Over the subsequent months, amid the hype across the Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Professional launch, wallets all over the place shall be flying open in Google’s route as potential house owners change into ever extra desirous to safe one.

There are many causes you’ll wish to get one, too — from the brand new cameras to Android 14. However, sadly, the costs have additionally gone up this yr. It’s at this level, along with your pockets stretched to its restrict, you must bear in mind a less expensive Pixel nonetheless exists — and it’s wonderful.

Don’t overlook in regards to the Google Pixel 7a

I’m speaking in regards to the Google Pixel 7a, which prices $499. It was launched at the start of Could this yr, so it’s barely a number of months outdated and nonetheless very a lot present in Google’s vary. It’s unlikely (if in any respect) to get replaced by a Pixel 8a earlier than mid-2024, though a number of leaks have already begun to flow into, and it’ll get Android 14 and a number of other different main model updates sooner or later, so you should purchase with some confidence that it’s not about to change into out of date.

What do you save? The Pixel 8 begins at $699, and also you’ll want $999 earlier than getting your arms on the Pixel 8 Professional. Each are $100 greater than the equal Pixel 7 variations, and this improve has turned the outdated argument about shopping for the Google Pixel 7 as a substitute of the Pixel 7a on its head. Should you had been trying on the Pixel 7a prior to now, the additional $100 for the Pixel 7 doubtless wouldn’t be an enormous stretch, making it price contemplating. Now that the $699 Pixel 8 is right here, it can save you $200 by selecting the Pixel 7a as a substitute, and that’s a compelling monetary consideration.

Saving that a lot cash on any new tech buy is price it, however there are numerous psychological limitations that shall be far more durable to beat. The Pixel 7a suffers from being related to the “outdated” Pixel telephone, and within the brains of many tech followers, it is a motive to not purchase. The Pixel 8 is new and, subsequently, higher — and spending extra as we speak is usually price it in the long term. If that’s your thought course of (as a result of it’s additionally mine), I’m not going to dissuade you, as on the subject of tech, shopping for the very best you may afford is an effective rule of thumb.

Approach higher than the worth suggests

If cash is not any object, then get a Pixel 8 mannequin. However in the event you like a cut price or wish to shave $200 off your subsequent telephone buy, the Pixel 7a is an outstanding purchase. After we scored it in our authentic evaluation, one of many downsides was the worth, because it was shut sufficient to the Pixel 7 that the argument was there to get that telephone as a substitute. Right this moment, with the Pixel 8’s value improve, this adverse has been eliminated.

Maybe you’re nervous the digital camera isn’t superb? I put the Pixel 7a towards the Pixel 7 in a troublesome digital camera check, and the pair ended up being indistinguishable. Nearly all of the classes resulted in a draw, and in lots of circumstances, I couldn’t see any variations between the images. I continued utilizing the Pixel 7a as my essential telephone for a number of weeks after this, and after I needed to swap to a special telephone, I discovered I didn’t actually wish to. That’s an incredible feeling to have a couple of $500 smartphone.

Look at the specs, and the Pixel 7a is clearly not as up-to-date because the Pixel 8, however it’s not a catastrophe. The 6.1-inch display has a 90Hz refresh charge, the telephone is protected by an IP67 water and mud resistance ranking, the design is nice, and the Google Tensor G2 processor is completely ample. The telephone is slightly little bit of a reliability concern, whether or not that’s software program bugs or heating points, however there’s no assure the Pixel 8 shall be any higher. For the file, I by no means had any issues with my Pixel 7a.

Finest not forgotten

The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Professional will dominate Android information headlines for some time, and even after the preliminary furor subsides, we’ll discuss them in additional element for months to return. Rightly so, as they’re the highest new smartphones from Google and are a benchmark system towards which many future new releases shall be judged. Google turned a nook with the Google Pixel 6 and Google Pixel 6 Professional, the Pixel 7 sequence continued its profitable streak, and I’ve little question the Pixel 8 will do the identical.

It’s extraordinarily straightforward to get caught up within the newest releases when they’re this compelling, and equally straightforward to overlook about telephones which have come earlier than them, even when they’re mere months outdated. That’s the danger with the Pixel 7a. This is able to be an actual disgrace, notably now Google has raised the worth of its prime Pixel telephones. I believe the Pixel 7a deserves to be thought-about alongside the Pixel 8.

What’s fascinating is the Pixel 7a wasn’t an particularly compelling buy when it was launched. The value was only a bit too excessive, and it had additionally suffered from a rise over the price of its predecessor. However now that the Pixel 8 has come alongside at a fair increased value, it’s instantly trying like a lot better worth. The Pixel 7a is probably not the newest and biggest from Google, however it could simply be the very best buy for you.

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