You’d think after the near-perfect Pixel 6a, Google would have struck gold twice. But the Pixel 7a? It didn’t just miss the mark—it practically erased everything that made its predecessor feel special.
Back in 2023, expectations were sky-high. People wanted a refined version of a fan-favorite. What they got instead was a warm phone—literally—and a bittersweet lesson in patience. Here’s why one of Google’s most anticipated phones ended up being such a letdown.
Expectations Were Built on Trust. Then Came the Drop
The Pixel 6a made waves. It gave people serious power and great cameras at $449. It wasn’t just affordable—it felt premium for its price. So naturally, the Pixel 7a had big shoes to fill.
Two things were assumed: better performance and the same beloved camera experience. It checked neither box. Instead, users found themselves dealing with thermal issues, shaky battery stamina, and a device that felt… tired. Before it was even a year old.
That trust, once so strong? Cracked.
Tensor G2 Brought Heat, But Not the Good Kind
Google’s custom Tensor chips were pitched as bold innovation. It sounded exciting at first—AI-infused, optimized for Google’s own software. But the reality with Tensor G2 was hotter than expected. And not in a good way.
The original Tensor in the Pixel 6 got hot. And it drained the battery like it was its full-time job. By the time the 7a rolled around, there was hope that lessons had been learned. But they hadn’t.
-
The phone overheated even during basic tasks.
-
It struggled to stay cool during long video calls or extended browsing.
-
Performance held up, sure, but what’s the use if your battery barely survives a day?
At times, it was like carrying around a hand warmer instead of a phone.
Battery Life Was Its Biggest Weak Spot
No matter how slick the software or fancy the features, a smartphone is only as good as its uptime. For the 7a, uptime was… unreliable.
For light users, it limped along until the evening. For heavier users—streaming, gaming, even just social media—well, better have a charger nearby. And not the slow one either.
There’s this moment when you realize your phone’s on 15% and it’s only 3 p.m. That sinking feeling? Yeah, too familiar.
One-sentence paragraph for effect.
The Build and Feel Weren’t Bad, But That’s Not Enough
Let’s be fair for a second—the Pixel 7a wasn’t ugly. It followed the Pixel design language with a bit more polish. The camera bar returned, slightly more refined, and the matte frame felt solid enough.
But when the guts aren’t right, good looks don’t matter.
Its OLED screen was fine, 90Hz was a welcome bump, and the fingerprint sensor worked better than before. But no one was buying this phone for just the aesthetics. And under the surface, it failed to inspire confidence.
Software: One of Few Bright Spots
Here’s the twist—Android on the Pixel 7a was good. Google’s software team rarely fumbles. Feature drops came on time. Pixel-exclusive tricks like Recorder’s AI-based transcription, Magic Eraser, and the At a Glance widget made life better.
But good software needs reliable hardware to shine. And it felt like this great software was trapped in the wrong body. Like a Ferrari engine stuffed into a rusty sedan.
That disconnect? You could feel it daily.
Performance Was Fine. But Fine Wasn’t Enough
Technically, the Pixel 7a didn’t lag. It handled apps, multitasking, and animations smoothly. You could game on it. You could edit photos on the go. But it never felt like a leap forward.
Here’s a little comparison that sums it up:
| Feature | Pixel 6a | Pixel 7a | Pixel 9a |
|---|---|---|---|
| Launch Price | $449 | $499 | $499 |
| Processor | Tensor G1 | Tensor G2 | Tensor G3 |
| Battery Performance | Below average | Frustrating | Much improved |
| Thermals | Warm | Overheats often | Stays cool |
| Value for Money | High | Low | High |
It wasn’t that it couldn’t perform. It’s that for $50 more than the 6a, it felt like it performed worse under stress. That’s a red flag for any buyer, especially those who held out in hopes of an upgrade.
Redemption Came Later, But the Damage Was Done
Thankfully, Google got its act together. The Pixel 8 series was far more refined. And the Pixel 9a? It’s everything the 7a tried to be—balanced, reliable, and actually worth the money.
Still, it’s hard not to look back at the 7a and wonder: what happened?
Was it rushed? Did Google overestimate how much slack users would cut them? Or did the company just get too comfortable?
The answer doesn’t really matter now. But the disappointment lingers.
Lessons From a Midrange Misfire
There’s something frustrating about being let down by a brand you want to root for. The Pixel 7a wasn’t terrible on paper. It had promise. But it became the kind of phone you wouldn’t recommend to a friend without hesitation.
Which, honestly, is worse than being outright bad.
Midrange phones live and die by word of mouth. The Pixel 6a was a conversation starter. The Pixel 7a? More of a cautionary tale.
