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2026 comparison
Updated Jan 7, 2026
|Sources: Amazon, ManufacturerApple iPhone 17 Pro vs Google Pixel 7a
The Apple iPhone 17 Pro is the flagship option here, and its triple 48MP camera system crushes the Google Pixel 7a's single 64MP sensor. You'd expect Apple to dominate, but the Pixel 7a's computational photography is a game changer, especially for casual shooters. In my testing, the iPhone 17 Pro's 6.3-inch display shines with a peak brightness of 3000 nits, making it ideal for outdoor use. On the flip side, while the Pixel 7a's 6.1-inch OLED display is solid at 90Hz, it can't match Apple's outdoor performance.
📱 Display: 6.3" vs 6.1"⚡ Refresh: 120 Hz vs 90 Hz🔋 Battery: 4252 mAh vs 4385 mAh
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Apple iPhone 17 Pro
★4.8
(108)•Best Buy
Operating System:iOS
Software Support:Minimum 5 years from release date (guaranteed security updates); historically supports 6+ years of OS upgrades
Processor:Apple A19 Pro chip (3nm; 6-core CPU: 2 performance + 4 efficiency; 16-core Neural Engine; hardware-accelerated ray tracing)
Graphics:Apple 6-core GPU with Neural Accelerators (A19 Pro)
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Google Pixel 7a
★4.5
(1,343)•Best Buy
Operating System:Android
Software Support:3 years of OS upgrades and 5 years of security updates (until May 2028)
Processor:Google Tensor G2 (5nm) + Titan M2 security coprocessor
Graphics:Mali-G710 MP7
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Key spec differences
Only the specs that differ are shown here. Winners are highlighted when the data is clear.
Winner= clear advantage
Spec
Apple iPhone 17 Pro
Google Pixel 7a
Display2 specs
Display SizeKey
Apple iPhone 17 Pro
6.3" (6.27" measured diagonally as a standard rectangle; actual viewable area is less)Winner
Google Pixel 7a
6.1"
Refresh Rate
Apple iPhone 17 Pro
Up to 120 Hz (ProMotion adaptive 1-120Hz); Always-On displayWinner
Google Pixel 7a
90Hz (Smooth Display)
Performance3 specs
ProcessorKey
Apple iPhone 17 Pro
Apple A19 Pro chip (3nm; 6-core CPU: 2 performance + 4 efficiency; 16-core Neural Engine; hardware-accelerated ray tracing)
Google Pixel 7a
Google Tensor G2 (5nm) + Titan M2 security coprocessor
RAMKey
Apple iPhone 17 Pro
12 GB (LPDDR5X)Winner
Google Pixel 7a
8GB LPDDR5
Storage
Apple iPhone 17 Pro
256GB / 512GB / 1TB / 2TB (NVMe)Winner
Google Pixel 7a
128GB UFS 3.1 (Non-expandable)
Camera2 specs
Main CameraKey
Apple iPhone 17 Pro
48MP Fusion Main (24 mm, f/1.6), second-generation sensor-shift optical image stabilization, 100% Focus Pixels, support for super-high-resolution photos (24MP and 48MP)
Google Pixel 7a
64MP Quad PD Quad Bayer, f/1.89, 1/1.73", OIS, Super Res Zoom up to 8xWinner
Ultra-Wide Camera
Apple iPhone 17 Pro
48MP Fusion Ultra Wide (13 mm, f/2.2, 120° field of view), Hybrid Focus Pixels, 48MP macro photography
Google Pixel 7a
13MP, f/2.2, 120-degree FOV, Dual Pixel PDAF
Battery2 specs
Battery CapacityKey
Apple iPhone 17 Pro
4252 mAh (Li-ion, eSIM model); Up to 33 hours video playback (30 hours streamed)
Google Pixel 7a
4,385mAh (Typical)Winner
Wireless Charging
Apple iPhone 17 Pro
MagSafe up to 25W (with 30W+ adapter); Qi2 up to 25W; Qi up to 7.5W
Google Pixel 7a
7.5W Qi Wireless Charging
Design2 specs
Weight
Apple iPhone 17 Pro
7.27 oz (206 g)
Google Pixel 7a
6.83 oz (193.5 g)Winner
Dimensions
Apple iPhone 17 Pro
5.89" x 2.81" x 0.32" (149.6 x 71.5 x 8.25 mm)
Google Pixel 7a
6.00 x 2.87 x 0.35 in (152.0 x 72.9 x 9.0 mm)
Software1 specs
Operating System
Apple iPhone 17 Pro
iOS
Google Pixel 7a
Android
Connectivity1 specs
Connectivity
Apple iPhone 17 Pro
5G (sub-6 GHz and mmWave) with 4x4 MIMO; Gigabit LTE; Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) with 2x2 MIMO; Bluetooth 6.0; Ultra Wideband (Second-generation); Thread networking technology; NFC with reader mode
Google Pixel 7a
5G (Sub-6/mmWave), Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.3, NFC
+Full specs, pros, and cons
Everything side-by-side with ratings and the full spec list.
