Google Pixel 7a vs Pixel 7 (UK): Specs, Size and Which to Buy

For most buyers, the refurbished Google Pixel 7a is the better choice over the Pixel 7. In Very Good grade the Pixel 7a 128GB costs £195.99 and the Pixel 7 128GB £184.99 (both checked 5 October 2026), so £11.00 more buys seven extra months of Google updates (May 2028 against October 2027), a smaller body and a 64MP main camera.

Choose the Google Pixel 7 instead if you want the larger 6.3-inch screen, a 256GB option, IP68 rather than IP67, Battery Share or 4K selfie video at 60fps. Both phones share the Tensor G2 chip and 8GB of RAM, and both have limited update time left, so anyone planning to keep a phone beyond 2028 should look at the Pixel 8 Pro.

Pixel 7a vs Pixel 7: the quick decision

• Best for: the Pixel 7a if you want a smaller phone that gets updates until May 2028 for under £200; the Pixel 7 if you want a bigger screen, 256GB of storage or the higher IP68 rating at the lowest Pixel price.
• Choose something else when: you plan to keep the phone into 2029 or beyond, you want optical zoom, or you need a stylus or more than 256GB.
• Check before buying: that 128GB is enough if you pick the 7a (it has no larger option and neither phone takes a memory card), how many months of updates you need, and that you have a USB-C charger, because there's no plug in the box.

Google Pixel 7a vs Pixel 7 specs compared

This table sets out Google's published specifications for each phone when new, from Google's Pixel hardware tech specs page, with the differences in the right-hand column.

This second table shows what The Tech Gadgets sells, with the cheapest price for each grade and storage size.

What are the Pixel 7a specs?

The Google Pixel 7a has a 6.1-inch FHD+ OLED screen at up to 90Hz, Google's Tensor G2 chip, 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. On the back are a 64MP main camera and a 13MP ultrawide, with a 13MP front camera. The battery is rated at 4,385mAh typical, it charges wirelessly, and it was rated IP67 when new.

Google launched it with Android 13 and gives it five years of OS and security updates, which runs to May 2028. It weighs 193.5g, takes a nano-SIM plus eSIM, and has stereo speakers and a USB-C port. The refurbished Pixel 7a comes in all four of Google's colours: Charcoal, Snow, Sea and Coral.

What are the Pixel 7 specs?

The Google Pixel 7 has a 6.3-inch FHD+ OLED screen at up to 90Hz, the same Tensor G2 chip and 8GB of RAM, and 128GB or 256GB of storage. It has a 50MP main camera with laser autofocus, a 12MP ultrawide and a 10.8MP front camera. The battery is rated at 4,355mAh typical, and it was rated IP68 when new.

It also launched with Android 13, and its five years of Google updates run to October 2027. It weighs 197g, with Gorilla Glass Victus on the front and back around an aluminium frame. The refurbished Google Pixel 7 comes in Lemongrass, Snow and Obsidian.

Pixel 7a vs Pixel 7: the differences that matter

What is the Pixel 7a screen size compared with the Pixel 7?

The Pixel 7a screen size is 6.1 inches, against 6.3 inches on the Pixel 7. Both are FHD+ OLED panels at 1080 x 2400 with a 20:9 shape and a refresh rate of up to 90Hz. Because the 7a packs the same pixels into a smaller panel, it is slightly sharper on paper, at 429ppi against 416ppi.

In practice the choice is about how much screen you want for reading, maps and video. Neither has the 120Hz screen of newer Pixels; for that, the Pixel 8 Pro is the step up in our range.

What are the Pixel 7a dimensions, and how big is it next to the Pixel 7?

The Pixel 7a measures 152mm tall, 72.9mm wide and 9.0mm deep, and weighs 193.5g. The Pixel 7 is 155.6mm tall, 73.2mm wide and 8.7mm deep, at 197g. So the 7a is 3.6mm shorter and 3.5g lighter, but 0.3mm thicker, which makes it the easier phone to reach across one-handed.

The size gap is modest. If you're coming from a small phone, the 7a will feel closer to what you know; if you watch a lot of video, the Pixel 7's extra 0.2 inches of screen is the bigger draw.

Which has the better camera, the Pixel 7a or Pixel 7?

On specifications, each wins on different points. The Google Pixel 7a camera has the higher-resolution main sensor, 64MP against 50MP, plus a slightly wider ultrawide and a 13MP selfie camera. The Pixel 7's main sensor is physically larger (1/1.31in against 1/1.73in), it adds laser autofocus, and its front camera records 4K at 60fps with 10-bit HDR.

Here are the Pixel 7a camera specs in full, as Google lists them: a 64MP wide camera with 0.8μm pixels, f/1.89 and an 80° field of view; a 13MP ultrawide at f/2.2 with a 120° view; and a 13MP fixed-focus front camera with a 95° view. Both phones have optical and electronic stabilisation, Super Res Zoom up to 8x and 4K rear video at 30 or 60fps. Neither has a telephoto lens; the Pixel 8 Pro's 5x telephoto is the upgrade if zoom matters.

