criteria for an upgrade was something not much bigger, not so old it is not going to get any more updates, and I wanted to keep NFC, even though I don't really use it that much, for some reason I still believe I will. As this was only released 6 months ago and is a google phone, it met the update criteria. This is a little bit taller, and quite a bit thicker, than the X4 but smaller than most everything else it seems, and it has NFC. Couple that with with a black Friday deal and an open box to drop the price even more, and I decided now was as good a time as any to modernize a bit. I am really liking the phone. It is noticeably bulkier than my X4, mostly because of the thickness, but still very pocketable. Without the bevels top and bottom of the screen, it really also has a much much bigger screen. I also really like the wireless charging. This was not a requirement for me, as I have never had it before, but I really like it. So, this is really at my maximum size limit, but it is manageable. The phone is quick, has a great display. I was sad to finally give up my standard headphone jack that my X4 still had, but I have been making the transition to USB C and Bluetooth with other devices anyway, so I decided I could finally live with that. As I don't get new phones very often, my last phone was released 6 years ago, and I would still use it if I could get a factory update, I hope to get at least 5 years out of this one as well.

Poor delivery and response. Requested BB to deliver by 07/19 instead UPS tried to deliver on 07/17. No one was available hence it was delivered to ups access point location which is more than 10miles. Horrible and got very poor response. Additionally the box got completely damaged and worrying about the quality of the product now.

After one year of usage i found the battery bulge and feels like about to explode.. highly dont recommend to buy

First of all, I thought the A series of the Pixel phones are “low” tier. I am totally mistaken. Nothing is “low” about this phone. So this confused me—I was wondering how can a phone as good as this be priced well? Everything in this phone is great—the price tag, matched with what it has to offer, it’s a no-brainer. All praises on the software of this phone. Straight android is the real deal. Especially on the Pixel, the way the operating system makes the most out of the hardware, is probably what makes this perform like a flagship phone. I used to have the first Pixel and the Pixel 3, and this is already way faster and more advanced than any of those. Plus there are so many new features to the pixel—something I do not get on my entry-level office-issued phone. The Recorder—which is very useful to making notes out of my meetings (dude, it transcribes them and makes one speaking attendee distinct from another)—or Clear Calling which made my buddy’s voice clear even while he was in his laundry room!! There’s a lot more that I haven’t tried, but just those already impressed me. It is very snappy – it has the same processor as the regular Pixel. No questions about that—and the screen is fast as well. I go through my 1 million app scrolling and it does NOT hiccup when I scroll. No screen tears, or hiccup on the response (check out my attached screenshot)—oh it has a nice built-in screen recorder—that’s how I did that video. The screen is bright especially when placed all the way up. I did not worry much about battery life though, even though I usually like my screen maxed out in brightness--- this high performing phone lasts me a day and a half with 8% left before I need to charge. Oh and this one has wireless charging! I tried playing games on it too. Non-stop grind on one game, and it lasted me 5 hours STRAIGHT, full on brightness, started at maybe 95%. And while it was going, it was nice and impressively smooth! I swapped out my WAY more expensive primary phone for this. I am very convinced. Seriously, I think this phone is a steal.

Coming in with a 6.1-inch display, nearly 2 days of battery life with extended day-time use, a screen refresh rate that peaks @ 90 HZ, wireless charging and a system that is "pure" Android - the Pixel 7a is a phone that has a hard time convincing the owner or perspective owner that it is some kind of meager, entry level phone. I've toyed around with the Pixel 7 and I have to say this mobile device seems to be simply a little more polished version of that device. The display is amazingly bright, buttery smooth and looks fantastic in everyday use. Being a Google device, the bloatware is a below average compared to competing devices but functionality is all top-shelf and snappy. In my mind there really isn't one 'stand out' feature of this phone because it simply rocks strong equally across all facets. The FHD+ screen is well optimized for its size and the feel in one's hand is balanced and essentially perfect, the unit charges fast on a capable power brick and connectivity on both the T-Mobile & Verizon 5G networks is solid & reliable. Wi-Fi 6 performance is equally stellar. Google's powerful suite of photo tools may be the biggest highlight of this phone as the one standout feature that augments an already fantastic camera system - distancing this device from the competition. But in all honesty, everything this phone offers at the price-point is well evolved. At list price the Google Pixel 7a is a tremendous value and any sale price is simply going to be icing on the cake. If you're looking for a cost-effective phone on a budget but want the look, feel and performance of a MUCH more premium device … look no further. Highly Recommended!

Terrible, not eve 1 year and the battery was huge as a bubble and today my screen broke in pieces because of it.

