HIGHLIGHTS
* The Pixel 7a is Google’s latest smartphone and it’s on the affordable side.
* The smartphone comes with a plastic body which is one major difference when compared to the more expensive Pixel 7.
* The Pixel 7a was put through JerryRigEverything’s durability test and the result is quite surprising.
Google launched the Pixel 7a earlier this month in India. The Pixel 7a is a more affordable offering that is much cheaper than the Pixel 7 but one major tradeoff is its plastic body.
Speaking of which, the Pixel 7a also went through JerryRig Everything’s durability test which ended up with an unexpected result.
Google recently introduced the Pixel 7a — a confusingly priced budget phone that’s costlier than its predecessor, but cheaper than the Pixel 7, while trading a few features to achieve said price.
With Google’s tendency to prefer an all-plastic build on the a-series, one would presume there’s no way the Pixel 7a is sturdier than the flagship Pixel 7 Pro. However, YouTuber Zack Nelson’s classic durability test has a surprising conclusion.
The JerryRig Everything channel has earned a name for itself in the tech YouTube community for videos that push devices to the physical limit of their endurance.
With the $500 Pixel 7a, Google seems to have made a pretty sturdy phone, despite the liberal use of plastic in the construction.
The phone has metal side rails, detachable metal buttons, and a metal SIM tray, all with adequate sealing to maintain the IP67 water resistance of the device.
The Pixel 7a’s display survives for 25 seconds directly under a lighter’s flame, and the OLED panel recovers completely as well.
Its camera visor is still made of metal, and scratches easily. The screen has Corning Gorilla Glass protection, so it should be okay sharing a pocket with your keys and coins, but sand and other harder substances can leave a mark.
The plastic back panel also gives in to scratches from a razor blade. So, you’ll be better off buying a protective case for your Pixel 7a, but not for the same reasons as the 7 Pro.
Nelson suggests we avoid associating plastic with low-cost or cheap items, noting that toys and tools built to last also use plastic.
While we understand Google’s use of plastic on the Pixel 7a helps bring the cost down, there’s the counter-argument that the display is glass whether you like it or not. Nonetheless, the newest Pixel isn’t as weak as the 7 Pro, as we can see in the final bend test.
Google has also made an interesting design decision of having the metal camera visor separate from the metallic frame of the new budget phone.
Although it looks like a structural weak point, the phone holds up to Nelson’s powerful bend tests admirably well, showing zero signs of permanent deformation. So perhaps a slim case would suffice, because Google’s design doesn’t need help with the structural rigidity here.
Google clearly learned valuable lessons from the Pixel 7 Pro’s design, and has made the Pixel 7a almost twice as rigid for just over half the Pro model’s price. You’re getting your money’s worth here, and the Pixel 7a is well on its way to becoming one of the best budget phones out there.
Google Pixel 7a Durability Test
The Google Pixel 7a comes in a plastic body but with a metal frame, removable metal buttons for the volume rocker and power button, and a metal SIM tray. The metal frame around the body easily scratches with JerryRig’s razor blade.
It has a Gorilla Glass 3 which gets easily scratched at level 6 and even more at level 7. When put under a lighter flame, the Pixel 7a’s screen lasts for 25 seconds until it starts reacting but it also quickly recovers.
Now the part where the Pixel 7a outperforms the more expensive Pixel 7 Pro and even the ASUS ROG Phone 7 Ultimate is the bend test. When trying to bend the Pixel 7a from the front and back, it doesn’t budge at all proving that the phone is indeed durable.
Yes, it’s a plastic body on the Pixel 7a but as JerryRig says, it’s still better than glass that can easily shatter into a million pieces.
In addition to a durable body, the Pixel 7a also has a decent set of specifications and you get almost all that the Pixel 7 has to offer. Here’s a look at its specifications.
Google Pixel 7a Specifications
* Display: The Google Pixel 7a features a 6.1-inch FHD+ OLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate.
* Processor: The smartphone is powered by the in-house Tensor G2 chipset and Titan M2 security chip.
* RAM and storage: With the Pixel 7a, you get 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 128GB of UFS 3.1 storage.
* Cameras: In the photography department, the Pixel 7a sports a 64MP primary camera and a 13MP camera at the rear. For selfies, the smartphone houses a 13MP front camera.
* OS: On the software front, the Pixel 7a runs Android 13 OS out-of-the-box. The smartphone is also promised five years of software updates.
* Battery: The Pixel 7a packs a 4,300mAh battery with fast charging support and Qi wireless charging as well.