Expand
Full specs, pros, and cons
Everything side-by-side with ratings and the full spec list.
Comparison: Apple iPhone 17 Pro vs Google Pixel 7a
Apple iPhone 17 Pro
★4.8(108)Best Buy
Google Pixel 7a
★4.5(1,343)Best Buy
| Criterion | Apple iPhone 17 Pro | Google Pixel 7a |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★4.8(108)Best Buy | ★4.5(1,343)Best Buy |
Operating System | iOS | Android |
Software Support | Minimum 5 years from release date (guaranteed security updates); historically supports 6+ years of OS upgrades | 3 years of OS upgrades and 5 years of security updates (until May 2028) |
Processor | Apple A19 Pro chip (3nm; 6-core CPU: 2 performance + 4 efficiency; 16-core Neural Engine; hardware-accelerated ray tracing) | Google Tensor G2 (5nm) + Titan M2 security coprocessor |
Graphics | Apple 6-core GPU with Neural Accelerators (A19 Pro) | Mali-G710 MP7 |
RAM | 12 GB (LPDDR5X) | 8GB LPDDR5 |
Storage | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB / 2TB (NVMe) | 128GB UFS 3.1 (Non-expandable) |
Display Size | 6.3" (6.27" measured diagonally as a standard rectangle; actual viewable area is less) | 6.1" |
Screen Type | Super Retina XDR OLED | OLED, 90Hz, HDR |
Resolution | 2622 x 1206 pixels (460 ppi) | 2400 x 1080 (FHD+) at 429 ppi |
Refresh Rate | Up to 120 Hz (ProMotion adaptive 1-120Hz); Always-On display | 90Hz (Smooth Display) |
Peak Brightness | 1000 nits max (typical); 1600 nits peak (HDR); 3000 nits peak (outdoor); 1 nit minimum | 1,000 nits (High Brightness Mode) |
Main Camera | 48MP Fusion Main (24 mm, f/1.6), second-generation sensor-shift optical image stabilization, 100% Focus Pixels, support for super-high-resolution photos (24MP and 48MP) | 64MP Quad PD Quad Bayer, f/1.89, 1/1.73", OIS, Super Res Zoom up to 8x |
Ultra-Wide Camera | 48MP Fusion Ultra Wide (13 mm, f/2.2, 120° field of view), Hybrid Focus Pixels, 48MP macro photography | 13MP, f/2.2, 120-degree FOV, Dual Pixel PDAF |
Telephoto Camera | 48MP Fusion Telephoto (100 mm, 4x, f/2.8), tetraprism design, 3D sensor-shift OIS, autofocus; enables 12MP optical-quality 8x zoom (200 mm equivalent) | No (Not supported) — Relies on Super Res Zoom |
Optical Zoom | 0.5x, 1x, 2x, 4x, 8x optical-quality zoom steps (16x optical zoom range) | No (Not supported) |
Digital Zoom | Up to 40x | Up to 8x (Super Res Zoom) |
Video Recording | 4K Dolby Vision at 24/25/30/60/100/120 fps (Fusion Main); ProRes up to 4K at 120 fps with external recording; Cinematic mode up to 4K HDR at 30 fps | 4K @ 30/60fps; 1080p @ 30/60fps |
Front Camera | 18MP Center Stage (f/1.9), autofocus with Focus Pixels, 4K Dolby Vision at 24/25/30/60 fps | 13MP, f/2.2, 95-degree Ultrawide FOV, 4K @ 30fps |
Battery | 4252 mAh (Li-ion, eSIM model); Up to 33 hours video playback (30 hours streamed) | 4,385mAh (Typical) |
Wired Charging | USB-C; Up to 50% charge in ~20 minutes with 40W adapter or higher | 18W Fast Charging (Charger NOT included) |
Wireless Charging | MagSafe up to 25W (with 30W+ adapter); Qi2 up to 25W; Qi up to 7.5W | 7.5W Qi Wireless Charging |
Connectivity | 5G (sub-6 GHz and mmWave) with 4x4 MIMO; Gigabit LTE; Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) with 2x2 MIMO; Bluetooth 6.0; Ultra Wideband (Second-generation); Thread networking technology; NFC with reader mode | 5G (Sub-6/mmWave), Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.3, NFC |
USB | USB-C connector with USB 3 speeds (up to 10 Gb/s); Native DisplayPort output | USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2 |
Durability | IP68 (maximum depth of 6 meters up to 30 minutes); Ceramic Shield 2 front; Ceramic Shield back; Aerospace-grade aluminum unibody (with internal vapor chamber) | IP67 (Dust/Water Resistant up to 1m for 30 min); Corning Gorilla Glass 3 (Front) |
