• 

  Google Pixel 7a

  Pixel 7 Lite

  $491 $499 Save $8

  Much like its predecessor, the 6a, the Google Pixel 7a sports hardware and a feature set comparable to its flagship-level relatives. It performs better than the Samsung Galaxy A54 and takes slightly better pictures, but it's also a touch more costly.

  Pros

  • Great for taking pictures
  • Impressive Tensor G2 CPU performance
  • Supports wireless charging

  Cons

  • Max wired charging of 18W
  • No expandable storage

  $491 at Amazon

• 

  Samsung Galaxy A54 5G

  Galaxy S23 Lite

  Samsung's A Series continues to impress, with hardware befitting a high-end smartphone but a price that's not as eye-watering as a true flagship. A high refresh rate, powerful CPU, and capable camera make it a steal at under $500, but is it enough to dethrone Google's latest midrange offering?

  Pros

  • Improved performance
  • A microSD card slot
  • High-end fit and finish

  Cons

  • Pre-loaded with Samsung apps
  • Lacks wireless charging

  $450 at Amazon

A lot of people don't want to spend first car money on a smartphone. Thankfully, mid-range phones are fantastic these days, providing a user experience that's more than good enough for most people.

Samsung and Google are especially popular in this segment, and that rivalry has continued this year with the Google Pixel 7a and Samsung Galaxy A54. But which of these mid-range titans is right for you?

Price, availability, and specs

The Pixel 7a is available for $500 unlocked from select carriers in Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

The Galaxy A54 launched at $450 and can be found worldwide unlocked and from most carriers. Because the A54 has been around longer, you can often find it discounted during events like Prime Day and Black Friday.

The hardware specs between these two phones are quite different, as you can see below:

• 	Google Pixel 7a	Samsung Galaxy A54 5G
  SoC	Google Tensor G2	Samsung Exynos 1380
  Display	6.1" FHD, OLED, 60Hz/90Hz refresh rate, HDR support	6.4-inch Super AMOLED, 120Hz
  RAM	8GB LPDDR5	6GB, 8GB
  Storage	128GB	128GB, 256GB
  Battery	4,385mAh	5,000mAh
  Ports	USB-C	USB-C
  Operating System	Android 13	Android 13 with One UI 5.1
  Camera (Rear, Front)	64MP 82°, 13MP 120° ultrawide, 13MP 95° front	50 MP f/1.8 (primary); 12 MP f/2.2 (ultrawide); 5 MP f/2.4 (macro)
  Front camera	13MP, 4K30, f/2.2 aperture, 95° FOV, face unlock	32MP f/2.2
  Connectivity	5G sub6 / mmWave, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3	Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, LTE, 5G (sub-6GHz)
  Dimensions	152.4 x 72.9 x 9mm	158.2 x 76.7 x 8.2 mm
  Weight	193g (6.84 oz)	202 g
  IP Rating	IP67	IP67

Design and display

If you're familiar with either company's flagship phones, the Pixel 7a and Galaxy A54 will look familiar. For the Pixel, that means the camera bar is now made of metal instead of glass. That metal makes up the whole frame of the device. This is welcome news, as the Pixel 6 series suffered from scratched camera glass. The back of the phone is made of plastic, but it's the same plastic we've grown accustomed to from Google, so it feels good in the hand, and there are no durability concerns.

The Galaxy A54 upgrades from plastic to Gorilla Glass 5 on the back panel, which certainly feels nicer than plastic. This is offset, however, by a plastic frame, which makes the phone creak when gripped in certain positions. Overall, The design is standard Samsung fare, with rounded corners, individual camera lenses without a bump, and metal rings around the lenses.

Since they're both nearly identical to their flagship-class brethren, the pros and cons of those designs remain true here. Namely, the Pixel's camera bar makes for a slightly more comfortable experience when the phone's lying on a table (sans a case), and the A54's corners make it ever-so-slightly easier to hold onto. But neither smartphone has any major weaknesses in the design department.

