For the third yr in a row, Google adopted the same recipe with its newest Pixel A sequence cellphone. The brand new Pixel 8a provides related {hardware} and efficiency as the wonderful Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Professional in a extra compact bundle with a decrease beginning price ticket.
The Pixel 8a brings a bunch of significant — if principally invisible — enhancements over the model it replaces whereas remaining simply as inexpensive. These embody a more energizing design, a superior show, and a beefier chip with next-level AI capabilities. Just like the Pixel 7a that precedes it, the brand new Pixel 8a begins at slightly below $500.
The under-$500 smartphone class has turn into extremely aggressive, with the Google Pixel telephones that rock an “a” moniker being the gold customary for efficiency and worth. For sure, once I started my two-week testing interval for the newest one, I had excessive expectations.
How We Examined
I spent two weeks utilizing a Pixel 8a as my go-to Android cellphone. I used the system to subject work emails and Slack messages whereas on the transfer and to communicate with household and buddies whereas off the clock. I additionally used the Pixel to browse the online, scroll by social media, and play video games. The cellphone was additionally used as my main digicam.
The Pixel 8a excelled once I put it by its paces, making it as soon as once more the most effective cellphone $500 should purchase, whatever the platform. Right here’s a breakdown of its design, {hardware}, efficiency, and platform expertise.
DESIGN
Sporting a steel body and the product household’s signature digicam bar, you possibly can inform that the newest entry-level Pixel is undoubtedly a Google cellphone with only one look. In distinction to the final two Pixel A sequence releases, the 8a doesn’t appear like a shrunken model of its pricier siblings from the identical lineup. Regardless of its related footprint, it has extra rounded corners and a smaller twin digicam cutout, so it’s straightforward to inform aside from the Pixel 8.
Talking of measurement, the 6.1-inch Pixel 8a is compact and tremendous handy to make use of with one hand on the transfer. In a bid to woo value-seeking customers, Android producers equip their budget-friendly telephones with a lot bigger shows. Motorola, Samsung, and OnePlus choices on this value class are larger and unwieldier than the Pixel 8a.
The Pixel 8a has the same footprint because the Pixel 7a it replaces.
Whereas strolling to work, I loved having the ability to take the Pixel 8a out of my pocket and reply to emails and messages with simply my left hand. Its compact measurement made an enormous distinction, as with larger telephones, I all the time needed to decelerate my tempo and alter the keyboard to one-handed mode to finish this process. The helpful change in my on a regular basis routine on the go that I skilled with the smaller Pixel 8a was refreshing, to say the least.
Similar to the Pixel 7a, the Pixel 8a is loads sturdy. The IP67 waterproof cellphone has an aluminum body with glorious tactility, a Gorilla Glass 3-covered display, and a again panel made from sturdy plastic. The latter has a matte end, so it feels nicer in hand than the shiny end of the final two Pixel A sequence telephones. It’s additionally much less susceptible to smudges.
DISPLAY
The Pixel 8a’s 6.1-inch Actua show is a noticeable improve over the high-quality display of the Pixel 7a regardless of measuring identically diagonally. That includes the identical tech because the Pixel 8’s display, the HDR OLED panel is just not solely brighter however able to delivering smoother visuals, courtesy of a 120 Hz most refresh charge that’s greater than the Pixel 7a’s.
Increased peak brightness makes any show extra seen in eventualities with vibrant lighting, and the Pixel 8a has actually benefited from this spec bump. I might learn and reply to messages, evaluate photographs I captured, and preserve tabs on stay Premier League scores and not using a hitch.
CAMERA
The Pixel 8a is handily the most effective digicam cellphone for the cash. Throughout my testing, the system constantly snapped stunning 16-megapixel photographs, in addition to detail-rich and clean 4K video, together with in scenes with poor lighting. Capturing recollections was as straightforward as activating the digicam app and pointing the cellphone on the scene or object.
Google’s expertly tuned digicam {hardware}, in tandem with the picture processing powers of the Tensor chip, took the guesswork out of adjusting settings earlier than urgent the seize button. As well as, the AI-powered image-editing Google Pictures instruments make seemingly difficult duties like enhancing blurry photographs, making everybody look their finest, eradicating or resizing objects, and even getting rid of distracting noises in video clips, to call a couple of, surprisingly straightforward to perform. Cellular pictures newbies and avid smartphone shutterbugs alike will discover the options helpful.
The zoom capabilities of the Pixel 8a have remained unchanged from the earlier iteration and are on par with rivals at this value level. I steadily relied on the choice to zoom in twice with out shedding out on element by using the high-resolution main sensor.
