Home - h4ckers-news

Google Search to roll out ‘About this image’ feature in coming months

Android

andreasc

-

May 12, 2023

Google Search to roll out ‘About this image’ feature in coming months

[ad_1]

Google will release a new feature for its search called “About this image” that reveals more information about a specific image. The feature goes live in the coming months.

Google Search is getting smarter thanks to its reliance on AI and the sum of data the company gathers on various domains. The search will now get a feature that debunks misinformation about an uploaded image and gives users insights about it.

According to the company’s blog post, the About this Image feature will “help you spot misinformation online, quickly evaluate the content, and better understand the context of what you’re seeing.”

The ‘About this image’ feature comes to Google Search

The company further explains that the About this Image feature reveals some important context to users. Including when the image and similar images were first indexed by Google, where it may have first appeared, and where else it’s been seen online (like on news, social, or fact-checking sites).

With AI being able to create almost real-life images with exceptional details, such tools will help users check the credibility of images. It also prevent the spreading of misinformation. “With our About this result tool, you can quickly see more information about a source or topic, so you can assess whether you can trust what you’re reading,” Google added.

The About this Image feature will be rolled out in the coming months. Additionally, it’ll be accessible by clicking on the three dots on an image in Google Images results, searching with an image or screenshot in Google Lens, or by swiping up in the Google App when you’re on a page and come across an image you want to learn more about.

The tech giant also adds that users could access the feature later this year by right-clicking or long-pressing on an image in Chrome on desktop and mobile.

Google is also rolling out its generative image capabilities. The feature ensures that every AI-generated image by Google has a markup on it to inform users about its main context in external platforms. Creators and publishers like Midjourney and Shutterstock could also add their own markups.

[ad_2]
Source link

Duet AI brings new AI features to Google Workspace tools

Tech

andreasc

-

May 12, 2023

0

Duet AI brings new AI features to Google Workspace tools

[ad_1]

Google is rebranding its AI efforts for the Workspace suite of productivity apps such as Docs and Gmail. Announced in March, the company is housing the new features under the Duet AI brand. The AI tools aren’t yet widely available to the general public. The firm has shared a tentative timeline for the availability of some of them, though.

Google rebrands Workspace AI features to Duet AI

Generative AI tools are the talk of the tech town lately. Tech firms are hurrying to integrate these tools into their products. Google announced its plans to bring AI features to Workspace apps in March after Microsoft added similar tools to its productivity suite. There haven’t been many updates from Google on the plans since the original announcement.

But at Google I/O yesterday, the company revealed that it’s streamlining the efforts, starting with a rebranding to Duet AI. It will cover everything from the writing assistance tool in Docs and Gmail, the image generation tool in Slides, automatic meeting summaries for Meet, and more. The writing assistant also gets a proper name — Help me write. It’s an upgrade to the existing Smart Compose tool.

These tools are available through the Workspace Labs. You can sign up to join the waitlist here (via). As noted by The Verge, the waitlist is no longer private, so anyone can join it. However, Google still doesn’t tell you when the tools will be available to everyone. All it says is that it’s working to bring Duet AI “to even more users and countries in the weeks ahead,” while providing the following estimates for feature availability.

Help me write is now available on the Gmail mobile app and rolling out via Workspace Labs starting this week. Since you don’t have access to a full keyboard on mobile phones, this tool can be pretty useful. “As you can imagine, mobile creates a whole bunch of constraints,” said Workspace VP Aparna Pappu. “And so we expect people to use far shorter prompts when asking AI to help them write mobile, and we’ve had to tune our experience there to create the best possible output with the least possible input.

Gmail contextual responses will follow the writing assistance in Workspace Labs by the end of this month. Next month, Google will add the image generation tool to Slides and a tool to organize complex projects in Sheets. Those will be followed by intelligent classification in Sheets, custom backgrounds in Google Meet, and AI building blocks in Docs. Google also plans to add an AI-powered proofreading tool to Docs. It will be available in preview to Workspace commercial users in the coming months.

