Google Pixel 7a hands-on review

Conclusion

The Pixel 7a is a relatively compact, well-built phone with a high-quality display and a great set of cameras. The phone also has decent battery life and performance, along with a clean user interface that a lot of people appreciate. It also renders the more expensive Pixel 7 somewhat pointless.

The phone isn't without its flaws, however. The chunky bezel and 90Hz refresh rate seem a bit outdated even in this price range. The charging is one of the slowest we have come across in recent times even by Pixel standards. And the Tensor G2 is just not a particularly good chip.

Even taking all that into consideration, we still had a good time using the Pixel 7a. There is something very alluring about a relatively small, clean phone that isn't trying to be everything for everyone. It's simple, uncomplicated, and unpretentious. It's a phone you can recommend to people of all ages without specific needs and know they will be happy with it. To put things simply, the Pixel 7a is what we like to think of as the new default smartphone.

Pros

• Relatively compact size with good build
• Great display quality
• Clean software with guaranteed updates
• Great set of cameras
• Good battery life

Cons

• Very slow charging
• Thick bezels and 90Hz refresh rate feel outdated
• Tensor G2 is a lackluster chip and overheats easily