Technologies
Pixel 7 vs. Pixel 7A: Google’s Cheaper Phone Is the Winner
Google’s new $499 phone packs the Pixel 7 experience in a slightly smaller and more affordable package.
Each new generation of Google’s Pixel A-series phones comes with fewer compromises than the last. That’s truer than ever with the Pixel 7A, which costs $499 and bears striking similarity to the $599 Pixel 7. After reviewing both phones, I’m convinced the Pixel 7A is the best value for most people.
Both phones run on Google’s Tensor G2 processor, meaning you’ll get essentially the same performance and very similar photography and language translation features on both devices.
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The biggest area in which they differ on paper comes down to their cameras and their size, although in practice I could barely tell the difference between photos taken on both devices.
The only major reason to choose the Pixel 7 over the 7A is if you prefer having a slightly larger screen and can find it at a discount that brings it closer to the 7A in price. Here’s a closer look at how the two phones compare after testing them both.
Pixel 7 vs. Pixel 7A: Cameras
The Pixel 7A’s camera (pictured) is very similar to the Pixel 7’s.
Looking at the camera specifications, you may think the Pixel 7A has the superior setup. It has a 64-megapixel main camera, while the Pixel 7’s primary shooter has a 50-megapixel sensor. The 7A also has a 13-megapixel ultrawide compared to the Pixel 7, which has a 12-megapixel one.
But resolution isn’t everything when it comes to taking a great photo. Google says the Pixel 7’s camera sensor is larger and more light sensitive, which should result in better overall image quality. When comparing the two, I couldn’t really tell the difference. Both phones take excellent photos with vibrant color and crisp details. If you’re a casual photographer and just want a reliable camera for taking great photos of friends, family, vacations and pets, the Pixel 7A is more than enough.
Take a look at some photo samples below.
Since both phones have the same processor, they also share many of the same photo-editing and shooting features. That includes night mode, portrait mode, Face Unblur, Photo Unblur, Magic Eraser and Real Tone, Google’s tech for rendering skin tones more accurately. They can also both zoom digitally up to 8x.
The cheaper Pixel 7A lacks Action Pan, which is present on the Pixel 7 and captures a moving subject sharply while blurring the background. Both phones have Long Exposure mode, though, which does the opposite by applying an action blur effect to a moving subject.
The Pixel 7 and 7A also take relatively bright photos in dim environments, too, as shown below. However, on one occasion, the Pixel 7 was able to focus more sharply on the subject when taking photos in low light.
Even though the Pixel 7A technically has a higher resolution front camera, I thought selfies from both devices generally looked equally good.
The bottom line: The Pixel 7A and Pixel 7 both have very similar cameras. The Pixel 7A doesn’t have Google’s Action Pan feature, but you’re not missing much else.
Pixel 7 vs. Pixel 7A: Size and design
The Pixel 7A
The Pixel 7A inherits the Pixel 7’s design language, from its metallic camera bar to its matte edges. The main differences between the two devices come down to size and color options. The Pixel 7A has a 6.1-inch screen, which might be preferable if you like smaller devices. The Pixel 7 has a 6.3-inch screen, providing a bit more space for those who like to read and watch videos on their phones.
Both devices can increase their screen’s refresh rate up to 90Hz when needed to make animations and scrolling look smoother, and they both have the same resolution at 1,080×2,400 pixels.
However, both screens look dim in bright sunlight; I had to boost the brightness to the max when outdoors.
The Pixel 7 is pictured next to the Pixel Watch.
In terms of color choices, the Pixel 7A is available in coral (orange), sea (light blue), charcoal (grayish) and snow (white). The Pixel 7, on the other hand, comes in lemongrass (light yellow), snow (white) and obsidian (black).
There’s also a slight difference between the two phones when it comes to durability. The Pixel 7A is rated for IP67 dust and water resistance, while the Pixel 7 has an IP86 rating. While both phones are dust-tight, the Pixel 7A is only rated to withstand the effects of temporary immersion in water, while the Pixel 7 can endure continuous immersion in water.
Pixel 7 vs. Pixel 7A: Battery life and performance
Since they run on the same Tensor G2 processor and have the same amount of memory, performance is similar between the two. Launching apps, scrolling around the operating system and switching between apps and playing games felt smooth on both devices. They also scored similarly on benchmarks meant to test general performance and graphics, as shown below. (Note: Geekbench 6, the performance test, evaluates the performance of a processor’s single core in addition to how multiple cores perform together, as shown in the table).
