While Google is still clearly open to bold experimentation with its smartphones, the Pixel Fold being the most recent example, its Pixel lineup has been a reliable and consistent performer for many generations now. However, the company may be doing the most impressive work on the other end of the spectrum, by taking what works and moving it downmarket with economic efficiency. I'm referring specifically to the Pixel 'a' lineup, a now-standard mid-year update that builds on the best features of the previous year's flagship while making just the right amount of cost-saving adjustments to provide a fantastic product at a much more accessible price point.
The Google Pixel 7a, a $499 smartphone with a 6.1-inch OLED display, Google's top-tier Tensor G2 processor, and a camera system that is only really topped by its more expensive 'Pro' sibling, was released this year. Since I've been using the phone for a few weeks, it's difficult to overstate how little it truly feels like it has given up on features that matter to smartphone users, even those who are more picky and demand the newest and greatest technology.
Google has also been working diligently on the software front, and the Android 13 operating system that the device ships with offers a sophisticated and well-considered interface, as well as a plethora of features that offer a truly different experience if you're coming from an iPhone and iOS. The live translation capabilities of the Pixel turn your smartphone into essentially a multi-lingual super power that iPhone just can't match. In particular, Android's speech-to-text and live transcription features are fantastic.
It's also difficult to overstate how excellent the Pixel 7a's camera is and how much it contributes to the device's competitive edge for a so-called "mid-range" phone. The top-notch photos that the 7a produces are at least on par with the best you can get with competing devices that cost twice as much or more, despite the fact that it lacks the telephoto lens that the top-end Pixel 7 Pro offers and makes some compromises with that flagship camera system in other areas.
The Pixel 7a's display feels much better than what you'd anticipate from a $500 phone. Although the OLED panel's 90Hz refresh rate is lower than the current 120Hz high-water mark, it still allows for buttery-smooth scrolling. I doubt many customers would even be able to tell the difference, much less feel like they're missing out on anything. The 6.1-inch screen is smaller than both the 6.3-inch screen on the Pixel 7 and the 6.7-inch screen on the Pixel 7 Pro, but after extensive use, that is clearly a feature rather than a bug, especially in a world where the options for smaller-size smartphones are getting fewer and farther between.
It appears that Google is subtly raising the bar for what consumers should expect from sub-$1,000 smartphones with the Pixel a-series, and the 7a in particular. In fact, it almost seems as though Google is outpacing its closest rival. Because of its challenger status, the Pixel simply feels like it is advancing the state-of-the-art in smartphone technology much more than the iPhone, whereas Apple's more affordable devices feel much more like they are purposefully reserving certain features and advantages for more expensive hardware. That holds true for both large swings like the Pixel Fold and more practical options like the 7a.
The Pixel Watch, Pixel Tablet, and Pixel Buds Pro are also part of this year's lineup; they all shine as somewhat unexpected technological successes. I'm interested to see what this means for what comes next, especially in light of Google's recent decision to intentionally sabotage some of its own product launches. This has given Google's hardware division a much more relaxed vibe than Apple's "showy popular kid" image.