The Google Pixel 7a proves Apple can do a good job making a budget smartphone.

Google’s latest mid-range phone brings high-end features down to a reasonable price, including the firm’s top chip and class-leading camera.The Google Pixel 7a has the specs to go toe-to-toe with flagship phones at a low price point, and Apple’s iPhone SE has been left in the dust..

Not only does the Google 7a finally make the jump from 60Hz to a 90Hz like the regular Pixel 7, but huge camera upgrades with a sensor 72% larger than that of the Pixel 6a should see significant gains in the camera department, and there’s also the flagship Tensor G2 chipset on offer.

As the dust from Google I/O 2023 settles, comparisons between the new Pixel 7a and the existing Pixel 7 are rampant. There are only a handful of differences between the two phones, and since you’ll save $100 by choosing the Pixel 7a, it’s as close to a no-brainer as a smartphone purchase decision can get. But at $500, the new Pixel 7a slots into the midrange category just $70 above Apple’s latest iPhone SE, which might be an even more interesting comparison. The Pixel 7a has been criticized for its bezels, and by that metric, the third-generation iPhone SE looks like it’s lost in the wrong decade. So if Google could do it, why hasn’t Apple been able to create a competitive device in the budget smartphone category?

When it comes to its overall look, the Pixel 7a doesn’t look too dissimilar to the flagship Pixel 7 – great for the budget model, but not so much for the flagship. In fact, reviewer Max Parker claimed that he could barely tell the difference between it and the Pixel 7 when first getting it out of the box.

There are some key differences though. While both Pixels sport the same aesthetics as previous flagship Pixels, complete with a protruding camera bar on the rear and pastel colour options, the Pixel 7a sports a slightly smaller 6.1-inch panel compared to the 6.3-inch screen of the standard Pixel 7.

Release date

The Google Pixel 7a is available to pre-order right now, with the smartphone shipping from 11 May 2023.