Pixel 7A vs. Pixel 7
- Geekbench 6 Single Core
- Geekbench 6 Multicore
- 3DMark Wildlife Extreme
I generally got around a day of battery life out of both, although for you it may vary depending on your phone’s settings and which apps you’re using. In addition to using the devices as my personal phone when I reviewed them, I ran two battery tests: a 45-minute endurance test to see how much battery life is drained after tasks like making a video call, playing games and streaming video, and a three-hour test that involves streaming a YouTube video and measuring the battery percentage at each hour mark.
The Pixel 7 won the 45-minute endurance test since it had 94% of its battery remaining versus the Pixel 7A’s 92%. But the Pixel 7A outperformed the Pixel 7 on the three-hour drain test, although the two were close. All told, battery life is similar between the two devices.
Pixel 7A vs. Pixel 7 Battery Test
| Pixel 7A | Pixel 7 | |
| 1 Hour | 96% | 95% |
| 2 Hour | 90% | 88% |
| 3 Hour | 85% | 81% |
Still, the Pixel 7 does charge slightly faster than the Pixel 7A, given that the former supports 18W charging while the latter supports 20W. In practice, the Pixel 7 went from 20% to 64% after 30 minutes of charging, while the Pixel 7A went from 20% to 58%. (Note: for this test, I used a non-Google 45-watt power adapter and the USB-C cable that came with each phone). Both phones also support wireless charging, which is notable considering the Pixel 6A lacked this functionality.
Pixel 7 vs. Pixel 7A: Software and support
The Pixel 7A (pictured) and Pixel 7 will likely both get Android 14 before other non-Pixel devices.
Google provides a very similar software experience for the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7A. Both devices run Android 13 and will likely be among the first to be upgraded to Android 14 since they’re Pixel devices.
You also get Google’s Pixel-specific features like the Recorder app, its suite of phone call tools that let Google wait on hold for you and transcribe automated menus and Google’s free VPN. Google also regularly releases minor software updates for Pixel phones called «feature drops» that introduce new additions throughout the year. Both devices offer the same biometric authentication options for unlocking your phone: face unlock and fingerprint scanning.
But of the two phones, only the Pixel 7 supports spatial audio, which essentially creates the effect of surround sound in your headphones. When testing this feature while watching Stranger Things, I noticed the sounds of cars zooming by or insects chirping had a bit more movement and depth on the Pixel 7 compared to the Pixel 7A.
The Pixel 7 and 7A will each get at least three years of Android version updates and five years of security updates. That means you can expect the Pixel 7 to get Android version updates up to October 2025, while the Pixel 7A will likely receive Android OS upgrades until May 2026.
Pixel 7 vs. Pixel 7A: Which should you buy?
The Pixel 7 (left) and Pixel 7A (right)
The Pixel 7A is the best overall choice for most people because it provides a very similar experience as the Pixel 7 for $100 less. You’ll get a few extras with the Pixel 7, but none that feel like deal-breakers.
These include a slightly larger screen, charging that’s a bit faster than the Pixel 7A’s, the Action Pan photography feature, spatial audio and a higher protection rating against water submersion. Even though the camera specifications differ between the two devices, both phones capture impressive photos that are more than adequate for casual photographers.
With the Pixel 7A, Google further closed the gap between its flagship Pixel device and its budget-friendly option. For that reason, I’m hoping to see more from the Pixel 8.
Google Pixel 7A vs. Pixel 7 Specs
| Google Pixel 7A | Google Pixel 7 | |
| Display size, tech, resolution, refresh rate | 6.1-inch OLED; FHD+; up to 90Hz refresh rate | 6.3-inch OLED; FHD+; up to 90Hz refresh rate |
| Dimensions (inches) | 6 x 2.9 x 0.35 in. | 6.1 x 2.9 x 0.34 in. |
| Dimensions (millimeters) | 152.4 x 72.9 x 9 mm | 155.6 x 73.2 x 8.7 mm |
| Weight (grams, ounces) | 193g; 6.8oz. | 197g; 6.9oz. |
| Mobile software (at launch) | Android 13 | Android 13 |
| Camera | 64MP main; 13MP ultrawide | 50MP main; 12MP ultrawide |
| Front-facing camera | 13MP | 10.8MP |
| Video capture | 4K at 60 FPS | 4K at 60 FPS |
| Processor | Google Tensor G2 | Google Tensor G2 |
| RAM/storage | 128GB + 8GB | 128GB + 8GB |
| Expandable storage | None | None |
| Battery | 4,385-mAh; wireless charging | 4,355-mAh; wireless charging |
| Fingerprint sensor | Yes (under screen) | Yes (under screen) |
| Face unlock | Yes | Yes |
| Connector | USB-C | USB-C |
| Headphone jack | None | None |
| Special features | Magic Eraser, Real Tone, Photo Unblur, Face Unblur, Long Exposure Mode, Hold For Me, Wait Times, Direct My Call Live Translate, | Magic Eraser, Photo Unblur, Real Tone, Face Unblur, Long Exposure Mode, Action Pan; Hold For Me, Wait Times, Direct My Call Live Translate, |
| US price off-contract | $499 ($549 for mmWave) | $599 |
| UK price | £449 | £599 |
| Australia price | AU$749 | AU$999 |
Google’s budget phone took a leap forward in 2023 with the Pixel 7A, which offers many of the same benefits as the Pixel 7 but at a cheaper price. Like the Pixel 7, the Pixel 7A runs on Google’s Tensor G2 processor, meaning it has many of the same photo editing and language translation features as its pricier sibling. The Pixel 7A’s 64-megapixel camera also takes excellent photos that rival the Pixel 7’s in quality.
