Phone Comparisons: Google Pixel 7 vs Google Pixel 4a 5G

We’ve compared the Google Pixel 7 with quite a few smartphones thus far. In this article, we’ll compare it with one of Google’s somewhat older mid-range devices, in case you’re looking to upgrade. We’ll compare the Google Pixel 7 vs Google Pixel 4a 5G. The Pixel 4a 5G is over two years old at this point. So, it’s not exactly extremely old, but some of you may be looking to upgrade. Well, the Pixel 7 may be a great option.

Truth be said, the Pixel 7 will cost you more than the Pixel 4a 5G, but it may be worth it. It has a similarly-sized display, and that Pixel software you’re used to. It includes a slightly larger display, but it’s only slightly taller, and even narrower than the Pixel 4a 5G. We’ll talk about their designs, performance, displays, cameras, and much more in this comparison. That being said, let’s get started, shall we?

Specs

	Google Pixel 7	Google Pixel 4a 5G
Screen size	6.3-inch fullHD+ flat OLED display (90Hz refresh rate)	6.2-inch fullHD+ OLED display (60Hz)
Screen resolution	2400 x 1080	2340 x 1080
SoC	Google Tensor G2	Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G
RAM	8GB (LPDDR5)	6GB (LPDDR4X)
Storage	128GB, 256GB, non-expandable (UFS 3.1)	128GB, non-expandable (UFS 2.1)
Rear cameras	50MP (Samsung ISOCELL GN1 sensor, 1.2um pixel size, f/1.85 aperture, 82-degree FoV, Super Res Zoom up to 8x) 12MP (ultrawide, 1.25um pixel size, f/2.2 aperture, 114-degree FoV, lens correction)	12.2MP (f/1.7 aperture, 27mm lens, 1.4um pixel size, dual pixel PDAF, OIS) 16MP (ultra-wide, f/2.2 aperture, 1.0um pixel size, 107-degree FoV)
Front cameras	10.8MP (1.22um pixel size, f/2.2 aperture, 92.8-degree FoV, Fixed Focus)	8MP (f/2.0 aperture, 24mm lens, 1.12um pixel size)
Battery	4,355mAh, non-removable, 21W wired charging, 23W wireless charging, reverse wireless charger Charger not included	3,885mAh, non-removable, 18W fast battery charging Charger included
Dimensions	155.6 x 73.2 x 8.7mm	153.9 x 74 x 8.2mm
Weight	197 grams	168 grams
Connectivity	5G, LTE, NFC, Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi, USB Type-C	5G, LTE, NFC, Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi, USB Type-C
Security	Face Unlock In-display fingerprint scanner (optical)	Rear-facing fingerprint scanner
OS	Android 13	Android 11 (upgradable to Android 13)
Price	$599/$699	$154.94 (discounted from $435)
Buy	Google	Amazon

Google Pixel 7 vs Google Pixel 4a 5G: Design

The Pixel 7 brings Google’s brand new design language to the table. It builds upon what the Pixel 6 ushered in. The Pixel 4a 5G has Google’s older, understated design. It’s all a matter of preference, really, but the Pixel 7 does feel more premium. It’s made out of metal and glass, while the Pixel 4a 5G utilizes a plastic build. The Pixel 7 is slightly taller and thicker, but it’s also narrower than the Pixel 4a 5G. It does weigh more, though, at 197 grams, compared to 168 grams.

Both devices do include flat displays, but they’re fairly different. More on the displays themselves in the next chapter. It’s worth noting that the Pixel 7 does include a centered display camera hole, while the Pixel 4a 5G has one in the top-left corner. The Pixel 7 also has sharper corners than the Pixel 4a 5G. The bezels are somewhat thin on both phones. The physical keys sit on the right sides of both phones.

Now, if we flip the two phones around, you’ll see even more differences. The Pixel 7 has a large camera strip on the back, covered by aluminum. In fact, the phone’s frame basically pours over the camera strip on the back. The Pixel 4a 5G includes a regular-looking camera island on the back, in the top-left corner. There is also a capacitive fingerprint scanner on the back of the Pixel 4a 5G, while the Pixel 7 includes an in-display fingerprint scanner. Both phones include two cameras on the back. Only the Pixel 7 offers official IP68 certification for water and dust resistance. Both phones are quite slippery, but the Pixel 7 does feel more premium.

Google Pixel 7 vs Google Pixel 4a 5G: Display

The Google Pixel 7 features a 6.3-inch fullHD+ (2400 x 1080) AMOLED display. That display is flat, and it offers a 90Hz refresh rate. It does have support for HDR10+ content, and it can get quite bright. It gets up to 1,400 nits of peak brightness. That brightness will be achievable only on auto brightness settings, though. The display has a 20:9 aspect ratio, and it’s protected by the Gorilla Glass Victus.