Google teased a new AI tool called Sidekick

Google also teased a new feature called Sidekick at the I/O yesterday. It can analyze documents to read, summarize, and answer questions across many of its products. The tool can even provide suggestions that may improve your content. “For example, if you’re writing a story, it might suggest that you generate some images to illustrate it,” the Verge explains. Pappu described the tool as “the future of collaboration with AI” but didn’t share its availability details. We may have to wait a few more months for the Google Sidekick.

[ad_2]
Source link

Github Announced Push Protection Feature Free

Hacking

andreasc

-

May 12, 2023

0

Github Announced Push Protection Feature Free

[ad_1]

GitHub is one of the largest code repository platforms developers use worldwide.

Developers belonging to an organization, individual developers, and enterprise developers use this platform to commit and push the codes inside their repository.

Microsoft took over the code repository platform in 2016, and there were several additional features after that.

In April 2022, GitHub introduced the beta version of the push protection feature for GitHub Advanced Security users.

This feature scans for potential secrets on the code being pushed to GitHub and alerts the developers on how to fix them.

Ever since the release of this feature, it has prevented 17,000 potential secrets from leaking, amounting to 95,000 hours of revoking, rotating, and remediating the exposed secrets.

The push protection feature was limited to users with GitHub Advanced Security License.

However, GitHub has announced that they will release the push protection feature free for all public repositories, which can proactively help open source developers maintain security on their code.

GitHub has partnered and worked closely with service providers (API) to enhance the push protection feature. Hence, the rate of false positives on this feature will be negligible.

GitHub also stated that if the developers are prompted with alerts on the push protection feature, it is worth investigating it.

Ger McMahon, Product Leader of ALM Tools and Platforms at Fidelity Investments, stated, “Incorporating secret scanning with push protection directly into the development workflow reduces friction, enabling developers to create secure and high-quality code.”

Push protection can detect the type of secret exposed and provide remediation steps through a prompt on their IDE or guidance on the command line interface.

Developers also have the option to ignore these push protection prompts by mentioning them as false positive, testing, acceptable risk, or can be fixed later.

However, these responses are recorded through organization or enterprise audit logs which can be investigated by security managers or administrators later.

To enable push protection in the repository, users must go to “Code Security and analysis” on their repository and enable the “Push Protection” option in the secret scanning section.

*Push Protection feature.* *Source: GitHub*

This push protection feature can also be customized based on a custom secret pattern for additional protections based on the organization’s requirements.

Struggling to Apply The Security Patch in Your System? –
Try All-in-One Patch Manager Plus

[ad_2]
Source link

HONOR Magic Vs foldable finally gets a price tag & launch date

Android

andreasc

-

May 12, 2023

0

HONOR Magic Vs foldable finally gets a price tag & launch date

[ad_1]

HONOR has announced its latest foldable smartphone back in February. Do note that this is its global launch we’re talking about, it launched in China back in November last year. That being said, up until now, we didn’t know the HONOR Magic Vs price tag or global launch date, but HONOR just revealed both.

The HONOR Magic Vs foldable gets a price tag and launch date… in the UK

Granted, the company only revealed its price tag for the UK, at the moment. We can gather how much will it cost in other parts of Europe based on this, though. The HONOR Magic Vs is priced at £1,399, while launch offers will bring that price down to £1,199. Those launch offers will be available via the company’s official website only, though, through HiHonor.

If you’re wondering when will it go on sale, the date is May 19. That goes for the UK only, though. The phone will be available in Black and Cyan colors. Starting on May 26, it will become available via Amazon, Argos, and Very, in Black only, though. It seems like the Cyan color is exclusive to the HiHonor store.

If we convert its price tag to euros, we get a price of around €1,600. With launch offers, it could be even lower than that. That’s only a wild guess, it’s possible that the price tag will be higher in other parts of Europe, though it’s odd HONOR didn’t mention anything about that today. We do hope that the company is still planning to offer the device in more markets.

