As the Pixel evolves and figures itself out as a model, Google has been making notable adjustments and refinements for the higher. This 12 months, the Pixel 8a improves on almost each unfavorable level of final 12 months’s Pixel 7a, and it even makes adjustments I did not count on from a $500 cellphone.
With the Pixel 8, Google rounded the corners and put a matte texture on the again, making for a snug cellphone that persistently appears good. The Pixel 8a has adopted these identical adjustments and even rounded the corners only a bit extra for an nearly Galaxy S3-esque “clean pebble” design. My gosh, if it is not probably the most snug cellphone I’ve held in a very long time due to it!
In addition to that, we’re trying on the identical processor within the Pixel 8, the identical show as that cellphone, the identical quantity and velocity of RAM, the identical storage velocity, the identical water resistance ranking, and the identical highly effective AI-driven Tensor G3 processor. It definitely makes you marvel why you’d ever want a costlier Pixel cellphone, would not it?
This preliminary evaluate was carried out after utilizing the cellphone as my major cellphone over the period of 4 full days. I’m utilizing the Pixel 8a on T-Mobile’s 5G community, and it runs the newest model of Android 14, which the cellphone will ship to prospects.
Google Pixel 8a: Price and availability
The Google Pixel 8a formally launched on May 14, 2024, with a beginning retail worth of $499 USD / $679 CAD / £499 / Rs 52,999 for the mannequin with 128GB of inner storage. For the primary time ever on a Pixel A-series cellphone, Google can be promoting a 256GB storage mannequin for a further price. The cellphone ships in your selection of Obsidian, Porcelain, Bay, and Aloe colorways.
As you would possibly count on, the most effective Google Pixel 8a offers will get you the cellphone at a lowered worth — possibly even free — particularly in case you have an older cellphone to commerce in.
The Pixel 8a is available in fully plastic-free packaging.
These are all of the nations the place the Google Pixel 8a is launching:
- U.S.
- Canada
- Austria
- Belgium
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- France
- Germany
- Italy
- Ireland
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- UK
- Australia
- India
- Japan
- Singapore
- Taiwan
Google Pixel 8a: Display and design
Of all of the Pixel cellphone designs over time, the Google Pixel 8a is my new favourite. It melds the distinctive camera bar design from the costlier Pixel 8 collection with additional rounded corners, and a matte end again that feels heavenly.
This is a cellphone that is constructed for human palms and it feels fantastic to make use of it one-handed, even when the show is a bit huge to achieve all the perimeters with one thumb with out shifting the cellphone round. Round corners do so much for long-term usability and luxury. Sharp corners on telephones just like the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra are simply plain uncomfortable, made even worse as a result of it is a tremendous heavy cellphone.
The Pixel 8a is not shockingly gentle by any measure however it does are available at round 5 grams lighter than final 12 months’s Pixel 7a. At 188g, you will really feel it in your pocket however it’s not heavy sufficient to trigger finger fatigue if you end up holding it for a very long time. As actor Chris Evans as soon as identified, heavy telephones usually trigger pinky finger fatigue.
| Category | Google Pixel 8a |
|---|---|
| Chipset | Google Tensor G3 |
| Memory | 8GB LPDDR5x RAM |
| Storage | 128GB/256GB UFS 3.1 |
| Display | 6.1-inch AMOLED Actua Display, 2400×1080 decision (430 ppi), 120Hz, HDR10+, 1,400 nits, Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Rear Camera 1 | 64MP, ƒ/1.89, 0.8μm pixel dimension, OIS, 4K video @ 30/60FPS, 240FPS tremendous slow-mo video |
| Rear Camera 2 | 13MP, ƒ/2.2, 1.12μm pixel dimension, 120-degree FoV, OIS, 4K video @ 30 FPS |
| Front Camera | 13MP, ƒ/2.2, 1.12μm pixel dimension, 95-degree FoV, 4k video @ 30FPS |
| Battery | 4492 mAh, 18W wired charging, 5W Qi wi-fi charging |
| Dimensions | 152.1 mm x 72.7 mm x 8.9 mm |
| Weight | 188 grams |
| Water and mud resistance | IP67 |
| Security | Titan M2 Security Chip, VPN by Google One, In-screen fingerprint sensor |
| Colors | Obsidian, Porcelain, Bay, Aloe |
| OS | Android 14 with Pixel options |
| Update assure | Seven years of Pixel updates |
Beyond the burden and form, Google is utilizing surprisingly premium supplies for a lot of the cellphone. The again remains to be plastic, however it feels much less like plastic than ever, because of a lovely, fingerprint-resistant matte end. I praised Google’s use of a matte end in my Pixel 8 Pro evaluate, and this cellphone feels almost equivalent to that.