While we still like the Pixel 7, the Pixel 7A’s lower price makes it a better deal for most people. Only opt for the Pixel 7 if you really want a slightly larger screen and are willing to pay the extra $100 for it. Otherwise, the main differences between the Pixel 7 and 7A come down to the former’s more durable build, slightly faster charging and its ability to wirelessly charge compatible accessories. The Pixel 7 also has a larger camera sensor that’s more sensitive to light, according to Google, but CNET’s Lisa Eadicicco didn’t notice much of a difference.
Google’s flagship phone has a solid 50-megapixel camera, a 6.3-inch screen and Google’s Tensor G2 processor. While we generally recommend the Pixel 7A since it’s $100 cheaper and offers a similar experience, the Pixel 7 is still a great choice for those in need of a relatively affordable Android phone with a larger screen.
Technologies
CNET Daily Tariff Price Tracker: I’m Watching 11 Key Products for Changes, Here’s What’s Happened
The deadline for the start of Trump’s heaviest tariffs has been delayed until next month, leaving consumers stuck with more uncertainty over prices.
For the last three months, tariffs have been a hot topic, leaving consumers and businesses alike worried: Will they hike prices and by how much? It’s a question more relevant than ever this week, as President Trump punts another major deadline down the road and price-slashing Amazon’s Prime Day sales wind down as the week ends.
Amid those worries, I’ve been tracking prices every day for 11 key products likely to be hit by tariff-induced price increases, and the answer I’ve come to so far is this: Not so much, at least not yet. The winding road of tariff inflation still stretches before us into an uncertain future, so the threat of price hikes continues to cloud the horizon.
To date, I’ve seen two noteworthy price increases, one for the Xbox Series X and the other for a popular budget-friendly 4K TV. Some other products — including Apple’s popular AirPods and printer ink — have gone on sale for brief periods.
CNET Tariff Tracker Index
Above, you can check out a chart with the average price of the 11 products included in this piece over the course of 2025. This will help give you a sense of the overall price changes and fluctuations going on. Further down, you’ll be able to check out charts for each individual product being tracked.
We’ll be updating this article regularly as prices change. It’s all in the name of helping you make sense of things, so be sure to check back every so often. For more, check out CNET’s guide to whether you should wait to make big purchases or buy them now and get expert tips about how to prepare for a recession.
Methodology
We’re checking prices daily and will update the article and the relevant charts right away to reflect any changes. The following charts show a single bullet point for each month, with the most recent one labeled «Now» and showing the current price. For the past months, we’ve gone with what was the most common price for each item in the given month.
In most cases, the price stats used in these graphs were pulled from Amazon using the historical price-tracker tool Keepa. For the iPhones, the prices come from Apple’s official materials and are based on the 128-gigabyte base model of the latest offering of the iPhone 16. For the Xbox Series X, the prices were sourced from Best Buy using the tool PriceTracker. If any of these products happen to be on sale at a given time, we’ll be sure to let you know and explain how those price drops differ from longer-term pricing trends that tariffs can cause.
The 11 products we’re tracking
Mostly what we’re tracking in this article are electronic devices and digital items that CNET covers in depth, like iPhones and affordable 4K TVs — along with a typical bag of coffee, a more humble product that isn’t produced in the US to any significant degree.
The products featured were chosen for a few reasons: Some of them are popular and/or affordable representatives for major consumer tech categories, like smartphones, TVs and game consoles. Others are meant to represent things that consumers might buy more frequently, like printer ink or coffee beans. Some products were chosen over others because they are likely more susceptible to tariffs. Some of these products have been reviewed by CNET or have been featured in some of our best lists.