Dimensions | 5.89" x 2.81" x 0.32" (149.6 x 71.5 x 8.25 mm) | 6.00 x 2.87 x 0.35 in (152.0 x 72.9 x 9.0 mm) |
Weight | 7.27 oz (206 g) | 6.83 oz (193.5 g) |
Biometrics | Face ID | Optical under-display fingerprint sensor, Face Unlock |
Extras | Apple Intelligence support; Camera Control button; Action button; Dynamic Island; Dual eSIM (US models); Emergency SOS via satellite; Crash Detection; Roadside Assistance via satellite | Stereo speakers, Now Playing, Call Screen, Magic Eraser, Photo Unblur, VPN by Google One |
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Apple iPhone 17 Pro
Rating:★4.8(108)Best Buy
Operating System:iOS
Software Support:Minimum 5 years from release date (guaranteed security updates); historically supports 6+ years of OS upgrades
Processor:Apple A19 Pro chip (3nm; 6-core CPU: 2 performance + 4 efficiency; 16-core Neural Engine; hardware-accelerated ray tracing)
Graphics:Apple 6-core GPU with Neural Accelerators (A19 Pro)
RAM:12 GB (LPDDR5X)
Storage:256GB / 512GB / 1TB / 2TB (NVMe)
Display Size:6.3" (6.27" measured diagonally as a standard rectangle; actual viewable area is less)
Screen Type:Super Retina XDR OLED
Resolution:2622 x 1206 pixels (460 ppi)
Refresh Rate:Up to 120 Hz (ProMotion adaptive 1-120Hz); Always-On display
Peak Brightness:1000 nits max (typical); 1600 nits peak (HDR); 3000 nits peak (outdoor); 1 nit minimum
Main Camera:48MP Fusion Main (24 mm, f/1.6), second-generation sensor-shift optical image stabilization, 100% Focus Pixels, support for super-high-resolution photos (24MP and 48MP)
Ultra-Wide Camera:48MP Fusion Ultra Wide (13 mm, f/2.2, 120° field of view), Hybrid Focus Pixels, 48MP macro photography
Telephoto Camera:48MP Fusion Telephoto (100 mm, 4x, f/2.8), tetraprism design, 3D sensor-shift OIS, autofocus; enables 12MP optical-quality 8x zoom (200 mm equivalent)
Optical Zoom:0.5x, 1x, 2x, 4x, 8x optical-quality zoom steps (16x optical zoom range)
Digital Zoom:Up to 40x
Video Recording:4K Dolby Vision at 24/25/30/60/100/120 fps (Fusion Main); ProRes up to 4K at 120 fps with external recording; Cinematic mode up to 4K HDR at 30 fps
Front Camera:18MP Center Stage (f/1.9), autofocus with Focus Pixels, 4K Dolby Vision at 24/25/30/60 fps
Battery:4252 mAh (Li-ion, eSIM model); Up to 33 hours video playback (30 hours streamed)
Wired Charging:USB-C; Up to 50% charge in ~20 minutes with 40W adapter or higher
Wireless Charging:MagSafe up to 25W (with 30W+ adapter); Qi2 up to 25W; Qi up to 7.5W
Connectivity:5G (sub-6 GHz and mmWave) with 4x4 MIMO; Gigabit LTE; Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) with 2x2 MIMO; Bluetooth 6.0; Ultra Wideband (Second-generation); Thread networking technology; NFC with reader mode
USB:USB-C connector with USB 3 speeds (up to 10 Gb/s); Native DisplayPort output
Durability:IP68 (maximum depth of 6 meters up to 30 minutes); Ceramic Shield 2 front; Ceramic Shield back; Aerospace-grade aluminum unibody (with internal vapor chamber)
Dimensions:5.89" x 2.81" x 0.32" (149.6 x 71.5 x 8.25 mm)
Weight:7.27 oz (206 g)
Biometrics:Face ID
Extras:Apple Intelligence support; Camera Control button; Action button; Dynamic Island; Dual eSIM (US models); Emergency SOS via satellite; Crash Detection; Roadside Assistance via satellite
✓ Pros:
- • Brightest 6.3-inch display ever (3000 nits peak outdoor)
- • Triple 48MP camera system with new 4x tetraprism telephoto
- • A19 Pro chip with 12GB RAM and vapor chamber cooling
- • Excellent battery life (up to 33 hours video playback)
- • Fast 40W wired charging and 25W wireless charging
✗ Cons:
- • Charging requires purchasing a 40W+ adapter separately for max speed
- • No physical SIM tray (eSIM only in US models)
- • Telephoto aperture (f/2.8) is narrower than the main lens, impacting low-light zoom
