Google has finally launched its mid-range Pixel 7a device in India. The Google Pixel 7a is the third member of the Google Pixel 7 Series and it is a successor to the Pixel 6a that came out in 2022. The Google Pixel 7a is available for Rs. 43,999 for a 128GB storage model via Flipkart and comes in Charcoal, Sea, and Snow color options.
Although Pixel 7a claims to come with improvements in camera, chipset, display, and battery, but there are quite a few reasons why this smartphone might not be a perfect fit for you. Here are those 5 reasons that you should consider before spending your money on Google Pixel 7a.
ALSO READ: Google I/O 2023: Google Pixel 7a, Pixel Tablet & Pixel Fold go official
1. Performance not close to competition
Google Pixel 7a is powered by Google’s in-house Tensor G2 chipset. The same chipset powers Google Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro as well. Although the chipset is perfect for handling day-to-day tasks seamlessly, in terms of RAW performance during heavy-duty tasks like gaming, things get a little tricky. There are no stutters or lags when performing everyday actions like calling, listening to music, browsing social media, texting, emailing, etc, but that is because the software optimization is good.
These days, smartphones in the same price segment come with more capable and powerful chipsets (like Snapdragon 8+ gen 1) that can handle gaming, video editing, and more like a pro. When compared to those, Pixel 7a’s processor doesn’t come up to the mark. If you are a performance buff, then Pixel 7a is not a good fit for you.
2. Slow charging speeds
The Google Pixel 7a comes with 18W fast charging support, which is very slow when you compare it to smartphones with 100W, 80W, and 120W charging capabilities. These phones are in the same bracket as Pixel 7a but their charging speeds are way faster. This proves to be a huge letdown for Google Pixel 7a that too when one is paying almost 45k for it.
3. No charger inside the box
Google Pixel 7a doesn’t come with a charger bundled inside the box. Just like previous generation Google phones, you will have to purchase a charger on your own if you opt for Pixel 7a. This means spending a few extra bucks for buying a charger. Although one can use their old charger as well, sometimes that might not be possible. Google provides a mere 18W fast charging support for Pixel 7a.
4. History of buggy updates
Google keeps providing updates for its Pixel phones wherein the brand claims that it has solved the issue that the users were facing. However, most of the time whenever Google tries to fix an issue by rolling out an update, it tends to give rise to another bug altogether. For example in March 2023, Google rolled out an update for Pixel 7 and 7 Pro but despite of those updates, issues were seen with screen scrolling that got laggy, stuttering, and erratic. This poses problems for the users as with each update, user experience starts taking a toll. Hope Google fixes this soon so that there’s one less pointer in the list of drawbacks for Pixel smartphones.
5. No after-sales service point
One of the biggest issues with Google Pixel smartphones in India is the lack of any authorized service centers in the country. In the past few years, Google partnered with B2X to provide door-to-door repair service for Pixel smartphones in India but now it has switched to F1 Info Solutions for repairs and warranty claims. Although F1 Info Solutions has a wider reach, it still only handles the servicing. Pixel phones are otherwise sent to authorized factories for repairs.
When we did a story on Google tying up with B2X for repairs, many users came forward to share their experiences with us. They claimed that although the device might get repaired ok, but the responsibility was entirely the users’. The brand doesn’t have any service to assure users of full safety and security while servicing and repairs. Click on the link below and scroll to the comments section to hear from the users themselves.
Where To Get Google Pixel Phones Serviced Or Repaired In India
Apart from these major 5 issues, there are quite a few small niggles as well. These include a lack of storage options (only 128GB onboard storage available) and speaker sound quality not up to the mark (dual speakers give a screechy sound even at 90% volume).
So, people do consider all these reasons before they decide to spend their hard-earned money on the Google Pixel 7a smartphone.
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Great phone with a hidden and very deep pitfall! I Bought a pixel 7 from US, not even 1 year old. They have a know issue with rear camera glass cover breaking spontaneously. The first issue is that there is no service center even in the silicon city of India - Bangalore!!! They have collection centers and they send it to Mumbai to get it repaired, which could take more than a month! The other issue is that they dont service their own phones if purchased from outside India! Even if you are ready to pay the service cost, they are not ready to accept!