The recipe for Google's A-series Pixels is incredibly simple: combine top-notch cameras with a vivid display, and then pack all of that into a proven design for a reasonable price. But with the addition of a Tensor G3 chip, the Pixel 8a now supports the same powerful ai features as Google's flagship phones. So when you consider that all of this comes for just $499, you're not only looking at the top mid-range Android phone on the market, but possibly one of the best values of any phone on sale today.
Design and display
Aside from a new aloe color option, which in my opinion is the best of the bunch, the Pixel 8a is almost identical to the standard Pixel 8. However, there are some subtle differences that become more noticeable when the two are viewed from the side. beside. The most obvious is the slightly larger bezels, which also has an impact on the Pixel 8's screen size. Instead of a 6.2-inch screen like its more expensive sibling, the Pixel 8a maxes out at 6.1 inches. That said, you still get a vibrant OLED panel that produces deep blacks and rich colors, plus a slightly faster 120Hz refresh rate compared to the 90Hz on last year's Pixel 7a.
Engadget
With the addition of Google's Tensor G3 chip, the Pixel 8a offers handy ai features along with a beautiful 120Hz OLED display, great cameras, and well-above-average battery life for just $499.
- Colorful 120Hz OLED display
- Strong battery life
- Excellent cameras
- Great value
- Slow wireless charging
- Thick bezels
The phone's frame is still made of aluminum, which feels great, while the metal camera bar on the back is actually a millimeter or two thinner, resulting in a slightly sleeker device. Google also changed the Pixel 8's rear glass panel to plastic. But thanks to a new matte finish that's supposed to mimic the texture of cashmere, it definitely doesn't look cheap. And although its IP67 dust and water resistance rating is a step below that of the main Pixel 8, it's still enough to withstand submersion of up to 1 meter for 30 minutes. Nothing bad.
Performance
One of the biggest knocks against Google's Tensor chips is that they don't offer the same level of raw performance as rival Apple or Qualcomm silicon. And while that's still true for the G3, when we talk about it powering a phone that costs $499, it bothers me a lot less. In normal use, the Pixel 8a feels fast and agile, even when gaming. Titles like Marvel Brooch and TMNT: Shredder's Revenge It seemed soft. The only time I noticed major hiccups or lags was when playing more demanding shooters like Call of Duty: Mobile.
Of course, the other part of the performance equation is all the on-device ai features that the Tensor G3 unlocks, like Audio Magic Eraser, Best Take, and Magic Editor, which you can use as much as you want instead of the 10-limit. of images to which free users are subject to Google Photos.
Cameras
The Pixel 8a features the same 64MP main and 13MP ultra-wide sensors used in last year's P7a. But that's okay, because Google's affordable phones punch well above their weight. So instead of comparing it to a similarly priced rival, I decided to really challenge the Pixel 8a by comparing it to the Samsung 24 Ultra. And even then, it largely held up.
In bright light, I'd say the Pixel 8a might be the better shooter, as it captured more accurate colors and excellent details compared to the Samsung's warmer and often oversaturated tones. This was especially noticeable when photographing a single yellow rose. The S24 Ultra made the center of the flower look orange and high contrast, which looks great in a vacuum but doesn't reflect what I saw in real life.
At night, however, the S24 Ultra's massive 200MP main sensor receded, producing generally sharper and better exposed images. That said, thanks to Google's powerful Night Sight mode, the Pixel 8a was no slouch, an impressive feat for a phone that costs $800 less.
Finally, while the Pixel 8a doesn't have any other hardware tricks besides a solid 13MP selfie camera, Google's ai is here to take your photos even further. Best Take lets you capture multiple group shots and then swap people's reactions between several options. It's easy to use and allows you to create a composition where everyone is smiling, which seems like a win-win scenario. Then there's the Magic Editor, a fun and powerful way to remove distracting elements or move subjects to your liking. It's the kind of thing you might not use every day, but every once in a while it will bring back a shot that you would have otherwise deleted. So even if you don't care about ai or how it works, Google is finding a way to add value with machine learning.
Battery life and charging
While the Pixel 8a's 4,492 mAh battery is slightly smaller than the standard model's (4,575 mAh), it actually boasts slightly better battery life, possibly due to its smaller screen. In our video summary test, the 8a lasted 20 hours and 29 minutes, just barely beating the Pixel 8's regular time of 20:16.
Meanwhile, when it comes to charging, both wired and Qi wireless speeds have remained the same. This means you get up to 18 watts when using a cord, but a rather lethargic 7.5 watts if you place it on an induction pad. That may not be a big problem if you only use wireless charging overnight or to conveniently recharge your phone while doing something else. But if you need some juice in a jiffy, you'd better grab a cable.
Wrap
Google isn't breaking new ground with the Pixel 8a. But the simple formula of class-leading cameras, a great screen, great battery life, and a sleek design will never go out of style, especially when you get all of this for just $499. And with the addition of ai features previously only available on Google's flagship phones, the Pixel 8a is a mid-range smartphone that's actually smarter than all its rivals. To top it all off, there's a configuration with 256GB of storage for the first time on any A-series phone (though only on the Obsidian model), plus even better support with seven years of Android and security updates.
The only downside is that the deciding factor comes down to how much its siblings cost. If you stick to its default pricing, the $499 Pixel 8a offers incredible savings over the standard $799 Pixel 8. However, before the 8a's announcement, we saw deals that dropped the Pixel 8 to just $549, at which point you could also spend an extra $50 to get the full flagship experience.
But for those who don't feel like waiting for a discount or don't care about details like slower wireless charging speeds, in addition to being the best mid-range Android phone, the Pixel 8a is a very good deal.
