by In recent years, Google Pixels have been one of the best phones you can buy. They are stylish, have excellent camera systems and pack innovative AI features that none of the other top Android phones can keep up with.
In October 2023, Google released the Pixel 8 and the Pixel 8 Pro. Today they are two of them Digital Spyyour favorite smartphones. However, while they’re slightly cheaper than rivals like Samsung’s top phones, and there are some pretty good Pixel 8 deals floating around, they’re still expensive gadgets.
Fortunately, Google has released a third device – the budget Google Pixel 8a. This latest model costs less than £500 but packs many of the same features as its flagship siblings.
But if you want to save as many pennies as possible, is it worth buying its predecessor instead, the Google Pixel 7a? Now that it has been replaced by a new handset, there are plenty of Pixel 7a deals that offer the previous generation handset for less than £400.
To answer that question, I tried both smartphones. Here you’ll find all my thoughts, comparing the Google Pixel 7a and the Google Pixel 8a across their design, display, camera, performance, software and battery life.
Google Pixel 7a vs Google Pixel 8a
Google Pixel 7a vs Google Pixel 8a: design and display
When you put the Google Pixel 7a and the Google Pixel 8a side by side, it’s pretty clear that they’re related, even though they have design differences.
Both have the Google logo on the back, the iconic camera bar that stretches across the entire width of the phone, and a 6.1-inch display on the front. One of the downsides of both handsets is the thickness of the bezels around the screen.
Shape and build are what set these two devices apart in terms of looks – the Google Pixel 7a is sharp and angular while the Google Pixel 8a has rounded corners, and the 7a’s glossy back has been replaced with matte plastic. The camera bar is slightly thicker than on the 7a, although it’s only noticeable when you have both phones in front of you like I did. Both screens are IP67 water and dust resistant and protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3.
You can buy them in several different colors: the 7a comes in sea blue, coral red, charcoal black and snow white, and the 8a comes in aloe green, bay blue, obsidian black and porcelain white.
Both phones have a 6.1-inch display with a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels, so they look as crisp and clear as each other. But the Pixel 8a OLED upgrades the 7a to Actua OLED, which means it gets much brighter (now up to 2,000 nits peak brightness where it was around 1,000nits before).
Additionally, the latest handset has an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120Hz, the Pixel 7a only went up to 90Hz, making the newer device smoother to scroll and slide on, so better
for certain activities such as mobile gaming.
Google Pixel 7a vs Google Pixel 8a: camera
Pixel 7a fans will be pleased to know that the Google Pixel 8a’s camera system hasn’t changed and there’s no need to when it’s the best snapper under £500. Both have a 64MP wide lens, a 13MP ultrawide camera and a 13MP front camera.
Part of what makes pixel cameras so impressive is the selection of pre- and post-capture software to enhance the look of your pictures. The software balances tones, boosts lighting and removes blur without any effort on your part. If you’re not completely happy with the final image, you can use tools like the Magic Eraser to change and reposition things or Best Take to put together a group shot so everyone looks their best.
I Digital SpyGoogle Pixel 7a review, we described how easy it is to get consistently good results no matter what kind of shot you take – whether that’s a portrait, a selfie or an ultrawide photo. Similarly, in the Google Pixel 8a review, I explained how you can get pleasing shots regardless of the lighting conditions simply by pointing and shooting.
Google Pixel 7a vs Google Pixel 8a: performance and software
Powering the operation, the Google Pixel 8a has an upgraded Tensor G3 processor under the hood, whereas the Pixel 7a uses the Tensor G2 chipset. Day-to-day that means the latest phone runs a little faster and will handle more demanding tasks a little better.
That being said, the two main chipsets inside a budget phone, perform better than the equivalents used in other affordable devices like the Samsung Galaxy A55, so I have no major complaints about the performance of either of them.
The Tensor chip was created to power all of Google’s AI features like Live Translate, Circle to Search and Call Filtering, and the recent upgrade should make them all run smoother than ever.
Not surprisingly there isn’t much to say about the differences in software. The Pixel 7a ships with Android 13 and the Pixel 8a with Android 14, but you can upgrade the former to the latest version of Google’s OS when you boot it up for the first time.
The biggest difference between the two is that the Pixel 7a will only receive updates until May 2026 whereas the Pixel 8a will receive new software and feature drops until May 2031. If you’re planning for your next handset to keep for a long time, that is something to consider.
Also, both offer all the same software and features, including Google’s built-in VPN, Clean Calls to improve the quality of your phone calls, and Digital Wellness features like app timers, the monochrome time mode sleep and Flip to Shh.
Google Pixel 7a vs Google Pixel 8a: battery
The Google Pixel 8a has a 4,492mAh battery, a slight increase over the 4,385mAh cell in the Pixel 7a.
I can confidently say that the Pixel 7a lasts all day, but this extra power ensures that the Pixel 8a lasts even longer, lasting longer into the evening as I scroll through social media, messages to flash, stream TikToks and snap photos.
Charging is limited to 18W on both handsets and both support wireless charging.
Google Pixel 7a vs Google Pixel 8a: verdict
Ultimately, the Google Pixel 7a and the Google Pixel 8a aren’t that different – the latest device makes small improvements and adjustments rather than reinventing the wheel.
The Pixel 8a has a refreshed design, an improved screen, an upgraded processor, a new 256GB storage option and a bigger battery. But I think the most significant change is that the Google Pixel 8a promises to last longer than the Google Pixel 7a before becoming outdated, thanks to seven years of software updates (four more more than the 7a offered).
As of this writing, you can still buy the Google Pixel 7a and it’s slightly cheaper than the Pixel 8a. Considering how long it will last, though, it’s worth spending the extra money on the latest model.
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