It has a ‘Super-light Gearless Hinge’ with only 4 structural components

The Magic Vs measures 12.9mm when folded, and weighs 267 grams. The company still managed to squeeze in a 5,000mAh battery in there. It also comes with HONOR’s Super-light Gearless Hinge that lowers the number of structural components from 92 to only 4. HONOR says that this hinge can withstand up to 400,000 folds, which is outstanding, actually.

The device includes a 7.9-inch outer display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The outer display measures 6.45 inches, and has a 90Hz refresh rate. This handset is made out of metal and glass.

It has three cameras on the back, and it’s fueled by the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 SoC. Android 13 comes pre-installed, while MagicOS 7.1 is included on top of it. If you’d like to know more about the device, check out our full review.

[ad_2]
Source link

Google’s Universal Translator tool is impressive and scary

Tech

andreasc

-

May 12, 2023

0

[ad_1]

Anytime you talk about the subject of artificial intelligence, you’re talking about something that’s morally gray and potentially devastating. The case is the same with the Universal Translator tool that Google talked about during Google I/O. The company spoke about the potential good that this tool can bring along with the potential harm (via Techcrunch).

With the introduction of Bard, the tool that can be used to create code and written content, and MusicLM, the tool that can be used to instantly generate music from a text prompt, Google definitely talked about some scary technology that could do some major harm. Universal Translator is no different.

This is a pretty Innovative technology that can help people Translate speech. The technology will take a video of someone speaking, and dub it in a different language. This will involve translating the speech and playing back an AI-generated voice that matches the original speaker’s voice and tone. Lastly, Google will use AI to sync up the speaker’s lips with the newly generated audio.

It will be as though the speaker originally recorded the video in a different language.

Google acknowledges that the Universal Translator tool can be used for harm

Artificial intelligence is, and has been, skirting the line between useful and dangerous. The use of AI-generated voices and deep-faking technology is creeping out of The Uncanny Valley and into Realism City. It’s becoming harder to distinguish between AI-generated voices and the real thing.

This means that we’re approaching the ability to generate any person saying or doing anything. Do you hate a celebrity? You can make a fake video of them saying racist or anti-Semitic things. Are you a jealous ex? Well, you can generate false videos or audio of them cheating on their current lover. That’s becoming less of an impossibility.

This is why, during the presentation, James Manyika noted the phrase “Bold and Responsible.” This means that Google, before making this technology available to the masses, will do what it can to make sure that malicious people won’t be able to use this technology for malicious Acts.

The thing is, it’s tough to see how the company will be able to accomplish this. There’s only one Google, but there are millions of malicious people out there. This could easily get out of control and cause some real harm to innocent people. We’ll just have to see how things play out and hope that Google knows what it’s doing.

[ad_2]
Source link

How to create one and when you shouldn’t

Malware

andreasc

-

May 12, 2023

0

How to create one and when you shouldn’t

[ad_1]

Google is offering users the best option to date to securing their accounts from phishing. (Hint: It’s not passwords.)

Google has just brought users closer to a passwordless future.

In a recent blog post, the tech giant introduced the option to create and use a safer, more convenient alternative to passwords: Passkeys, a form of digital credential. So, how do they work?

Passkeys are generated using public-key cryptography, or asymmetric encryption, which involves using a pair of public and private keys. The public key is stored on the side of the app or website, while the private key, a main component of the passkey, is stored on the device. Websites have no access to the value of the passkey. When a Google user logs in to their account using a passkey, Google checks if the website has a corresponding public key.

This method of authentication makes accounts significantly more resilient, because, unlike a password, the key can’t be phished, stolen from the website it’s stored on, or intercepted in transit. It also means the account cannot be subject to an attack as a result of a weak password or password re-use, because there is no password.

As the authors of the blog put it:

“Using passwords puts a lot of responsibility on users. Choosing strong passwords and remembering them across various accounts can be hard. In addition, even the most savvy users are often misled into giving them up during phishing attempts. 2SV (2FA/MFA) helps, but again puts strain on the user with additional, unwanted friction and still doesn’t fully protect against phishing attacks and targeted attacks like ‘SIM swaps’ for SMS verification. Passkeys help address all these issues.”

