The Google Pixel 7a and the Samsung Galaxy A54 are two of the hottest mid-range Android phones of 2023. There's not much difference in their prices—the Galaxy A54 starts at $449, and the Pixel 7a at $499—but there are a lot of differences in their features.

If you're confused about which one to buy, this detailed comparison will put the two side by side and help you decide which is the right pick for you. Let's take a look.

Design

  • Pixel 7a: 152 x 72.9 x 9 mm; 193 grams; IP67 rating
  • Galaxy A54: 158.2 x 76.7 x 8.2 mm; 202 grams; IP67 rating

The Galaxy A54 is taller, broader, slimmer, and heavier than the Pixel 7a. It uses a matte plastic frame and Gorilla Glass 5 on the front and back whereas the Pixel has an aluminum frame, a plastic back, and the older Gorilla Glass 3 on the front.

Both devices boast a new design and look similar to their flagship counterparts. The Galaxy A54 has three individual camera lenses protruding out the back like the S23 and the Pixel 7a has an oval cutout inside the camera bar, resembling the Pixel 7.

Both devices offer an IP67 rating and come in four colorways. The Galaxy A54 comes in Lime, Graphite, Violet, and White while the Pixel 7a comes in Sea, Snow, Charcoal, and the exclusive color Coral available via the official Google Store site.

Camera

Pixel 7a in all color variants
Image Credit: Google
  • Pixel 7a: 64MP f/1.9 primary with Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS, and 4K video @ 60fps; 13MP f/2.2 ultra-wide with 120-degree FOV; 13MP f/2.2 ultrawide selfie camera with 4K video @ 30fps
  • Galaxy A54: 50MP f/1.8 primary with PDAF, OIS, and 4K video @ 30fps; 12MP f/2.2 ultrawide with 123-degree FOV; 5MP f/2.4 macro; 32MP f/2.2 selfie camera with 4K video @ 30fps

The Pixel 6a had the best smartphone camera of 2022 according to a blind test, and so fans are expecting similar results on the Pixel 7a too. However, note that it might take Google some time to properly optimize the software to best use the new 64MP main and 13MP ultrawide lenses on the device.

The 5MP macro lens on the Galaxy A54 is admittedly not that essential, but its 50MP primary and 12MP ultrawide lenses are indeed competent and produce bright, colorful, and shareable photos and videos with a style similar to that of the S23 Ultra.

The Pixel represents skin tones more accurately and also has a more pleasing color science overall without looking too processed. You can't go wrong with the A54, but Google's software means the Pixel 7a is probably the better pick in the camera department—as you might've expected.

Display

  • Pixel 7a: 6.1 inches; 90Hz refresh rate; FHD+ resolution; OLED; 429 PPI; 81.8% screen-to-body ratio; 931 nits peak brightness
  • Galaxy A54: 6.4 inches; adaptive refresh rate (120Hz-60Hz); FHD+ resolution; Super AMOLED; 403 PPI; 82.9% screen-to-body ratio; 980 nits peak brightness

Overall, the Galaxy A54 has better display specs. Samsung's phone has a bigger and brighter Super AMOLED screen with rounded corners. The Pixel 7a has a boxy OLED display and slightly higher PPI (pixel-per-inch), but the difference is small enough that the Pixel's screen won't look any sharper. Both devices have noticeable bezels.

The Pixel 7a (finally) has a high refresh rate of 90Hz. It's not as fast as the 120Hz on the Galaxy A54, but the difference in smoothness between 90Hz and 120Hz is—although noticeable—not big enough to warrant picking the Galaxy over the Pixel.

Processor

Google Tensor G2
Image Credit: Google
  • Pixel 7a: Google Tensor G2; 5nm fabrication; Mali-G710 MP7 GPU
  • Galaxy A54: Exynos 1280; 5nm fabrication; Mali-G68 MP5 GPU

The Pixel 7a uses the same Google Tensor G2 chip found on the flagship Pixel 7 and 7 Pro phones and it's much more powerful than the Exynos 1280 chip on the Galaxy A54. On the AnTuTu (v9) benchmark tests, the former clocks a score of around 800K while the latter is limited to around 500K.

The Exynos 1280 is not a weak chip by any means, and it's more than capable for everyday use. But the Tensor G2 will offer a smoother experience when browsing the web, using navigation, or multitasking. The difference in performance will be the most noticeable when you're playing games or performing graphic-intensive tasks like video rendering.

Having more power also means that your phone will be future-proof as constantly updated apps and games require more power. Both devices also have a dedicated security chip; the Galaxy A54 is protected by Samsung Knox security and the Pixel 7a boasts the Titan M2 chip.

RAM and Storage

  • Pixel 7a: 8GB RAM; 128GB storage
  • Galaxy A54: 6/8GB RAM; 128/256GB storage

The Pixel 7a comes with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage. The Galaxy A54 comes with 6/8GB RAM and 128/256GB storage options, so you can buy based on how much storage you need.

The Galaxy A54 also comes with a microSD card slot for expandable storage. This is a huge selling point for some people, especially those who plan to keep their phone for several years.

Battery and Lifespan

Samsung Galaxy A54 in Awesome Violet colorway featured image
  • Pixel 7a: 4385mAh; 18W wired charging; 7.5W wireless charging
  • Galaxy A54: 5000mAh; 25W wired charging

The Galaxy A54 has a larger 5000mAh cell and should deliver longer battery life than the 4385mAh cell on the Pixel 7a. And since the chips inside both devices are made using the same 5nm fabrication, one is not significantly more efficient than the other either.

The Galaxy A54 also has faster wired charging, but it lacks the wireless charging that the Pixel 7a does offer. It's rare to see wireless charging at this price, so Google gets some points for adding it to the Pixel, even if it is reported to be pegged to a rather slow 7.5W.

However, for most people, their phone's longevity is much more important than having wireless charging, and having a physically larger cell helps you delay buying a new phone. Neither of the two devices comes with a charger in the box.

And on the subject of the phone's lifespan, it's worth remembering that Samsung has a better software update policy than Google. Both phones will get security updates for five years, but the A54 will get four new Android versions and the 7a is expected to receive only three.

The Pixel 7a Is All About Cameras and Power

The Pixel 7a and Galaxy A54 excel at different things. Google's phone has an amazing camera, superior performance, a bloatware-free software experience, and nice-to-have wireless charging. The Galaxy has a larger battery, faster charging, a better display, a premium glass back, expandable storage, a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, and better software support.

The two devices are so competitive that picking a winner really depends on your priorities. If you want to keep your phone for as long as possible, the Galaxy A54 will likely serve you for longer. But if you want a better camera system and more power, the Pixel 7a looks a great choice.