The Pixel 4a 5G, on the flip side, has a 6.2-inch fullHD+ (2340 x 1080) OLED panel. This display is also flat, but it doesn’t support a high refresh rate. A 60Hz refresh rate is accessible here. This display does support HDR content, and it has a 19.5:9 aspect ratio. The Pixel 4a 5G display is protected by the Gorilla Glass 3.

On paper, the Pixel 7 display does look better, and truth be said, it’s better in real life as well. Scrolling feels smoother on the Pixel 7, while the display also looks nicer, actually. Both panels are sharp enough, but the colors look a bit better on the Pixel 7. The viewing angles are great on both panels, and the touch response is also really good. So, no complaints here. Most people will be happy with either one of these displays, though, that’s for sure.

Google Pixel 7 vs Google Pixel 4a 5G: Performance

Google’s Pixel 7 handset is fueled by the Tensor G2, Google’s latest SoC. It also includes 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM, and up to 256GB of UFS 3.1 flash storage. The Pixel 4a 5G, on the other hand, is fueled by the Snapdragon 765G SoC. That SoC is a bit older, and when it launched, it was Qualcomm’s mid-range offering. The Pixel 4a 5G also has 6GB of LPDDR4X RAM, and 128GB of UFS 2.1 flash storage.

The Pixel 4a 5G still performs admirably. Still, when compared to the Pixel 7, the difference is noticeable. The Pixel 7 is the smoother of the two phones when it comes to performance. It opens apps a bit more quickly, navigating the phone is a bit less janky, and so on. You can see the difference. Neither one of these are gaming phones, but both handle games really well. The Pixel 7 does a bit better job at it, even though it struggles with the most demanding titles a little bit, at the highest settings, at least. We’re mainly talking about Genshin Impact here. Everything else is buttery smooth, at least the games we’ve tried out.

Google Pixel 7 vs Google Pixel 4a 5G: Battery

The Pixel 7 packs in a 4,355mAh battery on the inside. The Pixel 4a 5G includes a 3,885mAh unit. The Google Pixel 4a 5G may have a noticeably smaller battery, but you need to keep in mind its SoC is less power-hungry, while its display is also smaller and has a lower refresh rate. That being said, both phones offer really good battery life, and they’re even comparable to a degree.

We’ve been able to get around 7 hours of screen-on-time from both phones, on average. At times, the Pixel 7 managed to cross the 8-hour mark, and the same goes for the Pixel 4a 5G. For the most part, though, they were around 7 hours of screen-on-time. Your usage will be different, and so may your results, so take these numbers with a grain of salt. There are too many factors included to be sure of anything.

When charging is concerned, you’re getting 20W wired, 20W wireless, and also reverse wireless charging from the Pixel 7. The Pixel 4a 5G supports only 18W wired charging. Unlike the Pixel 7, the Pixel 4a 5G does include a charger in the box. You’ll need to get one separately for the Pixel 7.

Google Pixel 7 vs Google Pixel 4a 5G: Cameras

Both of these phones have two cameras, but they’re not the same. The Google Pixel 7 has a 50-megapixel main camera, backed by a 12-megapixel ultrawide unit. The Pixel 4a 5G includes a 12.2-megapixel main camera, and a 16-megapixel ultrawide unit. The Pixel 7 has newer camera sensors, and an ultrawide camera with a slightly narrower field-of-view. In most instances, though, the image styles these two phones produce are very similar.

Both phones provide those Pixel-like images that many people like. The images that have strong contrast, do an excellent job in HDR, and do great in low light. Both of these phones are very capable point-and-shoot cameras, basically. The Pixel 7 does do a better job in basically every way, but not by much. Google’s image processing does wonders on the Pixel 4a 5G, actually.

You will get a bit more details in the Pixel 7 images, while the phone is also able to pull out more details from the shadows in low light. The ultrawide camera is better on the Pixel 7 as well, while the phone does a better job in terms of video recording. The footage is crisper, better lit, and it is less shaky too. The Pixel 7 is a better camera phone overall.

Audio

You will find a set of stereo speakers on both of these phones. The thing is, the Pixel 7 speakers do provide slightly better sound. We’ve noticed a wider soundstage in the Pixel 7, but not by much. Both do get loud enough, and both are good enough for the vast majority of people.

One thing that the Pixel 7 lacks and the Pixel 4a 5G has is the audio jack. You will find it at the top of the Pixel 4a 5G. You can still utilize wired audio on the Pixel 7, but you’ll have to use the Type-C port. When it comes to wireless audio, the Pixel 7 supports Bluetooth 5.2, while the Pixel 4a 5G supports Bluetooth 5.0.