Pixel 6a, Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro show Google is now offering Indian users best of Android

Google is back in the Indian phone market with the Pixel 6a, Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro phones. And all of them are fantastic devices that finally bring the best of Android to the Indian consumers. They are so good that not only are they the best Android phones to buy in India but they are even better value for money when compared to the iPhone 14 series.

Google Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro now available in India

By Javed Anwer: In recent years, there has been a kind of crisis in the Indian Android phone market. It is true that all gadgets and especially phones involve compromises. But even with that in mind, there was a kind of void in the Indian phone market. For example, if someone wanted a phone with clean Android, a great camera, and the promise of at least 2-3 years of faster OS updates, the choice for that person would be zero. Or something like that. In the mainstream market, where phones are more reasonably priced, some compromises don’t seem so bad to live with. But in the premium and ultra-premium segment, it’s annoying. The Google Pixel 6a, Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro fix this problem.

These aren’t perfect phones. Pixel 6a, Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro have their own tradeoffs. Still, I can say with confidence that these are the best Android phones you can get at their respective prices. Or rather: at their prices, these are the best phones you can get! That is, if ease of use is the main reason to buy a phone. Of course, if you’re looking for a spec monster, the Pixels might not be the best option. Side note: you should always buy a phone for its ease of use and never for the “specs” it has.

I say that after reviewing the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro. You can read this extensive and detailed report here.

But review aside, as someone who always loves to see the latest technology reaching consumers in some way, I’m just glad to know that Google is now selling its full range of current Pixel phones in India. That these phones are the best of Android is just a bonus.

Indian phone users needed this. Poorly. That’s because we’re starting to see that the world of Android has stagnated in recent years. The problem is highly visible in markets like India, where Huawei no longer sells its phones. Otherwise, China-based companies like Xiaomi don’t always bring their top-end phones to India. This means that for many people, the phone choice in the premium and ultra-premium segment is often either a OnePlus or a Samsung device. That’s if they want an Android phone. And in both cases, there are big trade-offs that consumers have to agree to. While the OnePlus phones have decent enough cameras, they don’t quite match the photography options that something like the iPhone 14 Pro or a Pixel can offer. The Samsung phones may have above-average cameras, but they can’t keep up with the OS updates that Google can push out for the Pixel. Some Xiaomi and Vivo phones, while offering a decent range of cameras and top-of-the-line hardware, have the kind of software that feels a bit odd in one way or another.

That’s why I think it’s a big deal for Indian consumers that they now have the option to buy a Pixel phone, although availability may be patchy.

In pixel phones, Indian consumers are now getting phones that do everything well. Although the Pixel 6a is the weakest of the bunch – especially at its MSRP of Rs 43,999. But it’s clear that the Pixel 6a will now be on sale at prices under Rs 40,000 and at these prices this is a very good phone to have offers consumers:

— A great main camera.

— Clean software. With the promise of OS updates for a few years.

— A distinctive design. Lots of power and good battery life. I have a feeling that the fingerprint sensor in the phone is slow and the display could be brighter. But as we’ve said, there are some compromises to be made with all devices, and in this case, when you can snag the Pixel 6a at around Rs 35,000, the compromises are worth making.

The Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro, meanwhile, are in a different league. They feature top-of-the-line hardware and a design that’s not only distinctive, but beautifully sculpted. Both are fast phones, offer great battery life, a range of cameras that are the best in the business, and displays that are bright, punchy and befitting premium phones.

These phones are so good, especially at their MRPs of Rs 59,999 and 84,999, that they should be the first choice for anyone looking to buy ultra-premium phones. That is, if they do stock, which I think will be an issue as Google has so far shown it’s not that good at stocking its highly rated products. But maybe that too will change in 2022. Finally, Google wants to change things by bringing its entire Pixel range to India.