Maxing out the Tremendous Res zoom performance at 8x rendered strong, if noisier, photos that had been straightforward to right utilizing the Unblur device in Google Pictures. Cramming a real telephoto lens with a devoted sensor is all the time reserved for premium units, so though it leaves a bit to be desired, it is an anticipated characteristic to be absent from a budget-friendly cellphone.
PERFORMANCE
Google fitted the Pixel 8a with the identical Tensor G3 chip that powers the dearer Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Professional. The core element makes use of a sophisticated 4-nanometer structure, permitting it to ship stability between energy and vitality effectivity.
Frequent Android interactions like opening and utilizing apps had been quick on the Pixel 8a. Thanks to eight GB of RAM, so was hopping between a number of open ones like Chrome, Gmail, Messages, Microsoft Outlook, Slack, and Tidal, amongst others. Gaming on the cellphone was additionally a clean and pleasant expertise.
I might get a day of use from the Pixel 8a with out being aware of the apps I ran or the system’s display brightness (it was set to auto the complete time). Once I had to decide on between powering up the system by way of USB-C or wirelessly, I gravitated in the direction of the previous as a result of it was quicker. Sooner wi-fi charging a la Pixel 8 and the Pixel 8 Professional would have been a pleasant improve, but it surely’s lack is not a dealbreaker on this value level.
AI-INFUSED ANDROID
The Pixel 8a delivers a best-in-class Android platform expertise with the identical AI-powered options as the dearer Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Professional and different top-shelf rivals just like the Samsung Galaxy S24. Circle to Search is my favourite AI characteristic, because it’s modified how I Google many issues since I skilled it for the primary time earlier this yr. Utilizing this characteristic, which permits me to circle round a picture or textual content on the display of my cellphone, saves me a ton of time (and energy) typing inquiries or pasting product names into the Google search field.
Gemini — the highly effective AI assistant developed by Google — can be on board the Pixel 8a. The digital helper may help velocity up any work routine with its generative powers. It could possibly summarize lengthy paperwork or emails and carry out numerous duties just like the Google Assistant we’ve turn into used to. I like that there’s an choice to pick out fast entry to Gemini or Google Assistant by long-pressing the system’s energy button.
Having Google’s newest chip permits the Pixel 8a to ship a bunch of useful experiences — from real-life translations to next-level picture and video enhancing choices, all the way in which to uncompromising name efficiency and safety.
Courtesy Google
Whether or not you or the reward recipient are first-time customers or longtime Android devoted, the above extras could make a constructive impression in your each day routine by saving effort and time spent doing mundane issues. Firing up the Pixel Ideas app and downloading the Gemini app are good beginning factors to start exploring the AI instruments.
After utilizing the Pixel 8a for slightly over every week, I’ve barely scratched the floor of the AI enhancements it gives, so there are plenty of cool new issues to look ahead to. What’s extra, seven years of assured well timed Android platform updates and have drops be certain that the cellphone will ship an up-to-date person expertise into the 2030s. Finances-friendly Androids hardly ever get greater than 2-3 platform updates, so Google’s help is nothing wanting excellent.
CONCLUSION
The Pixel 8a is the under-$500 smartphone to get, and I’m not speaking simply Android. The product’s design, efficiency, digicam high quality, cutting-edge Android expertise, and immaculate futureproofing go away rivals that value the identical (or much less) within the mud. I wouldn’t counsel different choices except you possibly can revise your finances upward by 25-30%.
Relating to Pixel 8a options, essentially the most formidable one which involves thoughts is — await it — a reduced Pixel 8. As a result of it’s been available on the market longer, the pricier Pixel is often obtainable at main retailers for lower than $500. It has a harder construct with Gorilla Glass Victus, an excellent higher digicam, and quicker wi-fi charging. That stated, understand that the Pixel 8a will inevitably see value reductions, too, so being affected person can get you one properly beneath its unique retail.
The OnePlus 12R is a formidable Pixel 8a rival with a much bigger and sharper display, a speedier chipset, and quicker charging that begins at $500. Accessible at a seemingly everlasting low cost, the $500 Motorola razr is a surprisingly budget-friendly foldable various. Nevertheless, area of interest benefits apart, neither the OnePlus nor the Motorola cellphone can match the Pixel 8a in platform expertise, digicam high quality, and futureproofing.
Google provides the Pixel 8a in aloe (pictured right here), bay, obsidian, and porcelain colours. For the primary time, you possibly can order the cellphone with 128 GB or 256 GB of storage. The larger reminiscence choice is just $60 extra, so I wouldn’t hesitate to go for it.