In 2022,
The Pixel 7a’s Tensor G2 SoC enables features such as Long Exposure mode
What I did notice while capturing photos and videos outdoors is how quickly the Pixel 7a heats up. This increases quickly when using the more processor intensive camera modes like Portrait mode or Long Exposure. On several such occasions, when switching to video mode to record 4K videos, I did get a pop-up notification stating that the device is too hot and that video quality may be reduced, but the camera app did not close. I also had background photo back-ups disabled when reviewing it, so clearly that did not contribute to the heating.
Thankfully, the Google Pixel 7a’s imaging chops are quite capable. To give you an idea about the 7a’s camera improvements, I have included some comparison samples with last year’s Pixel 6a.
Google Pixel 7a vs Pixel 6a daylight camera samples (tap to see full size)
Daylight imaging quality is quite impressive. The new cameras and processor bring improvements in dynamic range and overall details. These are initially hard to spot unless you “pixel” peep, but a majority of photos taken with the Pixel 7a mange to capture those extra textures that are either missing or appear soft in photos taken with a Pixel 6a. The Pixel 7a also ends up delivering more accurate colour tones overall. There’s no macro mode like on the Pixel 7 Pro, but I managed to get some close-ups which appeared almost identical on both devices.
The new ultra-wide camera offers a noticeably wider field of view compared to the older one. There’s noticeable barrel distortion along with purple fringing, but these are still one of the best ultra-wide photos you can get on a smartphone at this price point.
Google Pixel 7a vs Pixel 6a portrait selfie camera samples (tap to see full size)
Selfies from the Google Pixel 7a in daylight came out a bit soft and showed less detail compared to the selfies from the Pixel 6a. The new 13-megapixel selfie camera also has a much tighter frame when shooting selfies, which makes it hard to include more than two subjects in the frame, unless you have very long hands. In low light, the Pixel 6a managed better selfies than the 7a, which was a little surprising.
Google Pixel 7a vs Pixel 6a low-light camera samples (tap to see full size)
Shooting with the rear cameras in low light was a much better experience on the Pixel 7a. The Tensor G2 processor makes it far more capable for capturing sharper images of moving kids or pets (subjects that never stay still). When using the dedicated Night Sight mode, the Pixel 7a manages sharper and more blur-free photos of moving subjects or objects in any given scene. The level of detail is similar with both the 6a and 7a, but colours are better on the latter. In more dimly-lit scenes, the Pixel 7a comes out of top offering slightly better detail and sharpness. The ultra-wide camera captures decent quality images in low light when used with the Night Sight shooting mode, but showcased a lot of crushed blacks in the shadows.
The Pixel 7a’s digital zoom manages superior images in all types of lighting conditions thanks to the larger sensor and Super Res Zoom technology
While Google’s Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro models fared a lot better, the Pixel 7a does not pack certain camera hardware such as the multi-directional PDAF, laser autofocus, and more. It also lacks HDR10 recording capability, which is possible on the Pixel 7. Regardless, 4K 30fps video recording on the Pixel 7a had good details in daylight but showcased purple fringing in the bright spots. 4K 60fps video looked a lot better in comparison with a steady framerate. In low light, the Pixel 7a managed better quality video with a lot less noise than the Pixel 6a, when recording at 4K 30fps and 60fps.
Verdict
From the various upgrades the Google Pixel 7a has received, the selfie camera and reduced battery life seem to be the only main compromises. The Pixel 7a is finally on par with the competition thanks to the Tensor G2 SoC and comes with a clean Android 13 interface which cannot be matched at this price point. In more ways than one, it’s definitely a worthy upgrade even for those using a Pixel 6a (Review).
If you are looking for faster charging, then the OnePlus 11R 5G (Review) is a much better choice with better battery back up and 100W wired charging at your disposal, but it lacks wireless charging and an IP rating. This makes the Pixel 7a a very unique offering as it offers good value and a very unique set of features at Rs. 43,999, which includes very capable cameras.
Its only real competitor is the Pixel 7 (Review) which is currently priced at Rs. 55,999, which offers a bit more polish when it comes to design and build quality, more capable camera hardware, and reliable battery life. For power users, these things would matter and spending that premium over the 7a might be worth it for some.
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