I/O 2023 Launching of the 499 Pixel 7A: Design, Features, and High-Refresh Display and Wireless Charging
Google’s latest value-focused Pixel smartphone is here. Today, at its I/O 2023 keynote, the company introduced the $499 Pixel 7A. In terms of design, it’s harder than ever to tell the “budget” A-series phone apart from the Pixel 7 released last fall. And amid heightened competition at the 7A’s price point, Google has added new features like a high-refresh display, wireless charging, and an upgraded camera.
The primary rear camera is moving away from the tried-and-true 12-megapixel sensor that the A-series has used for so long in favor of a newer 64MP module. Google says the sensor is 72 percent larger than what was in the 6A and can capture 44 percent more light. The long-exposure motion effects seen on thePixel 7 and 7 Pro are coming to the 7A, as well as the usual features such as Real Tone, Magic Eraser, Photo Unblur, etc. Night Sight is now twice as fast as it was on the 6A.
The 7A is the first budget Pixel to support wireless charging and can juice up at 7.5 watts when placed on a Pixel Stand or compatible Qi charger. You’re limited to 18-watt charging using the included USB-C cable.
Gorilla Glass 7a: How Bright is the OLED Screen when you walk in the Sun? No, but I’m glad you did!
The phone’s frame is made of recycled aluminum, and the back is a plastic composite that by no means feels cheap. It’s also one less place where you can break a glass if you drop the phone. The front is made with a product called Gorilla Glass 3 which isn’t as resistant to scratches and cracks as a newer version of the same product from Corning. One of the simplest ways to bring down the price of a device is by using older Gorilla Glass. Even if the back can’t crack as easily, it is worth getting a case. Dropping it in the pool won’t destroy it, because it’s rated for water and dust resistance.
The 6.1-inch OLED screen hasn’t shown any weaknesses, even when I stared at it while walking in full sun (not to mention 94-degree heat paired with disgusting levels of humidity) in Austin. Is it as bright as the A54 5G? No, but I rarely had to squint to read the display. The screen is out putting more frames per second than 60-Hz screens, which means that everything from playing games to scrolling is more fluid, as the 90-hertz refresh rate means everything is more fluid. It is a nice perk.
Source: https://www.wired.com/review/google-pixel-7a/
The Google Pixel 7A: a Foldable Android Phone with a Tablet-Size Display and a Low-Resolution Fingerprint Sensor
The bad news is that the Pixel 7A follows in the footsteps of the mediocre in-display fingerprint sensor that was found on the previous generation of the device. On my first day of use, I had to put my thumb on the sensor a few times for it to unlock. I still needed to be more conscious and deliberate about finger placement than I was on other phones, but it got better over time. It’s just not a great sensor.
Google is taking its first real stab at the ultra-premium smartphone market by making its first non-slab smartphone. The foldable phone, similar to the Z Fold line, unfolds from a phone-size screen to reveal a tablet-size display within.