Battery and charging

Google rates the batteries almost identically, at 4,385mAh typical for the 7a and 4,355mAh for the Pixel 7. The bigger difference is charging. Google lists fast wired charging for the Pixel 7, reaching 50% in about 30 minutes with its 30W USB-C charger (sold separately), fast Qi wireless charging and Battery Share, which lets you top up earbuds from the back. The 7a has wired fast charging and Qi wireless charging, and Google doesn't list it for Battery Share.

On a refurbished phone, battery health matters more than the rated capacity. Every grade we sell has at least 85% battery health at dispatch.

Build, water resistance and audio

The Pixel 7 uses Gorilla Glass Victus on the front and back with an aluminium frame, and carries an IP68 rating. The 7a pairs Gorilla Glass 3 on the front with a composite back and alloy frame, rated IP67. Both ratings describe the phones when new, so don't rely on water resistance after refurbishment; liquid damage isn't covered by the warranty. The Pixel 7 also has three microphones to the 7a's two.

When was the Pixel 7a released?

Google lists May 2023 as the month the Pixel 7a went on sale on its US Google Store, and October 2022 for the Pixel 7. Both launched with Android 13. Because Google counts five years of updates from those dates, the 7a's seven-month head start gives it seven more months of support: May 2028 against October 2027.

From 5 October 2026, that leaves about 19 months of Google updates on the 7a and about 12 on the Pixel 7. Google's Pixel update schedule sets out the policy. The phones keep working after those dates, but security patches stop, which matters if you bank or pay with your phone.

How much is a refurbished Pixel 7a or Pixel 7?

The Google Pixel 7a price starts at £195.99 for 128GB in Very Good grade, and the Google Pixel 7 price starts at £184.99 for 128GB in Very Good (both checked 5 October 2026). Like New grades cost £236.99 and £215.99. The Pixel 7 256GB starts at £211.99, and the 7a has no 256GB version.

Here is the like-for-like price maths for 128GB phones:

• Very Good: Pixel 7a £195.99 minus Pixel 7 £184.99 = £11.00 more for the 7a.
• Excellent: Pixel 7a £219.99 minus Pixel 7 £210.99 = £9.00 more for the 7a.
• Like New: Pixel 7a £236.99 minus Pixel 7 £215.99 = £21.00 more for the 7a.
• Storage: Pixel 7 256GB Very Good £211.99 minus Pixel 7 128GB Very Good £184.99 = £27.00 to double the storage.

Divide each price by the months of updates left and the 7a pulls ahead. The 7a in Very Good works out at £10.32 per month of support (£195.99 ÷ 19), the Pixel 7 128GB at £15.42 (£184.99 ÷ 12) and the Pixel 7 256GB at £17.67 (£211.99 ÷ 12).

Each listing also shows a Fair option at the same price as Very Good. The grading page doesn't define Fair, so ask the team about its condition before ordering it.

Are there Pixel 7 deals worth having?

The strongest Pixel 7 deal in our range is the 256GB model if you need the space: doubling the storage costs £27.00 in Very Good grade, and the 7a has no 256GB option at any price. Beyond that, judge any Pixel 7 deal by how long you'll use it. With about 12 months of updates left, it suits a stopgap or a phone you'll pass on in a year.

The step up: Pixel 8 Pro

The refurbished Pixel 8 Pro starts at £276.99 in Very Good 128GB. Pixel 8 Pro £276.99 minus Pixel 7a £195.99 = £81.00, which buys updates until October 2030, a 5x telephoto, 12GB of RAM and a 120Hz screen. At £5.77 per month of updates (£276.99 ÷ 48), it is the cheapest of the three per month of support. Our Pixel 8 Pro deals guide covers its storage and grade choices.

Pixel 7a or Pixel 7: who should choose which?

Choose the Pixel 7a when you want the longest update window of the two, a phone that's easier to use one-handed, or the highest-resolution main camera for the money. It suits most people buying a refurbished Pixel for two years or less.

Choose the Pixel 7 instead when you want the 6.3-inch screen, 256GB of storage, the IP68 rating, Battery Share for earbuds, or 4K selfie video at 60fps, and you're happy to replace the phone around October 2027.

Who should not buy either: anyone who needs updates beyond May 2028, wants optical zoom, or needs more than 256GB. The Pixel 8 Pro covers all three. If you're open to other brands, our comparison of refurbished Samsung, Pixel, OnePlus and Nothing phones covers phones with longer support, and our guide to which refurbished Google Pixel to buy sets all three Pixels side by side.

What does refurbished mean for the Pixel 7a and Pixel 7?

Both phones have had a previous owner. Each is tested, cleaned, factory reset and removed from the previous owner's Google account, then graded on cosmetic condition: Like New, Excellent or Very Good. Every grade is fully working and has at least 85% battery health at dispatch. Both listings are titled “Refurbished (UK)” and are refurbished UK stock, unlocked for every UK network.