- iPhone 16, 128GB
- Duracell AA batteries, 24-pack
- Samsung DU7200 65-inch TV
- Xbox Series X
- Apple AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C case
- HP 962 CMY Printer Ink
- Anker 10,000-mAh, 30-watt power bank
- Bose TV speaker
- Oral-B Pro 1000 electric toothbrush
- Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook, 256GB
- Starbucks 28-ounce ground dark roast coffee
Below, we’ll get into more about each individual product, and stick around till the end for a rundown of some other products worth noting.
iPhone 16
The iPhone is the most popular smartphone brand in the US, so this was a clear priority for price tracking. The iPhone has also emerged as a major focal point for conversations about tariffs, given its popularity and its susceptibility to import taxes because of its overseas production, largely in China. Trump has reportedly been fixated on the idea that the iPhone can and should be manufactured in the US, an idea that experts have dismissed as a fantasy. Estimates have also suggested that a US-made iPhone would cost as much as $3,500.
Something to note about this graph: The price listed is the one you’ll see if you buy your phone through a major carrier. If you, say, buy direct from Apple or Best Buy without a carrier involved, you’ll be charged an extra $30, so in some places, you might see the list price of the standard iPhone 16 listed as $830.
Apple’s been taking a few steps to protect its prices in the face of these tariffs, flying in bulk shipments of product before they took effect and planning to move production for the US market from China to India. A new Reuters report found that a staggering 97% of iPhones imported from the latter country, March through May, were bound for the US. This latter move drew the anger of Trump again, threatening the company with a 25% tariff if they didn’t move production to the US, an idea CEO Tim Cook has repeatedly shot down in the past. This came after Trump gave a tariff exemption to electronic devices including smartphones, so the future of that move seems in doubt now.
Duracell AA batteries
A lot of the tech products in your home might boast a rechargeable energy source but individual batteries are still an everyday essential and I can tell you from experience that as soon as you forget about them, you’ll be needing to restock. The Duracell AAs we’re tracking are some of the bestselling batteries on Amazon.
Samsung DU7200 TV
Alongside smartphones, televisions are some of the most popular tech products out there, even if they’re an infrequent purchase. This particular product is a popular entry-level 4K TV and was CNET’s pick for best overall budget TV for 2025. Unlike a lot of tech products that have key supply lines in China, Samsung is a South Korean company, so it might have some measure of tariff resistance.
After spending most of 2025 hovering around $400, this item has now seen some notable upticks on Amazon, most recently sitting around $450. This could potentially be in reaction to Trump’s announcement of 25% tariffs against South Korea this week.
Xbox Series X
Video game software and hardware are a market segment expected to be hit hard by the Trump tariffs. Microsoft’s Xbox is the first console brand to see price hikes — the company cited «market conditions» along with the rising cost of development. Most notably, this included an increase in the price of the flagship Xbox Series X, up from $500 to $600. Numerous Xbox accessories also were affected and the company also said that «certain» games will eventually see a price hike from $70 to $80.
Initially, we were tracking the price of the much more popular Nintendo Switch as a representative of the gaming market. Nintendo has not yet hiked the price of its handheld-console hybrid and stressed that the $450 price tag of the upcoming Switch 2 has not yet been inflated because of tariffs. Sony, meanwhile, has so far only increased prices on its PlayStation hardware in markets outside the US.
AirPods Pro 2
The latest iteration of Apple’s wildly popular true-wireless earbuds are here to represent the headphone market. Much to the chagrin of the audiophiles out there, a quick look at sales charts on Amazon shows you just how much the brand dominates all headphone sales. For most of the year, they’ve hovered around $199, but ahead of Prime Day sales this week they are currently on sale for $149.
HP 962 CMY printer ink
This HP printer ink includes cyan, magenta and yellow all in one product and recently saw its price jump from around $72 — where it stayed for most of 2025 — to $80, which is around its highest price over the last five years. We will be keeping tabs to see if this is a long-term change or a brief uptick.
This product replaced Overture PLA Filament for 3D printers in this piece, but we’re still tracking that item.
Anker 10,000-mAh, 30-watt power bank
Anker’s accessories are perennially popular in the tech space and the company has already announced that some of its products will get more expensive as a direct result of tariffs. This specific product has also been featured in some of CNET’s lists of the best portable chargers.