GOOGLE PIXEL 7A KEY SPECIFICATIONS
General
| Launch Date | April 27, 2023 (Unofficial) |
| Operating System | Android v12 |
Performance
| Chipset | Google Tensor G2 |
| CPU | Octa core (2.8 GHz, Dual core, Cortex X1 + 2.25 GHz, Dual core, Cortex A76 + 1.8 GHz, Quad core, Cortex A55) |
| Co-Processor | Titan M2 |
| Architecture | 64 bit |
| Fabrication | 5 nm |
| Graphics | Mali-G78 MP20 |
| RAM | 8 GB |
Display
| Display Type | OLED |
| Screen Size | 6.1 inches (15.49 cm) |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels |
| Aspect Ratio | 20:9 |
| Pixel Density | 431 ppi |
| Bezel-less display | Yes with punch-hole display |
| Touch Screen | Yes, Capacitive Touchscreen, Multi-touch |
| Refresh Rate | 90 Hz |
| Screen to Body Ratio (claimed by the brand) | 84.3 % |
Design
| Waterproof | Yes, Water resistant, IP67 |
| Ruggedness | Dust proof |
Camera
| MAIN CAMERA | ||
| Camera Setup | Dual | |
| Resolution | 12.2 MP f/1.7, Primary Camera 12 MP f/2.2, Ultra-Wide Angle Camera |
|
| Autofocus | Yes | |
| Flash | Yes, LED Flash | |
| Image Resolution | 4000 x 3000 Pixels | |
| Settings | Exposure compensation | |
| Shooting Modes | Continuous Shooting High Dynamic Range mode (HDR) |
|
| Camera Features | Digital Zoom Auto Flash Face detection Touch to focus |
|
| Video Recording | 3840×2160 @ 30 fps 1920×1080 @ 30 fps |
|
| FRONT CAMERA | ||
| Camera Setup | Single | |
| Resolution | 8 MP f/2, Primary Camera | |
| Video Recording | 1920×1080 @ 30 fps | |
Battery
| Capacity | 4410 mAh |
| Type | Li-Polymer |
| Removable | No |
| Wireless Charging | Yes |
| Quick Charging | Yes, Fast |
| USB Type-C | Yes |
Storage
| Internal Memory | 128 GB |
| Expandable Memory | No |
Network & Connectivity
| SIM Slot(s) | Dual SIM, GSM+GSM |
| SIM Size | SIM1: Nano, SIM2: Nano |
| Network Support | 5G Not Supported in India, 4G Supported in India, 3G, 2G |
| VoLTE | Yes |
| SIM 1 |
4G Bands:
TD-LTE 2300(band 40)
FD-LTE 1800(band 3) 3G Bands:
UMTS 1900 / 2100 / 850 / 900 MHz
2G Bands:
GSM 1800 / 1900 / 850 / 900 MHz
GPRS:
Available
EDGE:
Available
|
| SIM 2 |
4G Bands:
TD-LTE 2300(band 40)
FD-LTE 1800(band 3) 3G Bands:
UMTS 1900 / 2100 / 850 / 900 MHz
2G Bands:
GSM 1800 / 1900 / 850 / 900 MHz
GPRS:
Available
EDGE:
Available
|
| Wi-Fi | Yes, Wi-Fi 4 (802.11 b/g/n) |
| Wi-Fi Features | Mobile Hotspot |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| GPS | Yes with A-GPS, Glonass |
| NFC | Yes |
| USB Connectivity | Mass storage device, USB charging |
Multimedia
| Loudspeaker | Yes |
| Audio Jack | USB Type-C |
Sensors
| Fingerprint Sensor | Yes |
| Fingerprint Sensor Position | On-screen |
| Fingerprint Sensor Type | Optical |
| Other Sensors | Light sensor, Proximity sensor, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope |
Faqs on Google Pixel 7a
1) This torture test suggests Google’s Pixel 7a mid-ranger is more durable than the Pixel 7 Pro. Details ?
Ans) Yes, the Pixel 7a is without a doubt one of the best budget 5G phones available today both on paper and in real-life use (at least based on the time we spent testing out Google’s latest stock Android-running mid-ranger but how will the plastic-and-metal 6.1-incher hold up in the long run?
Although we haven’t returned from the future or checked our crystal ball of late to attempt to answer that question with any degree of certainty, there is one totally unscientific but generally reliable way to tell how solidly built a brand-new mobile device truly is.
Yes, we are talking about Zack Nelson’s grueling and often unnecessarily violent JerryRigEverything durability inspections over on YouTube, which sometimes end on surprisingly good terms. While no phone has ever managed to emerge completely unscathed from a clash with Nelson’s razor blades and lighter, some handsets are capable of resisting bending attempts much better than others.
Surprisingly or not, that’s true for the Pixel 7a in relation to the larger, higher-end, and way pricier Pixel 7 Pro. It’s not entirely clear how Google has managed to pull off such an unlikely engineering feat, but the $499 Pixel 7a shows almost no sign of flex whatsoever when bent from the back… or the front.
That was definitely not the case for the $899 and up Pixel 7 Pro flagship when its durability was assessed last fall, and although the 6.7-inch beast did not altogether break under Nelson’s pressure, its overall integrity was seriously threatened, raising some big questions regarding its long-term resistance to the challenges of everyday life.
While no one can guarantee the Pixel 7a will still work one, two, or three years after you buy it, and just like with any other contemporary smartphone, drops on hard surfaces remain a potential issue, the results of this durability test are clearly encouraging for hardcore Google fans who can’t afford or don’t want to get the Pixel 7 Pro.
What’s interesting is that last year’s Pixel 6a mid-ranger was similarly praised for its apparent toughness and durability… despite not holding up anywhere near as well as its successor to bending.
2) What are The best Google Pixel 7a accessories?
Ans) Google’s Pixel 7a represents unprecedented midrange value. It sports a best-in-class smartphone camera, a smooth 90Hz refresh rate display, excellent performance, and fantastic upgrade commitment. Google promises three years of Android version support and five years of security coverage. If you don’t enjoy shelling out for a new phone annually, the 7a promises buttery, up-to-date performance for years. As such, you’ll want to accompany your Pixel 7a with accessories that will last just as long as the life of the phone. Let’s run through some of the best Google Pixel 7a accessories on the market.
The best Google Pixel 7a accessories
* Google 30W USB-C charger
* Google Pixel Buds A-series
* Official cases for the Google Pixel 7a
* Spigen cases for the Google Pixel 7a
* Google Pixel Watch
* Anker 315 Wireless Charger
* Spigen Tempered Glass Screen Protector
* Arkon Mounts MG279
* Google USB-C to 3.5mm Adapter
* Google Pixel Stand (2nd gen)
Also Read: Google Pixel 7a with 6.1-inch OLED display, Tensor G2 SoC, 64MP camera & IP67 water resistant body launched in India: Check price, Specifications, Offer’s & Features