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Updated January 10, 2024·
If you're looking for a phone with a focus on photography and video, the Samsung Galaxy S23 offers a better camera quality overall but at a higher price. However, if battery life is a priority for you and you prefer a midrange-priced phone with good camera capabilities, then the Google Pixel 7a can be a suitable choice. Both phones have the same screen size and offer premium features like OLED displays with high brightness and dynamic refresh rates, but the Samsung Galaxy S23 has a higher peak brightness and screen quality. Keep in mind that while both phones come with Android, the Galaxy S23 has a higher performance, which may contribute to a smoother experience. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Google Pixel 7a
- The Google Pixel 7a has no clear advantages over the Samsung Galaxy S23.
Advantages of the Samsung Galaxy S23
- Very good battery life
- Very good display quality
- Excellent performance
Key differences
Video Quality
7.3
7.8
The Samsung Galaxy S23 and Google Pixel 7a both have good videos, though the Samsung Galaxy S23 takes somewhat better videos.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 outperforms the Google Pixel 7a with a combination of excellent video stabilization, dynamic range, and low light performance, which contributes to its superior video capturing capabilities, especially noticeable in challenging conditions. Additionally, the Galaxy S23's microphone quality is marked as very good, ensuring clearer audio capture to complement the high-quality video output compared to the very good overall video capabilities of the 7a.
Battery
6.9 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Google Pixel 7a has 6.9 hours of battery life. The Samsung Galaxy S23 has 8 hours of battery life.
Cost
$499
$700
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Google Pixel 7a has a price of $499 and the Samsung Galaxy S23 costs $700.
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Key similarities
Overall Camera Quality
8.0
8.3
The Samsung Galaxy S23 and Google Pixel 7a both have very good overall cameras quality.
The Google Pixel 7a has a very good selfie camera, backed by an overall good camera experience with solid dynamic range and low light performance. The Samsung Galaxy S23, however, steps up with an excellent selfie camera and bolsters that with highly rated camera versatility and both photo and video software experiences.
Photo Quality
8.0
8.3
The Samsung Galaxy S23 and Google Pixel 7a both have very good photos.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 takes excellent photos largely due to its superior selfie score, enhanced software experience for photos, and stronger performance in low light situations compared to the Google Pixel 7a. While the Pixel 7a takes very good photos and also has commendable selfie capabilities, its overall photo software experience is not rated as highly, and it faces a slight disadvantage in low-light performance relative to the Galaxy S23.
Screen Size
The Google Pixel 7a has a screen size of 6.1 inches and the Samsung Galaxy S23 is 6.1 inches.
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How the Google Pixel 7a and the Samsung Galaxy S23 compare to other phones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Google Pixel 7a | Samsung Galaxy S23 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$499 | $700 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Samsung | ||
Operating System | |||
Operating System | Android | Android | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 10, 2023 | February 17, 2023 | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 6.1" | 6.1" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2400 x 1080 | 2340 x 1080 | |
Variable refresh rate | |||
Variable refresh rate | Yes | No | |
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 429 | 422 | |
Display Type | |||
Display Type | OLED | OLED | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | TensorG2 | SD8G2 | |
Internal Storage | |||
Internal Storage | 128 GB | 128 GB | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 8 GB | |
CAMERA | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Overall Camera Quality Score | |||
Overall Camera Quality Score | 8/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Photos Score | |||
Photos Score | 8.1/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Videos Score | |||
Videos Score | 7.3/10 | 7.9/10 | |
Rear Cameras | |||
Rear Cameras | Main, Ultrawide | Main, Ultrawide, Telephoto | |
Main Camera | |||
Main Camera | 64 megapixels + OIS | 50 megapixels + OIS | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6.9 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 4385 mAh | 3900 mAh | |
Wireless Charging | |||
Wireless Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Wireless charging Speed | |||
Wireless charging Speed | 7.5 W | 15 W | |
Reverse wireless charging | |||
Reverse wireless charging | No | Yes (4.5 watts) | |
PHYSICAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Size | |||
Size | 5.98" x 2.87" | 5.76" x 2.79" | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 6.84 oz | 5.93 oz | |
Back Material | |||
Back Material | Plastic | Glass | |
Stereo Speakers | |||
Stereo Speakers | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Dual SIM | |||
Dual SIM | Yes | Yes | |
Bluetooth Version | |||
Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.3 | |
A2DP | |||
A2DP | Yes | Yes | |
WiFi Version | |||
WiFi Version | 6e | 6e | |
NFC | |||
NFC | Yes | Yes | |
US 5G Bands | |||
US 5G Bands | (SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave) 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 257, 258, 260, 261 (SA/NSA/Sub6) 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 | (SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave)1, 7, 25, 28, 41, 66, 71, 78, 258, 260, 261 | |
OTHER FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Biometric unlock | |||
Biometric unlock | Face unlock, Fingerprint sensor: Under Display | Face unlock, Fingerprint sensor: Under Display | |
Unlockable Bootloader | |||
Unlockable Bootloader | Yes (Except Verizon Models) | No | |
Color | |||
Color | Sea, Snow, Coral, Charcoal | Pink Gold, Phantom Black, Cream, Lavender, Green, Lime, Graphite | |
Stock Android | |||
Stock Android | Yes | No | |
SD Card | |||
SD Card | No | No | |
Shopping
Google Pixel 7a
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Dig into reviews and images
The Verge
Allison Johnson | May 2023
"The Pixel 7a is the best midrange Android phone — period. The camera doesn’t always nail it, but it’s impressively capable for this class. And even though it’s pricier than last year’s model, it comes with some serious upgrades not often seen in this class, like wireless charging."
Samsung Galaxy S23
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Dig into reviews and images
The Verge
Allison Johnson | February 2023
"The 6.1-inch S23 is the best reasonably sized Android phone on the market in the US, partly because almost every other Android phone sold here is gigantic. But it’s also a really good device, with a battery that gets through a full day more comfortably than its predecessor. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset responsible for some of that battery performance improvement is slightly different — and slightly faster — than the 8 Gen 2 in other Android flagships."
Get a great deal on the Google Pixel 7a or the Samsung Galaxy S23
About Google
Google can be considered a relatively new player in the smartphone industry, joining as late as 2016 with their phone, the Google Pixel. Since then, the Pixel lineup has undergone many changes, but it has always been characterized by a focus on photography and clean software, by providing a pure Android experience. By virtue of Google being the creator of the Android operating system, Pixels are known for receiving timely software updates and for being supported with updates for a long time. Additionally, over the past few generations of devices, Google started designing their own processors. This allowed for the implementation of unique software features that are not present in any other phone, such as automatic call screening and unique voice transcribing capabilities.
About Samsung
Samsung is one of the most recognizable names in the smartphone industry, standing as the undisputed best-selling brand of Android smartphones in the United States for many years now. Samsung is known for offering a variety of smartphones in all available price points, as well as for implementing cutting-edge technology and innovative features in their flagship devices, ones that often shape the market going forward. The company offers its own unique spin on Android, called One UI, which focuses on offering a multitude of features and is heavily customizable, according to user preference.
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Why trust us
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec phones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest phone information and makes it digestible for you.
By the numbers
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Phones evaluated
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About the phone team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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Phones Expert
Efthimis is a Greece-based product expert focusing on smartphones. He has been recommending phones for 4 years and his recommendations on Reddit have earned him over 35k karma.
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