The blog authors identified some benefits users could get out of using Google passkeys:

Guaranteed access. Suppose you created a passkey on a Google account you access with your smartphone. In that case, you can use this passkey to access that Google account on other devices like a laptop. Synchronizing the passkey to the device isn’t needed as long as the phone is near the device and you approve the sign-in on your phone. If you create a passkey for your laptop—or for each device you own—you won’t need your phone anymore to access your Google account.
“Backup” key. Some platforms securely back up your passkeys and sync them with other devices. For example, a passkey created on your iPhone will also be available on your other Apple devices if you’re logged in to the same iCloud account. This prevents a user from getting locked out if they lose a device. Passkeys also make upgrading to a new device easier, as you only need to sync it with the rest of your devices.
Phishing and breach protection. Because passkeys cannot be stolen, phishers won’t be able to get their hands on your account credentials. Similarly, passkeys cannot be reused or exposed in a data breach.
It can replace physical security keys. Google said that passkeys are “strong enough that they can stand in for security keys for users.” A security key is a physical device used to sign in to your accounts. Like passkeys, it’s another passwordless method of authentication. An example of a security key is YubiKey.

It’s worth noting that passkeys use the three common types of information used in MFA: Something you have (like a smartphone), something you are (your biometrics), or something you know (like a PIN or pattern). This makes passkeys a form of MFA. However, according to the FIDO Alliance, some regulatory bodies have yet to make this recognition, something the alliance is already actively working towards.

Minimum hardware and software requirements

Google has listed what you’ll need in order to create a passkey: Windows 10 or macOS Ventura (or later) running Chrome 109, Safari 16, or Edge 109 (or later), or iOS16 or Android 9 (or later) on a mobile device.

You also need to enable screen lock, especially Bluetooth, if you want to use passkeys on the phone to sign in to another device.

When you shouldn’t create a passkey

Passkeys should only be created on devices you personally control. That said, you shouldn’t make a passkey using a Google Workspace account through a school or employer. You also shouldn’t create one on devices you share with other people, like your family computer, as anyone using the device will have access to your Google account. Even if you sign out of your account, once a passkey is created on that device, anyone who can unlock the device can sign in back into your account with the passkey.

How to create a passkey in two simple steps

I used an iOS device here.

1. Go to g.co/passkeys to trigger the process.

first page you see when setting up passkey

You can also log in to your Google account. From the Home page, go to Security. Scroll down to How you sign in to Google and pick Passkeys as an added sign-in option. You’ll land on the same page as above.

another way to access passkey

2. Click Create a passkey. An overlay will display, confirming that you can create a passkey on the device. Click Continue.

prompt saying user can create a passkey on the device

Note: If you have your iCloud Keychain disabled, your device will prompt you to enable it.

iOS prompt asking users to enable iCloud KeyChain

And you’re done!

The first time you sign in, the computer displays a QR code you can scan with your mobile device’s camera. Once signed in, you may be prompted to create a passkey for the computer. As we’ve said, only agree if you don’t share the computer with anyone.

If in the future, you decide to stop using passkeys, Google gives you the option to remove them. You can also opt out of using passkeys entirely. In cases when devices have been lost or stolen, or the passkey goes missing or unavailable, you can check Google’s recommendations on this Account Help page.

Google isn’t the only company that has been working on an alternative to passwords. Apple and Microsoft have also announced they’ll support passkeys on their respective platforms to address password problems.

Watch this space!

Malwarebytes removes all remnants of ransomware and prevents you from getting reinfected. Want to learn more about how we can help protect your business? Get a free trial below.

TRY NOW

[ad_2]
Source link

Galaxy S21, A53 5G and more get Samsung’s May 2023 update

Android

andreasc

-

May 12, 2023

0

Galaxy S21, A53 5G and more get Samsung’s May 2023 update

[ad_1]

Samsung has been rolling out the May 2023 Android security patch to a few new Galaxy devices every day over the past few days. The latest models to join the party include the Galaxy S21 series, Galaxy A53 5G, and Galaxy A13. More Samsung smartphones should receive this month’s security update in the coming days. The May SMR (Security Maintenance Release) patches more than 70 security flaws in Galaxy devices.

