Pixel 7a: New Google phone is a slap in the face for Apple

Expensive, getting more expensive: Many smartphone manufacturers are happily turning the price screw. But it can be different: Google proves with the Pixel 7a how good a smartphone for $500 can be. This is especially evident when comparing it with Apple’s iPhones.

In terms of pure hardware comparison, Apple’s iPhones have always performed poorly. However, the true extent of how poor the price-performance ratio is with the cult manufacturer is demonstrated by the $500 comparison with Google.

For $500, the US company now offers the Pixel 7a. Only slightly more expensive is the iPhone SE, which Apple sells for $500. Despite the lower price, the Google phone surpasses the iPhone SE (2022) in almost every aspect. This is evident especially in four points.

Pixel 7a beats iPhone SE (2022) in terms of display, camera, battery, and storage.

Display: The Pixel 7a not only features a larger 6.1-inch OLED screen but also has a higher resolution (2,400 x 1,080 pixels) and a 90 Hz refresh rate, making the operation much smoother. In contrast, the iPhone SE (2022) has a smaller 4.7-inch LED display with lower resolution and only 60 Hz.

Camera: The Pixel 7a is equipped with a dual-camera setup, combining a 64 MP main camera with a 13 MP ultra-wide-angle sensor. In the camera comparison by DxOMark, it scores 133 points, surpassing even more expensive smartphones like the iPhone 14 Plus or Galaxy S23 Plus. The iPhone SE (2022), with its single camera, only scores 100 points.

Battery: The Pixel 7a has a battery capacity of 4,385 mAh, more than double the size of the iPhone SE’s battery. However, the iPhone SE (2022) can charge slightly faster: 18 watts compared to 20 watts for the Pixel 7a. Both phones support wireless charging at 7.5 watts.

Storage: The Pixel 7a comes with 128 GB of built-in storage, double the amount compared to the comparable iPhone. The only advantage on Apple’s side is that they offer a model with 256 GB of storage for buyers with higher storage needs. However, Apple charges a steep price for that option, with an MSRP of $750

Of course, the iPhone SE (2022) also has its strengths, such as the powerful A15 processor, which outperforms the Tensor G2 in the Pixel 7a. The iconic phones from California also excel in the seamless integration of hardware and software, serving as a gateway to the famous Apple ecosystem.

To be fully truthful, it’s worth mentioning that the iPhone SE (2022) is over a year older, so the comparison isn’t entirely fair. However, even considering that, the previous Pixel 6a already outperformed last year’s iPhone SE in many technical aspects, and its successor widens this gap even further.

In the $500 showdown between Google and Apple, there can only be one winner: the Pixel 7a. For those who have no operating system preference, the Google phone offers a significantly better price-performance ratio.