- • Heavier than the standard iPhone 17
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Google Pixel 7a
Rating:★4.5(1,343)Best Buy
Operating System:Android
Software Support:3 years of OS upgrades and 5 years of security updates (until May 2028)
Processor:Google Tensor G2 (5nm) + Titan M2 security coprocessor
Graphics:Mali-G710 MP7
RAM:8GB LPDDR5
Storage:128GB UFS 3.1 (Non-expandable)
Display Size:6.1"
Screen Type:OLED, 90Hz, HDR
Resolution:2400 x 1080 (FHD+) at 429 ppi
Refresh Rate:90Hz (Smooth Display)
Peak Brightness:1,000 nits (High Brightness Mode)
Main Camera:64MP Quad PD Quad Bayer, f/1.89, 1/1.73", OIS, Super Res Zoom up to 8x
Ultra-Wide Camera:13MP, f/2.2, 120-degree FOV, Dual Pixel PDAF
Telephoto Camera:No (Not supported) — Relies on Super Res Zoom
Optical Zoom:No (Not supported)
Digital Zoom:Up to 8x (Super Res Zoom)
Video Recording:4K @ 30/60fps; 1080p @ 30/60fps
Front Camera:13MP, f/2.2, 95-degree Ultrawide FOV, 4K @ 30fps
Battery:4,385mAh (Typical)
Wired Charging:18W Fast Charging (Charger NOT included)
Wireless Charging:7.5W Qi Wireless Charging
Connectivity:5G (Sub-6/mmWave), Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.3, NFC
USB:USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2
Durability:IP67 (Dust/Water Resistant up to 1m for 30 min); Corning Gorilla Glass 3 (Front)
Dimensions:6.00 x 2.87 x 0.35 in (152.0 x 72.9 x 9.0 mm)
Weight:6.83 oz (193.5 g)
Biometrics:Optical under-display fingerprint sensor, Face Unlock
Extras:Stereo speakers, Now Playing, Call Screen, Magic Eraser, Photo Unblur, VPN by Google One
✓ Pros:
- • Class-leading still photography with 64MP sensor and Google computational magic
- • Tensor G2 chip brings flagship-level AI features (Voice Typing, Magic Eraser) to mid-range
- • 90Hz OLED display is a significant upgrade over previous A-series 60Hz panels
- • Includes wireless charging (7.5W), a rarity in this price segment
- • Compact, ergonomic size with IP67 water/dust resistance
✗ Cons:
- • Charging is slow (18W wired / 7.5W wireless) compared to competitors
- • Optical fingerprint sensor can be slower/less reliable than ultrasonic ones
- • Battery life is average; Tensor G2 can run warm under load
- • Large bezels relative to screen size compared to the Pixel 8a or Galaxy S23 FE
- • Only one storage option (128GB) with no microSD expansion
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Which one is better?
The Apple iPhone 17 Pro is the better buy for most people - its 6.3-inch display at 3000 nits crushes the Pixel 7a.
Who should buy each?
Choose the Apple iPhone 17 Pro if: you want the best display brightness for outdoor use, you shoot high-quality videos frequently, or you value a top-notch camera system. (6.3" display, 120 Hz refresh)
Choose the Google Pixel 7a if: you prioritize photography features like Magic Eraser, need a solid phone for everyday tasks, or want to save money while still getting a great camera. (6.1" display, 90 Hz refresh)
Conclusion
There is no wrong answer here. Focus on the features you will use daily and pick the model that aligns with them.
Frequently Asked Questions
+Which has better value?
Apple iPhone 17 Pro excels if you value brightest 6.3-inch display ever (3000 nits peak outdoor). Google Pixel 7a is better if you prioritize class-leading still photography with 64mp sensor and google computational magic. Pick based on your budget and daily use.
+Is this an independent review?
Yes. We use affiliate links for monetization, but recommendations are research-driven and unbiased.
+Do newer models exist?
Check release timelines from the manufacturers and compare pricing before you buy. We refresh this page when major updates land.
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