The latest update for the Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+, and Galaxy S21 Ultra is initially rolling out in Europe. Samsung has released the new SMR in Bulgaria, Hungary, and Switzerland with the firmware build number G99*BXXU7EWE1. It should soon cover the rest of Europe and other global markets as well, including the US. According to the official changelog, the 2021 Galaxy flagships are getting some stability and reliability improvements along with the latest security patch. There aren’t any new features here, though.

The May SMR for the Galaxy A53 5G, meanwhile, is initially available in Latin America. The new update has already reached several countries in the region, including Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Panama, Paraguay, Guatemala, and Bolivia. A global rollout should be just around the corner. The new SMR for this premium mid-range phone bears the build number A536EXXS5CWE1 in Latin America (via). Unlike the Galaxy S21 flagships, it isn’t getting anything apart from the latest security fixes.

The Galaxy A13 also recently started picking up the May SMR. Samsung is pushing the latest security update to this phone in Latin America and the US. More precisely, users in Colombia, Paraguay, and Puerto Rico are getting this update. The new firmware version for the former two markets is A135MUBS3BWD2, while that for the latter is A135U1UES3BWD2. Note that the May SMR is currently only available for the unlocked variant of the Galaxy A13 in the US region. Carrier-locked units may receive it later.

Galaxy devices are getting plenty of security fixes with the May 2023 update

As said earlier, Samsung’s May security update patches more than 70 vulnerabilities. The company itself patches about 20 issues exclusive to its smartphones and tablets. The remaining 50-odd patches are for Android OS issues and come from Google and other partner vendors. At least six vulnerabilities patched this month were critical. They could cause extensive damage to the victim if a threat actor exploited them before being patched. If you’re using any of the aforementioned Galaxy devices, these security patches should be available to you soon.

[ad_2]
Source link

Google shrunk its Project Starline device so it fits more rooms

Tech

andreasc

-

May 12, 2023

0

Google shrunk its Project Starline device so it fits more rooms

[ad_1]

Back in 2021 Google unveiled Project Starline, and this year at Google I/O 2023, the company showed off its new prototype which has a “simpler design.”

Google refers to Project Starline as a “magic window where you can talk, gesture and make eye contact with another person, life-size and in three dimensions.” In simpler terms, think of it like a more advanced video chat display. Though it’s certainly more than just a display to use for video chat. While it does only serve the single purpose, it’s definitely not just any old display.

It uses AI and some snazzy cameras to build a photorealistic model of the person you’re talking to. The end result is some pretty insane 3D rendering of the person on the other end, making it feel like you’re actually talking to them from across the table. The drawback with Project Starline when it was initially unveiled two years ago, is that it was really quite big. Google says it took up entire rooms which sort of limited who could use it. Google hopes its new prototype design will change that.

The new Project Starline prototype is smaller so it fits more spaces

Project Starline is still kind of a big device, as you won’t be fitting it on top of your desk. But in comparison to its first iteration that began testing, it’s much smaller. Now it seems really no bigger than a 55-inch TV screen.

Its first prototype was about the size of a restaurant booth. The new version also uses new AI techniques that only require a few cameras to perform its function. But it also produces a higher-quality lifelike image. So not only has Google shrunk the technology down, but it’s also made it so it performs better.

Google is currently working with partners T-Mobile, Salesforce, and WeWork to test the new prototypes. With “promising results” being given in the feedback.

[ad_2]
Source link

Malwarebytes achieves perfect score in latest AVLab assessment

Malware

andreasc

-

May 12, 2023

0

Malwarebytes achieves perfect score in latest AVLab assessment

[ad_1]

We blocked 100% of malware for the sixth consecutive quarter in a row.