There was a time when Google would release a phone called the Google Nexus. I used to be a big fan of them. Firstly, because it came with stock android OS and they were very affordable and usually had decent performing hardware. I used to pretty much upgrade to the newest one every year. Fast forward to 2023, and Google now has the Pixel A line. I like to think of it as the Google Nexus. This years version is called the Pixel 7a. It is very affordable (compared to most flagships these days.) It has stock android OS, and comes with all of Google's very helpful Assistant / Ai software. It also feels pretty premium. I believe the back is plastic, but it feels like glass. It has Googles Tensor G2 chip (the latest I believe) and 128GB of storage! I was pleasantly surprised with the build quality. It definitely feels like a like a premium phone. All for a great affordable price . The OLED screen, is vibrant in my opinion. It is just bright enough for outdoor use on a bright sunny day. I wish it was just a tad brighter, but it is fine. It is lightweight, has a classy modern design and is comfortable for one handed use. One thing I feel like I should mention is, I would recommend that you put a screen protector on as soon as you take it out of the box. Ive been carrying it around in my pocket every day, while I wait for the screen protector to come in and it already has a fine hairline scratch on the glass :( Battery life has been really good. I'm averaging 24+ hours before I plug it in to charge. Even so, It hasn't really dipped below 25% on me. That was even after a day out of shooting photos and videos to test the camera. I can see this phone easily lasting a full day for heavy users and probably 2+ days for light users. The pixel line is known for having great cameras with amazing smart software in the camera and Google Photos app. The Pixel 7a does not disappoint. I really enjoy taking photos and videos with this phone. It's cool to see Google Photos work its magic. It has a really neat feature called "recommended shot". The camera app takes a burst of photos when you take a photo. Then it will sometimes recommend a shot from the burst thet it thinks makes for a more interesting photo! Or because your photo might have been blurry or a bad angle / face turned away. It will also recommend Frame grabs to make a photo taken from a video you record with the camera. The Google Photos app has some really cool tricks up its sleeves, that I believe are exclusive to the Google Pixel phone. To me, this is the most important / deciding factor for me about the Google Pixel line. I love being able to have a smartphone in my pocket that will reliably take a beautiful photo for me. All while doing most of the work for me when it comes to editing and organizing my photos in the cloud. It is hands down the best and most helpful software that Google has created. Speaking of Ai and Assistants.. The Pixel 7a seems to have most of the software tricks that its more expensive phones in the Pixel line have. Call screening, voice recorder, live translation and captions are available to use on the 7a. The google assistant is very accurate and reliable for understanding my commands / voice and providing the info I was looking for instantly. I've had this phone in my hands for about 5 days and I am still finding new software tricks with this phone. My only complaints about the 7a are that I wish it took better video. The photos this phone puts out are very good. But the video quality leaves a bit to be desired. There was some noise even at the widest angle. Low light footage isn't very good, even on an overcast day.. You pretty much need perfect light to take a good looking video with this phone. My only other complaint is that even though the phone has Googles newest processor.. and a high refresh rate screen. Some apps still seem to stutter / lag visibly. I don't know if it's a hardware issue or a software / android problem. I was expecting most games and apps to run flawlessly. All in all, would I recommend this phone? If you don't want to spend a fortune and want the best of Google's hardware and software.. I would highly recommend this phone. This phone will only get better with software updates from Google. Google's long list of features and functions that Google's Ai / Assistant offer is well worth the price of entry with this phone. I love this phone, it makes my busy life a bit easier to navigate. Thank you Google!

