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It seems like the Google Pixel 7a does not include the same SoC as the Pixel 7 after all. This may sound odd to you, as both devices do ship with the Tensor G2 SoC, but let me explain.
Kamila Wojciechowska, a tipster who tends to share Pixel info, claims that the Tensor G2 inside the Pixel 7a is inferior to the one inside the Pixel 7. They are not exactly the same, it would seem.
The SoC inside the Pixel 7a is not the same as the one in the Pixel 7
The Tensor G2 inside the Pixel 7a was made using a different packaging technique. For those of you who are unaware, packaging is the last step in the production of chips. It basically represents placing a chip in a protective cover, for protection purposes, and to help it connect to other parts of the device.
Based on what the tipster said, Google used the IPoP tech for the Pixel 7a. For the Tensor G2 in the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro, the company used a more advanced packaging technique, FOPLP-PoP.
So, what’s the difference exactly? Well, the chips that use the IPoP packaging technique are both thicker and larger. On top of that, they also tend to run hotter than the ones using a more advanced packaging technique.
This difference is not something you should be worried about
Is this something that should worry you? Well, no, not really. As we’ve seen since launch, the chips inside both of these phones do perform rather similarly. On top of that, we did not notice any notable differences in heat distribution. The Pixel 7a may get a bit warmer during specific tasks, such as gaming, but the difference is nothing to write home about.
Still, the difference in price tags between the two phones is not that big. This difference in SoCs may not be a reason enough for you to opt for the Pixel 7, but that device is the better phone of the two for other reasons. The Pixel 7a is still a great option, though.