HTC has surprised us with the launch of theHTC U23 Pro , a well - equip mid - ranger , but how does it compare to the recently announcedGoogle Pixel 7a ?
While HTC ’s fresh mid - Texas Ranger looks to be up to with a large 120Hz OLED display , a quad - camera setup and Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 major power , Google ’s Pixel 7a is a elusive choice to beat . It currently sits pretty at the top of our selection of thebest mid - range phones , declare oneself a solid all - round experience with flagship processing power and capable photographic camera .
Which is best for your need ? While we ’re yet to go helping hand - on with the HTC U23 Pro , here are a few key differences between the HTC U23 Pro and Google Pixel 7a .
The HTC U23 Pro has a larger, faster display
The Google Pixel 7a fixing one of the long - time complaints with Google ’s ‘ a ’ serial smartphones – the 60Hz refresh charge per unit – up the stop number to a snappy90Hz . That may still be unsure of the120Hzused by key rivals like thePoco F5 Pro , but it ’s a welcome addition that helps the phone sense more responsive in everyday consumption .
The OLED instrument panel is also one of the pocket-sized displays around at 6.1 inch , though it ’s not quite in true small - filmdom territory .
The HTC U23 Pro , on the other hand , offers a larger 6.7 - in OLED display that ’s not only great than that of the Pixel 7a , but quicker too , clocking in at a placid 120Hz . However , the remainder between 90 - 120Hz is negligible compared to the leap from 60 - 90Hz , so it ’s only mobile gamers that want to shoot a crack - smooth 120fps that it ’ll notice a literal difference .
Elsewhere , the larger panel should read to a better viewing experience when watch movies on Netflix and random video recording on YouTube than Google ’s mid - fire warden .
The Google Pixel 7a has a flagship processor
The HTC U23 Pro sports Qualcomm ’s mid - rangeSnapdragon 7 Gen 1chipset first revealed back in 2022 , and combined with a hefty 12 GB of RAM , should bear enough carrying out – though we ’ll verify that with benchmarks in the coming years . For context , we establish the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 - equippedXiaomi 13 Liteperformed well in day - to - day use with no substantial lag or stutter .
What it ca n’t do , however , is compete with the flagship - grade chipset discover within Google ’s low-cost Pixel 7a . More specifically , the Pixel 7a athletics Google ’s in - house - developedTensor G2chipset , the same chipset you ’ll discover within thePixel 7,Pixel 7 Proand recently announcedPixel Fold .
While benchmarks from our Pixel 7a review show that it ’s not quite as sinewy as flagship Qualcomm option , day - to - mean solar day functioning was smooth as could be , even when gaming .
Besides , it ’s a chipset more focussed on AI and machine learning , allow the phone to do some nerveless clobber with television camera functioning and command – but more on that in a second .
Both have capable camera setups
The HTC U23 Pro looks to have a capable camera wait at its rearward quadriceps femoris apparatus , but turn over into the glasses paint a more or less dissimilar image . While the 108MP main and 8MP ultrawide are of distinction , the go with 5MP macro instruction and 2MP depth sensors are less helpful on a day - to - day basis , so it ’s more of a dual camera frame-up in reality .
That 108MP main sensor brag enough specs too , include OIS and a wide f/1.7 aperture .
The Pixel 7a , on the other hand , sports a newfangled OIS - enabled 64MP main sensor match with a 13MP ultrawide lens . While it may not advance on absolute camera count , the two lens are incredibly capable . Our reader note that “ it ’s hard not to be impressed with the image ” taken on the Pixel 7a , retaining impressive detail and natural colours .
That ’s just specs , however . Where the Pixel 7a really pulls away from the U23 Pro ( and most other mid - range choice ) is its Tensor G2 - powered AI artistry . This allows for tech like genuine Tone for accurate tegument replica and 20x Super - Res Zoom , as well as muscular redaction capabilities like Magic Eraser and Face Unblur .
It also boosts large AI - power down - light performance , with our reviewer noting that the Pixel 7a deport better small - Christ Within results than theiPhone 14 Pro Max , and often at a much quicker pace too .
The HTC U23 Pro has a headphone jack
While once upon a clip practically every smartphone around featured a 3.5 mm headphone porthole , that could n’t be further from the truth in 2023 .
With the cheap Bluetooth headphone rotation , many manufacturers have ditched the port in a bidding to make phones slimmer and lighter – but what about those of us with mellow - end wired headphone ?
The HTC U23 Pro has you cover in that respect , with a 3.5 mm earpiece tar nestled on the top edge of the smartphone . It ’s sadly nowhere to be seen on the Pixel 7a , however , with its last visual aspect being on 2020’sPixel 4a .
The HTC U23 Pro is slightly more expensive
While both are fairly evenly matched mid - range options , the HTC U23 Pro comes in at slightly more than Google ’s budget - friendly Pixel 7a , even with a slight bump in price compared to last year ’s Pixel 6a .
The HTC U23 Pro is currently available to pre - Holy Order start at £ 499 ( around $ 600 ) , while the Google Pixel 7a will set prospective buyers back £ 449/$499 . The Pixel 7a is usable to buy now , while the HTC U23 Pro is available for pre - order now ahead of release in early June .