Malwarebytes has once again earned a perfect score in AVLabs March 2023 real-world malware detection tests, marking the sixth consecutive quarter achieving this feat.

Let’s delve into the details of the test and how both consumer and business products outperformed competitors in exhaustive testing.

The AVLab Assessment

AVLabs evaluation process is extensive and comprehensive, putting cybersecurity products through a rigorous series of real-world scenarios. The tests involve:

Malware Collection: AVLab amasses a broad spectrum of malware samples from various sources, such as public feeds and custom honeypots. This ensures the test includes the most current and diverse set of threats.
System Log Analysis: The collected malware samples undergo thorough scrutiny to confirm their malicious characteristics and their ability to successfully infect a Windows 10 system.
Real-life Cyber Attack Simulations: All products are tested under the same conditions. AVLab recreates cyber attack scenarios akin to what’s seen in the real world, using techniques that actual attackers employ.

Products that block all malware samples and achieve a maximum score of 100% protection are awarded an “Excellent” award badge.

The Results

Malwarebytes consistently excels in the tests, and March 2023 was no different. Both the consumer solution, Malwarebytes Premium and the business solution, Malwarebytes Endpoint Protection, earned “Excellent” badges for detecting and blocking 100% of malware.

The standout performance is largely due to our Multi-Vector Protection (MVP) technology, a unique approach that combines rules-based techniques with behavioral and AI-based methods to stop threats at every stage of an attack. MVP’s proactive approach, which involves identifying threats even before they execute, played a crucial role in obtaining a perfect AVLab score.

In addition, our web protection technologies, MWAC and BrowserGuard, blocked 89% of all threats, surpassing the average web protection blocking rate of 72% across all tested products.

For receiving the “Excellent award logo in every test during 2022 (testing is done 6x /year), Malwarebytes Premium received the following additional logo:

The Competition

Other vendors struggled to match Malwarebytes’ results. BitDefender, for instance, missed five samples, while F-Secure and Microsoft Defender each missed four. BitDefender and Microsoft also missed samples in the January 2023 test, meaning both products failed to get 100% in back-to-back tests.

The foundation for superior Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)

Malwarebytes Endpoint Protection (EP) is not merely a standalone product; it’s the bedrock of our advanced Malwarebytes Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) solution.

Leveraging the robust detection and prevention capabilities validated by AVLab’s tests, Malwarebytes EDR delivers comprehensive visibility and granular control over network endpoints. Learn more about our endpoint security solutions.

For a deeper dive into our performance, view the full AVLab report here.

[ad_2]
Source link

Google Pixel 7a vs Google Pixel 7

Android

andreasc

-

May 12, 2023

0

[ad_1]

Google announced its brand new mid-ranger during Google I/O 2023, the Pixel 7a. That device is quite similar to the Pixel 7, one of Google’s flagship phones. It not only resembles it when the design is concerned, but in many other ways. The A series device has also never been so closer to the price tag of one of Google’s flagship offerings. So, what gives? Well, they are similar, but there are some notable differences that need highlighting. Therefore, we’ll compare the Google Pixel 7a vs Google Pixel 7 to give you a better idea of what to purchase.

There are a number of subtle differences between the two phones, and a couple of more notable ones. There’s a reason the Pixel 7a is a mid-range offering, and not a flagship. We’ll first list their specs, and then check out their designs, displays, performance, battery life, cameras, and ultimately… audio performance. Let’s get started, shall we?