The A54's 6.4-inch display is a bit larger than the 6.1-inch panel on the Pixel 7a. Both have FHD+ resolutions, with Samsung using its usual Super AMOLED technology and Google opting for OLED. Both screens also have bright, oversaturated colors and decent viewing angles.

The main difference is the refresh rate. Finally, Google has dropped 60Hz from its smartphone lineup and upgraded to 90Hz. The A54 is still faster at 120Hz, but that isn't a difference you'll notice as much as you'd think. The difference in smoothness between 60-90Hz is much greater than 90-120Hz. So, you get a slightly larger and smoother experience from the A54, but the display on the Pixel is still fantastic.

Cameras

The Pixel and Pixel Pro are largely considered the best phones for taking pictures, and the Pixel 7a upholds that reputation pretty well. Its new 64MP main camera is as good as it gets in the midrange, but smartphone photography isn't all about hardware specs.

Between the Tensor G2 SoC and Google's impressive "AI" integration makes for the clearest, most high-contrast, accurately colored images you can take with a mobile handset (it's not real AI, of course, but that's what everybody calls advanced algorithms these days). Although the 7a won't quite match the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro image quality, it honestly comes close.

That's not to say Samsung's Galaxy A54 takes bad pictures. On the contrary, the company's imaging is fantastic in most respects, although we've sometimes run into issues with low-light and burst photos. Most notably, we've picked up some noise and blurry details when taking photos at dusk or during the night. But if you only take pictures casually, you'll be happy with the A54. If you need the latest and greatest high-resolution imaging, though, the Pixel 7a is a clear winner.

Software

Both phones launch with Android 13 out of the box, with the A54 running One UI 5.1 on top. Which flavor of software you prefer will come down to personal taste, but both phones handle their software well.

The Pixel is promised three Android updates (including the recently released Android 14) with two additional years of security patches. That means it'll end its days on Android 16. The A54 is promised an additional Android upgrade, so it'll get Android 17; however, the trade-off is that you'll be waiting longer for those major updates. You can download Android 14 right now on the 7a, while the A54 will need to wait a month or two for the more expensive phones to get it first.

Battery and performance

The Galaxy A54 uses an Exynos 1380 with 6GB or 8GB of RAM, while the Pixel 7a uses a Tensor G2 with 8GB of RAM. Even though Tensor G2 is made by Samsung and loosely based on Exynos, that doesn't make these chips even remotely the same.

The Exynos 1380 is designed with the mid-range in mind, and when you combine that with the issues inherent with Exynos in general, the experience can be frustrating. Expect frequent frame drops and heat generation. Tensor G2 was designed for the Pixel 7, 7 Pro, and Pixel Fold. So, while it isn't as powerful as a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, it is significantly better than the Exynos in the A54.

The Pixel 7a's 4,382mAh battery is basically the same size as its predecessor's, but improved CPU efficiency means it gets a little better than the merely OK battery life of the Pixel 6a. Its 18-watt charging, unfortunately, isn't much to write home about and won't do much during a quick top-off on your way out of the house. Google has, however, included wireless charging this time around, making it a little more convenient for heavy users to keep energy levels up. Either way, you shouldn't have much issue lasting all day during average use.

The Galaxy A54 is a different story. Its 5,000mAh battery is the same as in the A53 and easily lasts all day, even at high brightness with relatively heavy use. Its 25-watt charging is faster than the Pixel's, but not astronomically so, and there's no wireless charging option. In the end, the A54 wins out if all-day battery life is one of your main considerations.

Which should you buy?

This choice is easy. You should buy the Pixel 7a. The display is finally close enough to contend, but the consistent performance matters most. Tensor G2 is far better than any mid-range Exynos will ever be, and that alone is enough for the phone to earn our recommendation. Combine that with class-leading cameras, and you have a fantastic smartphone experience that's just $500.

Having said that, the Galaxy A54 is still a competent phone, and it's often discounted quite heavily. At their starting prices, the Pixel definitely wins, but if you can get the A54 at a discount for as low as $300, that might be worth it to some people.