Bose TV speaker
Soundbars have become important purchases, given the often iffy quality of the speakers built into TVs. While not the biggest or the best offering in the space, the Bose TV Speaker is one of the more affordable soundbar options out there, especially hailing from a brand as popular as Bose. You can currently get this model at a healthy discount for Prime Day, down to $200 from $280.
Oral-B Pro 1000 electric toothbrush
They might be a lot more expensive than their traditional counterparts but electric toothbrushes remain a popular choice for consumers because of how well they get the job done. I know my dentist won’t let up on how much I need one. This particular Oral-B offering was CNET’s overall choice for the best electric toothbrush for 2025.
While this product hasn’t seen its price budge one way or another most of the year, there is a $10 coupon listed on Amazon right now.
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook
Lenovo is notable among the big laptop manufacturers for being a Chinese company making its products especially susceptible to Trump’s tariffs.
Starbucks Ground Coffee (28-ounce bag)
Coffee is included in this tracker because of its ubiquity —I’m certainly drinking too much of it these days —and because it’s uniquely susceptible to Trump’s tariff agenda. Famously, coffee beans can only be grown within a certain distance from Earth’s equator, a tropical span largely outside the US and known as the «Coffee Belt.»
Hawaii is the only part of the US that can produce coffee beans, with data from USAFacts showing that 11.5 million pounds were harvested there in the 2022-23 season — little more than a drop in the mug, as the US consumed 282 times that amount of coffee during that period. Making matters worse, Hawaiian coffee production has declined in the past few years.
All that to say: Americans get almost all of their coffee from overseas, making it one of the most likely products to see price hikes from tariffs.
Other products
As mentioned, we occasionally swap out products with different ones that undergo notable price shifts. Here are some things no longer featured above, but that we’re still keeping an eye on:
- Nintendo Switch: The baseline handheld-console hybrid has held steady around $299 most places — including Amazon — since it released in 2017. Whether that price will be affected by tariffs or the release of the Switch 2 remains to be seen. This product was replaced above with the Xbox Series X.
- Overture PLA 3D printer filament: This is a popular choice on Amazon for the material needed to run 3D printers. It has held steady around $15 on Amazon all year. This product was replaced above by the HP 962 printer ink.
Here are some products we also wanted to single out that haven’t been featured with a graph yet:
- Razer Blade 18 (2025), 5070 Ti edition: The latest revision of Razer’s largest gaming laptop saw a $300 price bump recently, with the base model featured an RTX 5070 Ti graphics card now priced at $3,500 ahead of launch, compared to the $3,200 price announced in February. While Razer has stayed mum about the reasoning, it did previously suspend direct sales to the US as Trump’s tariff plans were ramping up in April.
- Asus ROG Ally X: The premium version of Asus’s Steam Deck competitor handheld gaming PC recently saw a price hike from $799 to $899, coinciding with the announcement of the company’s upcoming Xbox-branded Ally handhelds.
Technologies
Download All of Netflix in One Second? Researchers in Japan Just Broke the Internet Speed Record
Technologies
Today’s NYT Strands Hints, Answers and Help for July 12 #496
Here are hints and answers for the NYT Strands puzzle for July 12 No. 496.
Looking for the most recent Strands answer? Click here for our daily Strands hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.
If you love attending baseball games in summer, you’ll hit a home run with today’s NYT Strands puzzle. If you need hints and answers, read on.
I go into depth about the rules for Strands in this story.
If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections and Mini Crossword answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.
Read more: NYT Connections Turns 1: These Are the 5 Toughest Puzzles So Far
Hint for today’s Strands puzzle
Today’s Strands theme is: In the ballpark.
If that doesn’t help you, here’s a clue: Play ball!
Clue words to unlock in-game hints
Your goal is to find hidden words that fit the puzzle’s theme. If you’re stuck, find any words you can. Every time you find three words of four letters or more, Strands will reveal one of the theme words. These are the words I used to get those hints but any words of four or more letters that you find will work:
- TEER, MEER, MEET, TEEM, ROAD, STALL, TALL, BEST, PEAT, LUNH, CULT, BUMP, BILE, PEAL, METE, BULL, STUN, NUTS
Answers for today’s Strands puzzle
These are the answers that tie into the theme. The goal of the puzzle is to find them all, including the spangram, a theme word that reaches from one side of the puzzle to the other. When you have all of them (I originally thought there were always eight but learned that the number can vary), every letter on the board will be used. Here are the nonspangram answers:
- GLOVE, HELMET, BULLPEN, PEANUTS, PITCHER, JUMBOTRON
Today’s Strands spangram
Today’s Strands spangram is STADIUM. To find it, look for the S that’s five letters down on the far left row, and wind up and over.
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