Like New has no visible marks on the screen or body; Excellent shows light signs of use that are hard to spot at arm's length; Very Good has visible marks on the body with the screen in good shape. Our grading standards page explains the process. In the box you get the phone, a free USB-C charging cable, a free SIM ejector pin and protective packaging, with no mains plug.

Cover is a 12-month warranty from The Tech Gadgets, starting on delivery, covering faults that develop in normal use (not accidental or liquid damage). The warranty policy lists battery defects and reduced capacity as exclusions, so check the battery when the phone arrives; a faulty battery within 30 days is still covered by your Consumer Rights Act right to reject. You also get change-of-mind returns within 30 days if unused and complete (you pay return postage), plus your 14-day right to cancel. See our refund and warranty policy, and our plain-English guide to refurbished phone rights.

Orders placed by 3pm Monday to Friday are dispatched the same day from Manchester, and standard delivery (1–3 working days) is free because both phones cost more than £50.

What to check when your Pixel arrives

Set-up should go straight to signing in with your own Google account; if it asks for a previous owner's account, contact the team. Then open Settings, About phone, Android version to see the security update date, and install anything waiting under Settings, System, Software updates.

Neither phone has a battery health screen. Google's Pixel battery help page says that feature is on the Pixel 8a and later, and that the Pixel 7 and 7a don't indicate battery health status. Charge to full in the first week and watch how quickly the percentage falls. On the 7a, also check that the back sits flat with no gaps at the edges (see the FAQ below).

Google Pixel 7a vs Pixel 7 FAQ

Is the Pixel 7a better than the Pixel 7?

For most refurbished buyers, yes. It costs £11.00 more in Very Good 128GB, gets seven more months of Google updates, has a 64MP main camera and is a little smaller. The Pixel 7 is better if you want the larger 6.3-inch screen, 256GB, IP68, Battery Share or faster wireless charging. Performance is the same, because both use the Tensor G2 with 8GB of RAM.

Is a refurbished Pixel 7 worth buying in 2026?

Yes, if you'll use it for about a year. A refurbished Pixel 7 from £184.99 gives you Google's camera software, a 6.3-inch OLED screen and IP68 when new, with updates until October 2027. If you'd rather keep a phone for two years or more, the Pixel 7a's extra seven months of updates for £11.00 more is better value, and the Pixel 8 Pro's runway to 2030 is better still.

Do the Pixel 7a and Pixel 7 have a headphone jack or memory card slot?

No. Google lists a USB-C port, power button and volume controls on both, with no 3.5mm headphone jack and no microSD slot. Use USB-C or Bluetooth headphones, and choose your storage carefully: 128GB on the 7a, or 128GB or 256GB on the Pixel 7. Google Photos backup can take pressure off the phone's storage if you shoot a lot of video.

Does the Pixel 7a have wireless charging?

Yes. Google lists Qi-certified wireless charging on the Pixel 7a, so it works with standard Qi pads. The Pixel 7 goes further, with fast wireless charging and Battery Share, which lets you charge Qi earbuds or another phone from its back. Neither phone comes with a charger from us; you get a USB-C cable, and any USB-C Power Delivery plug works for wired charging.

Can I check battery health on a refurbished Pixel 7a or Pixel 7?

Not in Settings. Google says the Battery health screen is only on the Pixel 8a and later, and that the Pixel 7 and 7a don't show a battery health status. That's why the store's minimum of 85% battery health at dispatch matters. In your first week, watch how fast the charge drops with normal use, and contact the team within 30 days if it drains unusually quickly.

Should I worry about the Pixel 7a battery swelling programme?

Know the signs rather than avoid the phone. Google runs an extended repair programme for some Pixel 7a phones whose batteries may swell. The symptoms it lists are a phone that looks thicker, a bulging back, gaps along the edges, or a battery that drains much faster than usual. Coverage lasts three years from the first retail purchase and Google decides eligibility, so a refurbished 7a may not qualify. If you see these signs within 30 days, your right to reject applies.

Do the Pixel 7a and Pixel 7 support eSIM and 5G?

Yes. Both have a nano-SIM slot plus eSIM, so you can run two numbers, and both support 5G. Ours are unlocked for EE, O2, Vodafone, Three and the networks that run on them. 5G works where your plan and coverage allow it, and features such as Wi-Fi Calling depend on your network. Both also have NFC for contactless payments, as listed in Google's specifications.

Verdict: Google Pixel 7a or Pixel 7?

Buy the Google Pixel 7a if you want the better-value refurbished Pixel of the two. For £11.00 more than the Pixel 7 in Very Good grade, you get updates until May 2028, a 64MP main camera and a smaller, lighter body, at £10.32 per month of support against £15.42.

Buy the Google Pixel 7 if screen size, 256GB, IP68 or Battery Share matter more than update time, and you'll replace it by late 2027. Skip both for the Pixel 8 Pro if you want zoom or plan to keep your phone beyond 2028. Whichever you choose, you get a 12-month warranty from The Tech Gadgets and at least 85% battery health at dispatch.