Specs

	Google Pixel 7a	Google Pixel 7
Screen size	6.1-inch fullHD+ flat OLED display (90Hz refresh rate)	6.3-inch fullHD+ flat AMOLED display (90Hz refresh rate, 1,400 nits peak brightness)
Screen resolution	2400 x 1080	2400 x 1080
SoC	Google Tensor G2	Google Tensor G2
RAM	8GB (LPDDR5)	8GB (LPDDR5)
Storage	128GB (UFS 3.1), non-expandable	128GB/256GB (UFS 3.1), non-expandable
Rear cameras	64MP (f/1.9 aperture, 26mm lens, 0.8um pixel size, OIS, Dual Pixel PDAF) 13MP (f/2.2 aperture, 120-degree FoV, 1.12um pixel size)	50MP (Samsung ISOCELL GN1 sensor, 1.2um pixel size, f/1.85 aperture, 82-degree FoV, Super Res Zoom up to 8x) 12MP (ultrawide, 1.25um pixel size, f/2.2 aperture, 114-degree FoV, lens correction)
Front cameras	13MP (f/2.2 aperture, 20mm lens, 1.12um pixel size)	10.8MP (1.22um pixel size, f/2.2 aperture, 92.8-degree FoV, Fixed Focus)
Battery	4,385mAh, non-removable, 20W wired charging, 18W wireless charging Charger not included	4,355mAh, non-removable, 21W wired charging, 23W wireless charging, reverse wireless charging Charger not included
Dimensions	152 x 72.9 x 9mm	155.6 x 73.2 x 8.7mm
Weight	193.5 grams	197 grams
Connectivity	5G, LTE, NFC, Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi, USB Type-C	5G, LTE, NFC, Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi, USB Type-C
Security	In-display fingerprint scanner (optical)	Face Unlock In-display fingerprint scanner (optical)
OS	Android 13	Android 13
Price	$499	$599/$699
Buy	Amazon	Amazon

Google Pixel 7a vs Google Pixel 7: Design

At first glance, these two phones look awfully similar. They have the same design language, they’re similar in size, and both have a camera visor on the back with two cameras in it. There are differences here, though, that’s for sure. First of all, the Pixel 7 includes thinner bezels than its sibling. It has a larger display, and they’re almost the same size, those bezels are the main reason why.

You will notice a display camera hole on both phones, which is centered. They both also include flat displays. Now, the camera visor is included on both phones, but on the Pixel 7 it connects to the frame, while on the Pixel 7a, it does not. It may look like it does, but there is a separation between them. Also, there is glass on the back of the Pixel 7, while the Pixel 7a has a plastic backplate. Both phones do include an aluminum frame, however.

The Pixel 7a is slightly shorter, narrower, and thicker than its sibling. The difference really is minimal, though. It is also slightly lighter, by around 3.5 grams. The Pixel 7a offers IP67 certification, while the Pixel 7 comes with IP68 certification. So it has the upper hand in that regard as well. The in-hand feel is… well, they feel similar in the hand. They both also feel like well-built machines. The Pixel 7 definitely offers a more premium design, though.

Google Pixel 7a vs Google Pixel 7: Display

There is a 6.1-inch fullHD+ (2400 x 1080) OLED display included on the Pixel 7a. That display is flat, and it supports a 90Hz refresh rate. We’re looking at a 20:9 display aspect ratio here. That display is protected by the Gorilla Glass 3. The Pixel 7, on the other hand, also has a 90Hz OLED display, but this one measures 6.3 inches. It supports HDR10+ content, and gets up to 1,400 nits of peak brightness. It also offers a 20:9 aspect ratio, though it’s protected by the Gorilla Glass Victus.

Both of these displays are very good, but the Pixel 7’s has a couple of advantages. First and foremost, it comes with better protection. The Gorilla Glass Victus is a number of generations ahead of Gorilla Glass 3. In fact, Gorilla Glass 3 is rather prone to microscratches, compared to the Victus. On top of that, the Pixel 7’s display also gets slightly brighter outdoors, even though both are perfectly usable in such conditions, even in direct sunlight.

Do note that our Pixel 7a review unit came with a display refresh rate set to 60Hz. So, it’s possible you’ll have to change that before you start using the device. Presuming the same will happen with retail models, that is. Both displays do offer vivid colors, and deep blacks. The viewing angles are also very good on both panels, as is the touch response, Quite frankly, the vast majority of users would be more than happy with either of these panels.

Google Pixel 7a vs Google Pixel 7: Performance

When it comes to performance, these two phones feel pretty much the same during usage, to be quite honest. That is not surprising at all considering that their performance-related internals are the same, and the same goes for the software builds. The Google Tensor G2 fuels both of these smartphones, while both devices include 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM. UFS 3.1 flash storage is also included on both phones.