I don’t think I can necessarily convince an Apple user to convert to Android based on the Pixel 7a, but if you are on the fence, or are already an Android user looking to upgrade your phone, you have to consider this phone. It gives you exactly all you need in a phone at a reasonable price. It also bucks the trend of phones getting even larger. It’s nice to have a great phone that’s reasonably sized. I think it pertinent to mention that I’m a long time Pixel user that converted to a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3. After the “wow” factor of having a foldable phone wore off, I regretted not staying with Pixel. So, a lot of my comparisons to “other phones” directly relates to my ownership of the Z Fold 3. DESIGN While I’ve only seen photos of the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro, the Pixel 7a’s design looks strikingly similar and that’s not a bad thing. The back is made of plastic that looks great (it feels smooth like glass). The brushed metal sides look and feel good to hold. It doesn’t feel “cheap” or “plasticky.” But that’s less of a concern since most of us use cases. The only thing that really stands out immediately is the bezels and the “lip” on the sides of the display. The bezels are not big by any stretch, but I guess by 2023 standards they are. They are nothing to be concerned about. The “lip” I mentioned isn’t really a lip but a gap in between the screen and the edge of the phone. The bar on the backside is obviously not flush with the phone, but it doesn’t seem to protrude nearly as much as the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro (or Apple’s camera bump). Only concern for me with the design of the phone is that it feels slippery. I also wish the power button and volume rocker was higher up along the right side of the phone. But I have bigger hands and my thumb naturally rests above the volume buttons, I wish they were higher. But it’s minor. FEATURES (that matter) I won't reference every single thing this phone can do, instead focusing on the selling points, why I love this phone. Cameras. Pixels have developed a reputation for great photos and the ease of taking photos. I'm super impressed with the photo quality, especially the ability to point and shoot. Yes, it lacks high end zoom, but let's be honest 100x space zoom in Galaxy phones is mostly a gimmick. If you need to take a photo, you can pull the Pixel 7a out and take a quick photo that will 9+ times out of 10 will deliver a phenomenal photo. The night sight has gotten even better, both in processing speed and quality and is a true joy to use. Bottom line, as far as phone cameras go, this is all you need. Google assistant. Even if you aren't deeply invested in the Google ecosystem, the integration to Google services is unmatched. Obviously Google synced well with Galaxy phones but even with my Z Fold 3 I found little annoyances that don't exist with Pixel 7a, like Google assistant accuracy and responsiveness. This includes Google password manager which is unbelievably helpful, in ways you don't realize until you don't have it. Translation, transcription, recorder. You may not be one to use these types of features but when you realize how accurate they are on Pixel phones you realize how helpful they can be. It's more than something reserved for journalists. These features are baked into the software and take full advantage of the Google silicon. Call screening and call waiting. With the influx of spam calls nowadays, being able to screen them is a huge boon. Same goes for being in hold, you put your phone down and then you'll get notified when a real person answers on the other side. Screen. The resolution is great. It’s less pixels than other phones, but when you factor in the smaller screen the pixel density increases. Everything looks sharp and crisp. While I generally keep my screen brightness down to save battery, when outside you can turn it all the way up and still be able to see what’s on the screen. While I can’t comment on the brightness compared to other phones specifically, anecdotally, it was perfectly fine out in the bright sunshine. Bottom line is that brightness and clarity are not issues. SOFTWARE Again, coming from a Galaxy phone, a huge perk with the Pixel 7a is the clean UI, and minimal apps. Samsung forces it's versions of the same Google apps you already use on you, and end up just clogging your phone with apps doing the same thing. But more than that, the software is just dang helpful. I don't think enough people talk about that. It takes a few days to get everything right, and you will get lots of notifications early on, but they are helpful one time suggestions to help you stay organized. For example, do not disturb hours. This is big for me as I'm constantly getting pinged with emails and other notifications. Pixel 7a asks to set up focused hours which of course focuses you to think about, but if you're like me and constantly distracted by dings you can create a schedule of focus time - all the while leaving important apps to still notify you (say texts). The at the glance on the home screen is also incredibly useful. It tracks your usage, monitors your calendar and puts helpful information front and center like calendar appointments, drive times, and the weather. The phone adapts to your usage and provides helpful cues. Again, it takes a little time to learn your habits but after a little while it really feels like your phone is an actual assistant. DOWNSIDE - battery life; fingerprint sensor finicky While I love this phone, it still is lacking. Some things can be looked past given the price, but first and foremost - battery life. My Z Fold 3 barely lasted a day. That was to be expected given the dual screens. My Pixel 7a is not even better. I'm getting to 30 percent by early afternoon and I get anxiety and plug my phone in. I was fully expecting true 24 hour battery life. Yes, there's extreme battery saver, but I want my phone to last 24 hours while using it to it's fullest. Now some people's mileage varies. I consider myself in between a power user and light user. A lot also depends on apps and the draining of power in the background. I also admit that it's possible the battery life gets better as the phone adjusts to my usage and I get rid of unnecessary apps, but I've been unimpressed so far. There’s 3 primary ways as I see it to unlock your phone, fingerprint, face unlock and PIN. The PIN method is self-explanatory. Face unlock is easy to setup, but really only works with a lot of light (i.e. doesn’t work at night). Then there’s the fingerprint reader. My Z Fold 3 had a fingerprint reader on the power button which worked great; this is my first experience with an under screen fingerprint sensor. It was very much hit and miss. It works great, then it doesn’t Sometimes during the day, I think it works but it was actually unlocked by the face unlock feature. It doesn’t happen so much as to really be problematic, but it definitely happens enough to feel annoying. And while I like the design, including the look and feel, the phone is definitely slippery. I mean that in the sense that it feels like it's easy to drop. I wish it had some more grip. Although this is less of a problem if you have a case. CONCLUSION Phones are deeply personal to each of us. They contain so much of our lives. We've also never had so many choices (at least on the Android side). And in the world of $1000 phones, the Pixel 7a, despite it's battery life, is a home run. It's well prices and you will feel like your sacrificing nothing in terms of performance. Especially in the world of photos where the Pixel line match up with, if not exceed, the quality of the competition. The usefulness of this phone can not be understated. When taking full advantage of it's thoughtful and helpful features, you're left with a phone that's a true digital assistant.

