I used a LOT of telephones this 12 months, together with all of the flagships, mid-range telephones, and price range choices. Whereas the flagships had been predictably nice, the mid-range class has by no means been stronger, and if you happen to’re seeking to decide up a cellphone throughout Cyber Monday, you may discover loads of nice choices underneath $500.
Most customers would routinely gravitate towards the Galaxy A54 now that it is all the way down to $324, and for good motive — Samsung did a very good job with the system, and it’s first rate in each day use. However there is a significantly better possibility: the Pixel 7a. Google’s mid-ranger beats the Galaxy A54 in most key areas, and the very best half is that the Pixel 7a is now accessible for simply $374, so that you’re getting a considerably higher cellphone for simply $50 extra.
Here is why you should purchase the Pixel 7a as a substitute of the A54
Whereas Samsung did not change issues an excessive amount of with the Galaxy A54, it nonetheless gives a vibrant 120Hz AMOLED display screen, first rate cameras, and a big battery. The Pixel 7a has appreciable upgrades over its predecessor, and also you get a 90Hz OLED panel, terrific 64MP digicam with the very best wide-angle lens on this section, extra highly effective {hardware} than the A54, and cleaner software program that is pleasurable to make use of.
I used each of those units extensively, and the Pixel 7a is the apparent alternative right here. It’s smaller and simpler to make use of one-handed due to a 6.1-inch display screen (versus 6.4 on the A54), and whereas it’s restricted to 90Hz, it feels clean in each day use. The largest benefit with the Pixel 7a is the cameras — it demolishes the Galaxy A54 on this space, and I am not exaggerating once I say that that is the very best digicam package deal you may get for underneath $600.
Then there’s the software program. The Pixel 7a is already on Android 14, and there is no bloatware in any respect. Google’s interface is clear, colourful, and is filled with a ton of helpful extras, and it simply quite a lot of enjoyable to make use of — and I am saying that after utilizing One UI for a number of months this 12 months. Samsung has lots to supply with One UI, but it surely’s not optimized very properly on the A54, there’s an excessive amount of bloatware out of the field, and it typically is not as good to make use of because the Pixel 7a.
Whereas this does not issue into the buying determination, I additionally suppose the Pixel 7a seems higher than the Galaxy A54; I just like the digicam bar on the again, and it provides quite a lot of character to the system. The one space the place the A54 wins out is battery — it has a bigger 5000mAh unit, and it manages to final over a day with ease. I did not see any points with the Pixel 7a’s 4385mAh battery, and whereas I obtained a day’s price of use persistently, it wasn’t pretty much as good because the A54.
The place the Pixel 7a has a transparent edge is the {hardware}; the customized Tensor G2 is noticeably quicker than the Exynos 1380 that Samsung makes use of within the A54, and you’ll really feel the distinction in each day use. The Pixel 7a is not lacking out one extras both, and it has the identical IP67 ingress safety because the A54.
Look, I really helpful Samsung telephones extensively previously, however the dynamic has clearly shifted in favor of Google this 12 months. The Pixel 7a is a greater system in all of the areas that matter, and the truth that it’s now accessible for $374 makes it among the best cellphone bargains of the 12 months. So if you happen to’re seeking to improve this Cyber Monday, be sure you get the Pixel 7a.