They do feel really snappy, though not to the level of many Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 or Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 phones. The Tensor G2 is a really good chip, but it’s not the most powerful on the market. Google relies heavily on machine learning, though, and chances are that both of these two phones will offer good performance for quite some time. Don’t get me wrong, the performance is great, but it’s not as snappy as on some other phones. That is nitpicking, but there you have it.

When it comes to gaming, however… well, these two phones are not made for gaming. They can handle the vast majority of games on the Google Play Store without a problem, but if you load some of the most demanding games out there (like Genshin Impact), the performance won’t be perfect. Once again, this is nitpicking, but we’re only trying to provide you with a full picture. In regular, day-to-day performance, they’re great and completely lag-free.

Google Pixel 7a vs Google Pixel 7: Battery

The Pixel 7a includes a 4,385mAh battery, while the Pixel 7 comes with a 4,355mAh battery. The difference here is not big at all. That goes for both the battery capacity, when it comes to battery life, we did note considerable differences. The Pixel 7 did offer better results for us, but we’ve seen Pixel phones get better when it comes to battery life as time goes by, so… it’s possible something similar will happen with the Pixel 7a.

We’ve been able to pull out around 6 hours of screen-on-time on the Pixel 7a (though the battery life varies wildly from day to day), while the Pixel 7 was usually able to cross the 8-hour screen-on-time mark. Your experience may differ wildly, though, of course. Your usage will be entirely different, not to mention the apps you have installed, and your signal strength. Perhaps you will see better results than we did. Also, we do believe the Pixel 7a battery life will become way more reliable after a couple of software updates. It wouldn’t be the first time.

When it comes to charging, you’re getting 20W wired charging on both devices. That charging will take you up to 50% in about 30 minutes, on both devices due to similar battery sizes. A full charge will take quite some time, over an hour and a half for sure. The Pixel 7a also offers 18W wireless charging, while the Pixel 7 supports both 20W wireless, and 5W reverse wireless charging. Neither phone comes with a charger, though.

Google Pixel 7a vs Google Pixel 7: Cameras

The Google Pixel 7a features a 64-megapixel main camera, and a 13-megapixel ultrawide camera (120-degree FoV) on the back. The Pixel 7, on the other hand, comes with a 50-megapixel main camera, and a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera (114-degree FoV). Some people may think that the Pixel 7a has a better main camera sensor, but it doesn’t. Also, the difference is noticeable in the end results, despite Google’s image processing magic.

That’s not to say that the images from the Pixel 7a are bad, not at all. They’re actually great, but the Pixel 7 does a better job overall. In good lighting, the Pixel 7a is not as good as the Pixel 7 when it comes to white balancing. The images tend to look a bit greener for some reason. The dynamic range is also worse on the Pixel 7a when we directly compare the two. That is especially noticeable in HDR situations.

What’s interesting is that the ultrawide camera shots during the day provided basically the same results. The differences were very small, though the Pixel 7a does offer a wider FoV. So, it kind of has an advantage in that regard. Images from the main camera during nighttime are better on the Pixel 7, but the difference is not that easily noticeable. If you do zoom in, you’ll see that the Pixel 7 images are sharper. Also, another thing to note is that the video stabilization is noticeably better on the Pixel 7. Google could fix some of these issues with software updates, of course, but the Pixel 7 is definitely the superior camera smartphone here.

Audio

Both the Pixel 7a and Pixel 7 have a set of stereo speakers included. Those speakers are good on both phones. They are loud enough, and are detailed enough. They’re nothing to write home about, though, but most people will be happy with the performance.

What you do not get here is a 3.5mm headphone jack. If you want to connect your headphones via a wire, you’ll need to utilize the Type-C USB port at the bottom. As far as wireless connections go, the Pixel 7a is equipped with Bluetooth 5.3, while the Pixel 7 comes with Bluetooth 5.2.

[ad_2]
Source link