Google recently announced the Pixel 7a. It’s a budget phone with a confusing price tag, costing more than its predecessor but cheaper than the Pixel 7, sacrificing a few features to achieve this price. With Google’s penchant for the all-plastic a-series, some would argue that the Pixel 7a couldn’t be any sturdier than his flagship Pixel 7 Pro. But a classic durability test by YouTuber Zach Nelson came to a surprising conclusion.
The JerryRigEverything channel is a household name in the tech YouTube community for videos that push devices to the limits of their physical durability. With the $500 Pixel 7a, Google seems to have made a pretty solid phone, despite the heavy use of plastic in its construction. The phone features metal side rails, removable metal buttons, and a metal SIM tray, all with proper sealing to maintain the device’s IP67 waterproof rating.
The Pixel 7a’s display can survive under a lighter flame for 25 seconds, and the OLED panel fully recovers. The camera visor is still metal and scratches easily. The screen has a Corning Gorilla Glass protection, so you can put your keys and coins in your pocket without a problem, but sand and other hard substances can leave marks. The plastic back panel is also susceptible to scratches from razor blades. So you’d be better off buying a protective case for the Pixel 7a, but not for the same reasons as the 7 Pro.
Nelson points out that plastic is also used in toys and gadgets that are made to last, and suggests avoiding associating plastic with low-end or cheap goods. We understand that Google’s use of plastic in his Pixel 7a helps keep costs down, but like it or not, there’s also the counter-argument that the display is glass. Nevertheless, his latest Pixel isn’t as weak as the 7 Pro, as you can see in the final bend test.
Google also made an interesting design decision to separate the metal camera visor from the new budget phone’s metal frame. Despite what appears to be a structural weakness, the phone survived Nelson’s heavy-duty bending tests with no signs of permanent deformation. So Google’s design doesn’t require structural rigidity, so a slim case would probably suffice.
Google has clearly learned a valuable lesson from the Pixel 7 Pro’s design, nearly doubling the stiffness of the Pixel 7a at just over half the price of the Pro model. Well worth the money here. The Pixel 7a is well on its way to becoming one of the best budget smartphones on the market.
Source: Google
google pixel 7a
The Pixel 7a doesn’t fit in any box. While this is Google’s cheapest phone, it rivals his flagship Pixel 7 with features like a 90Hz display and wireless charging. So, this isn’t a budget phone, nor is it a true mid-ranger, but it packs quite a bit of value at its price point.