Phones have come along way since the last time I was using an Android phone. The last several years I have been using an iPhone as it made my job easier, but I have always liked and appreciated Android and all the features they bring to smartphones. Now since I have been fully entrenched in the other ecosystem I have not really kept up with everything going on with Android, but when I had the opportunity to go back I was excited to get a chance to see what android has now. My first thought was wow this is an entry level phone the quality has gone up tremendously. I would say for most people these phones are perfect they have everything they need and they run great. No more of the days where you are giving up performance with price everything you need done this phone can handle and even has some features you don’t see by the other guys at this price. My only cons with the phone is it’s a bit bulkier than I typically like, it can get a bit warm when you do some moderate use and the screen brightness is not great when outside. The pros definitely outwiegh any cons for this phone. The screen is great especially once you turn on the 90hz mode and having the same chip the high end pixels have definitely shows in the performance and how quick everything responds. Overall if you want a phone that can do it all that wont break the bank this is it. The performance on the phone is great and can do everything you want.

The Pixel 7a has been a delightful companion for me. Its compact size fits perfectly in my hand, and the clean Android interface is a breath of fresh air. The camera consistently impresses with its quality, capturing vibrant photos effortlessly. Performance-wise, it handles everything I throw at it without breaking a sweat, and the battery easily lasts me through a day of use.

I wouldn't use the features of a current flagship phone, but I do require good cameras, NFC, and prefer pure android. I had a 6.7" display and the smaller display on this phone is perfectly fine. Functions are quite fast. Meets all my needs. I don't go any days without charging though. Wireless charging makes this less of a problem. Google tutorials and web support are first rate.

I recently upgraded to the Google Pixel 7a 5G, and it's been a game-changer. The phone's performance is incredibly smooth thanks to its powerful processor and 128GB of storage, which allows me to store all my apps, photos, and videos without worry. The 6.2-inch OLED display is stunning, offering vibrant colors and sharp details. The 5G connectivity ensures I can browse the web, stream videos, and download content at lightning speed. The battery life is impressive, easily lasting me through a full day of heavy use. The camera system is where the Pixel truly shines. The photos are nothing short of amazing, with crisp details and true-to-life colors. The night mode is particularly impressive, capturing clear and bright photos even in low-light conditions. Overall, the Google Pixel 7a 5G is a fantastic phone that combines powerful performance with a top-notch camera and sleek design. It's definitely worth considering if you're looking for a premium Android experience.

I've been using this phone daily since my purchase. I've never felt it warm up while I played any games or roamed for cell service. The speakers are decent, the screen looks vibrant and the G2 processor feels powerful enough for everyday use. Google says they will provide this 3 years or so of updates, and I think the phone will last that long. The only issues I have with it are that Google's Pixel OS won't allow me to use external drives without at least plugging it into a computer, and then my Pixel can often bug out while I'm transferring files to and from my phone from that PC. Also, the Pixel does not support HDMI out by default, because you need to own a Chromecast. For these reasons, I might by a Samsung when it comes time to upgrade again, because my S20 FE didn't have these problems.

I gave a impressive 5-star rating, because the Google Pixel 7a is a clear standout among smartphones. Starting with its amazing camera system that constantly produces jaw-dropping images and films, this device epitomizes brilliance in every way. Its strong hardware and Google's optimized software combine to provide a seamless performance that guarantees quick access to tasks and applications. The Pixel 7a redefines user expectations with its remarkable battery life, which comfortably lasts through a full day of use, combined with a gorgeous build that radiates toughness and beauty. With vivid images and crisp details, its immersive display enhances the experience even more. The Pixel 7a is a clear choice for anyone looking for top-tier performance, remarkable photography, and a premium experience because of Google's unwavering dedication to innovation and quality.

I recently purchased the Google Pixel 7a from Best Buy, and I'm thoroughly impressed. The phone offers fantastic value for its price. The performance, powered by the Tensor G2 chip, is smooth and efficient, making multitasking a breeze. The 64MP camera is a standout feature, capturing sharp and vibrant photos even in low light. The 6.1-inch OLED display provides a crisp and enjoyable viewing experience. Battery life is reliable, lasting me through a full day of heavy use. Additionally, the clean Android interface and timely updates are a big plus. Overall, the Pixel 7a is a top-notch choice for anyone looking for a high-quality mid-range smartphone.