Google is finally listening to its users, and they have packed a ton of cool features into this phone. Now Pixel 7a costs $500 compared to iPhone 14 $800, so there is a significant price difference. However, I think you guys will be surprised. Right away, I like this size. The screens on these phones are the same, but holding it in the hand feels really comfortable. Let’s compare it to the iPhone, which has these flat edges. The iPhone actually feels thicker compared to this subtle curve.
Specs
| Google Pixel 7A | iPhone 14 |
|---|---|
| Display: 6.1″ FHD+[14] – up to 90Hz[15]. | Display: 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR Display. |
| Camera: 64 MP wide – 13 MP ultrawide[16] -13 MP front camera. Super Res Zoom[15] up to 8x – Real Tone. | Camera: 12MP Main, 12MP Ultrawide with 12MP TrueDepth front camera. |
| Battery: 24-hour battery[18] – Wireless charging[19]. | Battery: Up to 20 hours Video playback (streamed): Up to 16 hours Audio playback: Up to 80 hours 20W adapter or higher. |
| Processor: Google Tensor G2 processor. | Processor: Apple A15 Bionic |
| Storage and Ram: 128 GB Internal Storage with 8GB Ram. | Storage and Ram: 128GB with 8GB Ram |
| Operating System: Android 13.0 | Operating System: IOS |
| Cellular Technology: 5G | Cellular Technology: 5G |
| Price: $499 Get AT AMAZON | Price: $800 Get AT Apple |
Read Also: Top 15 Best Mid-Range Phones 2023: Review Starting $300
Design
As for the design, let me know which one you think looks better, but I will say that Google did a great job. The previous Pixel A series phones felt kind of cheap, but this one feels ultra-premium. I like how the camera bump is color-matched to the phone, and the glass on the back curves into the frame, similar to the upcoming iPhone 15 Pro. However, I do think that the iPhone’s camera bump looks better.
Display
The Pixel 7a has an under-display fingerprint reader, which is really nice for a budget device. Of course, the iPhone has Face ID, which I think is a little quicker, and I do prefer it. As for the screen detail, they both look excellent with a very similar resolution. However, the Pixel actually has a 90Hz display compared to the iPhone’s 60Hz, so you guys can see that it is smoother.
Now, what I’m curious about is the brightness, as that’s an area where companies can save some money. The difference in top camera is probably blown out. The iPhone has a much brighter display, at least indoors. In the sun, the Pixel kicks up its brightness, getting close to the iPhone, so it seems like they are limiting it for the purpose of battery life. Now, in terms of HDR video, the iPhone outperforms the Pixel, with much brighter highlights that really pop, and the shadows also have more detail. It looks a lot better.
Speaker
When you’re actually watching and listening to something, the iPhone is louder and sounds better in every single way. So, sorry Pixel, you cannot compete.
Geekbench 6 CPU
Now, the base iPhone, for the first time, has six gigs of RAM, but the budget Pixel has eight. It also has the same Snapdragon 7 Pro processor, whereas the iPhone has the A15 Bionic. Let’s run the new Geekbench 6 and see how they compare. Look at that! That is a massive difference. We have a 63 percent difference in terms of single-core performance and a 70 percent difference in terms of multi-core performance. And this is last year’s processor. Now, with that said, the smoothness on the Pixel is just fine; it can handle everything. However, if you’re planning to keep it for many years, that’s where you might face issues.
So, I have 3DMark open right here, set to the unlimited mode so that the resolution is the same. Let’s see the difference, and look at that! Once again, we have a difference of nearly 70 percent. So, if you’re a gamer, the Pixel 7A isn’t really a good choice for you.
Browsing
Let’s open up the YouTube app at the same time and load it. The iPhone is just slightly faster, not by much. And how about web browsing? I have Speedometer 2.0 right here, which not only tests web browsing but also loading up JavaScript and a bunch of other tasks. The iPhone is done; it literally did that in less than half the time. Wow, my goodness! I was not expecting that. We have 351 runs per minute compared to 96.4, so the iPhone is more than three and a half times faster. It is definitely snappier than the Pixel.
Software
The Pixel does have some cool software features that you won’t get on the iPhone. So, Google is definitely optimizing for the software experience. On the other hand, the iPhone has satellite connectivity, so even if you’re in the middle of nowhere, you can have a connection and be safe in emergency situations
Battery Life
Now, as far as the battery life, the Pixel 7A has a battery that’s about 30 percent larger than the iPhone, which is awesome. However, with that, the Pixel’s display has a fixed 90Hz refresh rate, unlike the variable refresh rate on the iPhone. In the real world, the iPhone will actually perform slightly better in terms of battery life. Additionally, it’s surprising that the iPhone supports faster charging, with up to 26 watts, while the Pixel is limited to 18 watts. The Pixel, for the first time, has built-in wireless charging, but it’s capped at 7.5 watts, compared to the up to 15 watts with MagSafe charging on the iPhone.
Camera Comparison
As for cameras, Google made a big deal about the Pixel’s new 64-megapixel sensor compared to 12 on the iPhone. Surprisingly, the iPhone looks like it has more detail, thanks to its deep Fusion stacking. However, what’s really going to help is for zoom shots. I have a zoom shot right here, and both of them look terrible in zoomed mode. While I can’t actually see the address clearly here, I can’t on the Pixel either. I thought that 64 megapixels cropped in would look a lot better than 12. I am honestly shocked about this. Now, for the ultra-wide camera, both are 12 megapixels. The iPhone looks moody, but if we zoom in here, you can see that the Pixel definitely looks nicer. And for our last shot, we have this portrait selfie of me. The Pixel looks a little nicer with more contrast, but the background is more blown out. The iPhone definitely looks more detailed.
Which Phone is Better?
So, with all of that said, does the Pixel destroy the iPhone? Well, I thought it would outperform it, but after looking at everything, the iPhone is clearly the winner in terms of hardware. The Pixel does have a couple of things that are better, but the difference wasn’t as significant as I expected. However, with that said, it’s still a great phone. This thing costs $500 compared to $800, and the build quality and feel are fantastic for a phone in this price range.
