Pixel 7a vs 6a comparison: what are the differences?

• Google has just unveiled its new Pixel 7a
• The sale price of the smartphone barely exceeds the threshold of 500 €
• What is the overall proposition worth, and more importantly how does it compare to last year’s Pixel 6a?

The Google Pixel 7a is a smartphone that is ultimately quite close to the standard Pixel 7, in terms of its performance and features – all in a compact format. While the Pixel 6a was clearly positioned as a more affordable proposition in the Pixel 6 lineup.

We offer you a short comparison of the two models, exploring the differences in price, technical data sheet, autonomy as well as on the photo part.

Pixel 7a vs Pixel 6a: what’s the price difference?

The Pixel 7a is available today at a price of 509 euros in the 8/128 GB version. It can be found on the Google Store, but also at Fnac-Darty, Boulanger, Orange, SFR, Bouygues, Auchan, Carrefour, Cdiscount and Amazon in Charcoal, Ocean or Snow (even Coral, but it’s exclusive to the Google Store).

At this stage of its life cycle, the Pixel 6a can be found at various retailers for a price around 300 euros, or even less.

How do the Pixel 7a and Pixel 6a specs compare?

De facto, Google has already brought the technical data sheet of its “a” models closer to that of the current generation for several generations. But there is clearly a move upmarket this year. We are therefore not surprised to find the Tensor G2 chip on the latest model and the Tensor 1 chip on the 6a.

They are fast smartphones, with UFS 3.1 storage worthy of the most premium smartphones of 2023. In both cases, they have IP67 certification for waterproofing and dust resistance, and a compact casing made of premium materials. However, in almost a year, the performance of the Model A has never come so close to the classic model.

The screen, for example, is much better, with the 90Hz refresh rate delivering smoother animations. But we also find this appreciation on the side of the photo sensors which all make a huge leap forward, selfie included, or charging methods (the 7a has fast wireless charging 7.5W unlike the 6a).

How does the autonomy of the two smartphones compare?

On the one hand, the exact battery capacities are difficult to compare, but on the other hand, the device benefits from a better chip, more efficient from this point of view. And the autonomy is really excellent, up to two days according to our tests. The Pixel 6a meanwhile displayed at best a good day of autonomy before having to recharge.

The Pixel 7a also offers fast wireless charging (7.5W) for the first time. With wired charging, it takes 2 hours for a full charge and 46 minutes to reach 50%. Obviously wireless charging is slower, but it brings an additional practical feature.

How do the Google Pixel 7a and 6a stand out in the photo part?

© Lemon squeezer

On the hardware side, the Google Pixel 7a takes a big leap forward in the photo part compared to the 6a, in addition to the mastery of which Google’s reputation is well established in terms of computational photography.

We have a wide-angle lens with a 64 Mp sensor, combined with an ultra-wide-angle lens with a 13 Mp sensor. All with a 13 Mp selfie sensor. On the Google Pixel 6a we had a wide-angle lens (f / 1.7) with 12.2 Mp sensor and an ultra wide-angle lens with 12 Mp sensor supplemented by an 8 Mp selfie sensor.

However, we can qualify by pointing out that when it was released, the Pixel 6a was already a reference in photos in its price segment. The Pixel 7a is no exception, but at this already excellent level the difference in rendering is not huge either. With the exception, perhaps, of video calls thanks to the much better selfie sensor.

Conclusion: which smartphone to choose between the Google Pixel 6a and the Google Pixel 7a in 2023?

If only for the hardware and software support and access to the latest nice little tidbits like the 90Hz display, better cameras and wireless charging, we’d tend to consider the Google Pixel 7a is undoubtedly the smartphone that wins the game.

It is just as powerful and capable as a Pixel 7, all this in a compact format, and a premium case, all for a rather reasonable price of 509 euros. But of course, if you find it at a fairly low price, the Pixel 6a can still sparkle: it remains comparatively excellent in photos, remains very powerful thanks to its Tensor chip, all with decent autonomy.

Certainly, you will see a difference if you have the Pixel 6a and the Pixel 7a in your hands and compare them for a day. But the two smartphones can perform the same tasks with results that are ultimately quite close. It remains to be seen which one you prefer, and whether any of the new colorways will tip the scales…