There’s a slight hole feeling when you faucet the again when in comparison with a glass-backed cellphone just like the costlier Pixel 8 fashions have, however it would not come off feeling low-cost.
Likewise, the “satin aluminum” body appears extraordinarily premium, notably on the Bay blue mannequin I’ve for evaluate. This half, too, has a matte end that will not appeal to fingerprints and can go away your Pixel 8a trying clear and glossy even after utilizing it for hours.
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The show has been upgraded but once more this 12 months. The show is spec-for-spec equivalent to the Pixel 8 in all however a technique: it isn’t LTPO. That means this 120Hz panel shifts between 60Hz and 120Hz relying on what’s occurring on display screen, whereas the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro’s shows can easily shift between 1Hz and 120Hz. In plain language, the Pixel 8a’s show is barely much less battery-efficient.
But the remainder of the panel is correct on the cash in most measurements. Google calls it the “Actua show” in reference to its colour accuracy, which helps spotlight the standard of the camera. It additionally will get extremely vivid, with a peak brightness of 2000 nits and a peak HDR brightness of 1400 nits.
The draw back is that PWM-sensitive of us are going to seek out this show extremely uncomfortable. Like the mainline Pixel collection, this makes use of 240Hz PWM flickering in any respect brightness ranges, rapidly turning the show on and off to idiot your eyes into considering it is vivid or dim as an alternative of adjusting voltage like conventional shows and lights.
This PWM price is the bottom of any main cellphone collection and is actually terrible for any flicker-sensitive particular person. Google would not supply an anti-flicker or flicker-reduction mode just like the OnePlus 12R or any OLED-donning Motorola cellphone, which makes these cellphone a lot better choices when you’re PWM-sensitive.
Google Pixel 8a: Performance and battery life
The Google Pixel 8a sports activities the very same Google Tensor G3 processor that is discovered within the costlier Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro telephones. That means Google was in a position to pack in the identical AI options as these costlier telephones.
An enormous a part of that functionality is within the Tensor G3’s upgraded NPU capabilities which, in keeping with benchmarks we ran, is almost 3x quicker than the NPU within the Pixel 7a. That NPU, or Neural Processing Unit, is what’s liable for effectively working AI routines on-device and making certain that the cellphone rapidly processes AI-based duties and likewise retains them from needing to be uploaded to a cloud server for privateness causes.
Overall efficiency of the cellphone, primarily based on benchmarks, can be higher than each the Pixel 7a and even the costlier Pixel 8 Pro. Google mentioned it was in a position to concoct a brand new thermal administration technique, and whereas the cellphone nonetheless throttles closely at round 40 levels Celsius, it takes longer to hit that thermal restrict.
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However, when in comparison with the OnePlus 12R, our present favourite mid-range cellphone, the Pixel 8a’s efficiency is kind of missing. Not solely that, however the Pixel 8a’s performance-per-watt is considerably worse than the OnePlus 12R. In plain phrases, your battery life goes to empty extra rapidly on a Pixel 8a than a OnePlus 12R when doing something that taxes the processor.
So far, battery life hasn’t been notably spectacular for me. Granted, I’ve to run the show at 100% brightness on a regular basis to maintain complications at bay, in any other case, the cellphone’s PWM-laden flickering show makes my head harm one thing fierce.
Our father or mother firm runs lab assessments through the Future Labs division, and people check outcomes present that the Pixel 8a will get one hour of higher battery life than the Pixel 8 Pro within the battery rundown check on the default 60Hz refresh price. In different phrases, when you’re utilizing default settings — 60Hz show, auto brightness — then battery life will likely be fairly glorious.
I’ll be placing the cellphone via the pains over the subsequent few days and weeks to higher decide what it is best at however, for now, early assessments present that Google has made vital enhancements to a few of Tensor’s largest weak factors, even when the processor remains to be slower and fewer environment friendly than the competitors.
Google Pixel 8a: Software
Google’s Pixel software program has actually come into its personal over time, notably prior to now six months, as Google has added Gemini options to the platform. The Pixel 8a sports activities all the identical AI options because the common Pixel 8, together with Magic Eraser, Zoom Enhance, Best Take, Audio Magic Eraser, Circle to Search, and extra.
Not solely that however the Pixel 8a is ready to obtain seven years of Android updates, which means it’s going to see Android 21 earlier than the tip of its shelf life. It additionally has a free VPN built-in, one thing solely Pixel telephones present.
That’s an enormous worth add for a cellphone within the $500 worth vary, as these gadgets usually haven’t got the processing capabilities to have the ability to pull off spectacular AI options like this. It’s an enormous win for anybody not eager to spend flagship cash however nonetheless get flagship options.
Of course, this implies there’s nearly nothing new on the Pixel 8a when in comparison with the Pixel 8 collection. The lone exceptions are the upgraded Guided Frame utility and the improved Family Link parental controls setup.
Initially, Guided Frame was simply used as a method to assist vision-impaired customers take higher images and selfies. Now, Guided Frame can make the most of each entrance and rear-facing cameras to explain what your cellphone’s camera is seeing.
Google additionally improved Family Link by making the setup course of simpler and clearer, which works properly with the current Pixel Watch replace that provides School Time and different vital parental management capabilities.
But beneath the shiny exterior of AI options and replace guarantees lingers an underlying mistrust constructed up from years of screw-ups on Google’s half. As I mentioned final week, the Pixel collection has change into identified for its buggy updates and bizarre issues.
Things have barely improved for the reason that Pixel 6 days, however over the previous 12 months alone, we have seen month-to-month updates trigger battery drain points, mobile connectivity points, overheating points, and even a vital storage bug that made it inconceivable to make use of many apps.
These are only a handful of points Pixel house owners have needed to cope with to a point over the previous few years, and it makes me marvel if month-to-month updates are actually definitely worth the points they appear to create.
Of course, the flip facet to all that is that Pixel telephones almost at all times get updates earlier than some other cellphone in the marketplace.
Google Pixel 8a: Cameras
Whenever I evaluate a Pixel cellphone and examine it to different telephones, my ideas normally start with, “I’m wondering how a lot worse this different cellphone’s camera is in comparison with the Pixel.”
Google Pixel telephones have lengthy been the head of cell images, and whereas another telephones typically beat it, Pixel’s persistently glorious camera efficiency delivers a reliability issue that may be envied.
In my testing to date, I can affirm that the Pixel 7a and Pixel 8a’s cameras produce equivalent outcomes. If nothing, meaning it can save you some cash and get a Pixel 7a whereas nonetheless getting a stellar camera.
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Comparing the Pixel 8a to the OnePlus 12R — one other glorious $499 cellphone — exhibits that there is not a large hole between the 2 in most photographs, however the Pixel 8a positively wins most of the time. In many instances, the Pixel usually will get the publicity principally right and finally ends up pulling out extra element, leading to a better-looking image due to it.
Photos taken on the Pixel 8a exhibit the traditional excessive distinction, color-accurate imagery that Google’s Pixel telephones are identified for. Pixels are additionally the most effective when making an attempt to seize objects in movement — like pets or youngsters — which implies the Pixel 8a is routinely the higher selection for folks or of us who like to take plenty of images of their pets.
Google Pixel 8a: The competitors
For the value, it is arduous to show down the Pixel 7a. The finest Pixel 7a offers will get you the cellphone for $350. Considering that the Pixel 7a remains to be due for 4 extra Android updates (as much as Android 19), this one has fairly a little bit of life left in it. You’ll even be getting a camera with equivalent high quality seize because the Pixel 8a, though battery life and efficiency are worse than Google’s newest can present.
But if battery life and efficiency are your chief concern, the OnePlus 12R is the most effective purchase at $500. It has a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, which is roughly twice as quick because the Tensor G3 within the Pixel 8a for gaming and different graphics-intensive purposes. OnePlus would not supply the identical stage of long-term help or a few of the Pixel-exclusive AI options, although, and the camera is not so good as a Pixel.
Google Pixel 8a: Should you purchase it?
You should purchase this if…
- You plan to carry on to your cellphone for years.
- You need the most effective camera in its class.
- You love Google AI options and Pixel options.
You should not purchase this if…
- You’re delicate to flickering lights or PWM-dimmed shows.
- You want the most effective efficiency for the value.
- You want quick charging and/or greater than 24-hour battery life.
As the value of the Pixel A-series continues to climb in lots of areas, its worth continues to encroach on full flagship-tier telephones. There’s additionally one thing to be mentioned when the most effective Pixel 8 offers can get you a greater cellphone — the common Pixel 8 — for a similar worth because the 8a. Not solely that, however the OnePlus 12R additionally retails for $499 and packs a considerably quicker and extra environment friendly processor onboard, plus a greater show that is additionally extra eye-friendly.
But there isn’t any assure that you would be able to snag a Pixel 8 for $499, which implies the Pixel 8a is the most effective purchase on the worth if long-term updates and camera high quality are your high options. Google’s replace high quality has been a little bit shaky over the previous few years, although, which hangs a cloud over an in any other case impeccable document of replace velocity.
For now, I’d personally choose a Pixel 7a over Google’s newest. Sure, it is solely bought 4 extra years of Android updates, however I’m not satisfied that present Tensor processors will likely be quick sufficient to really feel snappy for longer than that. At $350, the 7a is an unbeatable cope with camera high quality that matches the 8a, even when it would not have as many AI options.