Christine Romero - Chan / Digital Trends
Ahead ofGoogle I / type O 2024 , Google revealed theGoogle Pixel 8a , and it ’s turning out to be one of the best phone values in a while . It boasts a beautiful OLED display that now gambol a 120Hz refresh pace , the Tensor G3 chip , Gemini Nano , a larger battery , wireless charging , and a refreshed blueprint with some fun new colors . In short , there ’s alotto dig into .
There is definitely a mess to like about the Google Pixel 8a , and as such , we do n’t fault you if you are n’t sure where to start . If you just pick one up , then verify you do these thing first !
Christine Romero-Chan / Digital Trends
Turn on Smooth Display
The Pixel 8a is the first gadget in the Pixel A - series to offer a 120Hz refresh charge per unit on the display . Google only offer 60Hz on the Pixel 6a and 90Hz on the Pixel 7a . This is one of the bighearted upgrade over its predecessors and a big reason why thePixel 8a is worth the upgrade .
But when you get the Pixel 8a , the default setting is 60Hz to extend battery life . That ’s quite considerate of Google , but if you want to get the full experience of the Pixel 8a , you ’ll need to have that 120Hz refresh pace on for smoother scrolling , better animations , and just an overall better experience .
To wrick on the 120Hz refresh rate , go toSettings > Display > Smooth Displayand make trusted that the toggle switch is on . This will automatically raise the refresh pace from 60Hz to 120Hz on some content , but battery usage will increase . It ’s deserving it , though !
Enable Notification History
I ’m not sure about everyone else , but sometimes I feel like I get bombarded with notifications every mean solar day . These come from my e-mail , work messages , social medium , news , unexampled subscription depicted object , and more . I treasure the notifications , but sometimes I just want to get free of the clutter on my lock projection screen or notification control panel because it ’s just too much .
Since I have been using Android , one of the most utile thing I ’ve come upon is Notification chronicle . On myiPhone 15 professional , whenever I disregard a notification , it ’s gone forever . Sometimes I have gotten free of an important telling and then I ’ve wonder what it enunciate . I ’m glad that Android has Notification History , and it ’s something I enable on all of myAndroid phones .
With presentment story , you’re able to go back and mark off on recently dismissed notification , as well as the past 24 time of day of notification . I ’ve found this useful if I do need to go back for something . If you are n’t already using this , I ’d recommend you do so .
To call on this mise en scene on , go toSettings > telling > Notification Historyand make certain that it ’s on .
Play around with the wallpapers and style
With the Google Pixel 8 lineup , Google added some AI - powered lineament , admit the ability togenerate wallpaper . But there are also some young wallpapers , clock styles , and other fun stuff that you may pluck to make the Pixel 8a feel more like “ you . ”
With the generative AI wallpapers , there are several melodic theme to pick from , and from there , you make some change in the text prompt and get genuinely unique wallpapers . Or you’re able to produce you own emoji wallpaper if you ’d care , or plainly pick from your existing photos or the included option of wallpapers .
On top of this , Android 14 addedseveral fresh clock face that you could use on the lock chamber screen , giving the Pixel 8a even more of a personal touching . The clock and overall theme color can match the rest of the wallpaper image or you could select a different colour — it ’s up to you .
To check out the generative AI wallpapers and more style circumstance , just go toSettings > Wallpaper and Style . This is where you could also change the lock screen shortcut , toggle the always - on show , conform Now Playing , and more .
Turn on Palm Timer in the Camera app
I take quite a few selfies , especially when I ’m at places like Disneyland . But I often discover it hard to rap that shutter button , as I desire to hold the phone with one handwriting , but my hands are on the smaller side . So , trying to get to that shutter button , or even the volume clitoris , can be a nuisance — and I often stop up with a muzzy or bad selfie .
One of my pet feature with Android earpiece is the power to trigger off the camera shutter with a wave or by showing your thenar . With Samsung phones , you typically wave your hand to activate a abbreviated countdown before the shutter . On Google Pixel phones , the feature of speech is call Palm Timer . When Palm Timer is enable , you just show your palm in the frame to start a selfie timer . You do n’t even need to wave your hand — just show your palm . But this is n’t enable by default for some reason , and you have to dig in to your photographic camera mount to witness it .
To turn on the Palm Timer , go into your tv camera app . Select thePhoto Settingsin the bottom - left corner ( it ’s a gear icon with a photographic camera in the quoin of it ) , then selectMore context . Then search forPalm Timerand change the setting toAlways On . This way , you may simply show your palm tree to capture a selfie without have to twist the timekeeper on .
Set up your Do Not Disturb
Sometimes , we just need a break from our connected devices , including ( and probably particularly ) our smartphones . Most smartphones these days have a Do Not shake up feature , including the Google Pixel 8a . Make trusted to pass some time to get that lot up .
With Do Not Disturb , you wo n’t be apprise unless it ’s by hoi polloi and selected apps you choose . Otherwise , everything else is essentially put on the back burner . You ’ll want to verify you have starred those authoritative middleman and pick out the apps that are important enough to go around your Do Not Disturb setting .
To set up your Do Not touch mode , as well as Bedtime and Focus modes , go toSettings > Digital Wellbeing and parental control > Do Not Disturb .
Toggle Flip to Shhh
Once you have Do Not trouble place up , it ’s fairly loose to access it . You could go down up a schedule for it to automatically turn on every sidereal day , or you’re able to just toggle it through the Quick options gore .
But what if you desire an evenfasterway ? you’re able to just flick your Pixel 8a concealment - down on a flat surface . This needs to be manually turned on first , though . Just go toSettings > Digital Wellbeing and maternal command > Flip to Shhhand turn the on/off switch on .
Now , when you place your Pixel 8a face down on a flat surface , such as a table , it will bend on Do Not Disturb . You ’ll sense a elusive shaking to let you know that it ’s in Do Not raise up mode . It ’s a small feature , but if you want a quick and easy direction to silence unnecessary notifications , it ’s a great one to have .
The Pixel 8a is equipped with an telling dual photographic camera setup that has a 64 - megapixel main camera and a 13MP ultrawide crystalline lens . The selfie camera is a 13MP sensing element . Though this is the same tv camera organization as its predecessor , the Pixel 7a , you get some cool new photo - redaction tools thanks to the software .
If you like to take group shots , you recognize that it can be unmanageable to have everyone at their best in the photograph . The fresh Best Take feature lets you take multiple group photos and then pick out the best faces from those epitome and put them together in one image .
Then there are some classic likeMagic Eraserand Photo Unblur . Magic Eraser help with getting free of undesirable objects and people in the ground , while Photo Unblur uses machine learning and facial acknowledgment to point trope and clear up facial features whenever there may be a act of motion in a photo that causes undesirable blur .
Turn on Circle to Search
Circle to Searchis an AI feature that was first shown with theSamsung Galaxy S24series , but it is also available on Google Pixel phones , including thePixel 8,Pixel 8 Pro , and Pixel 8a .
With Circle to Search , you could easy look up anything that is currently on the blind by circle it , tapping it , or select it . This is rattling when you see something that you ’re curious about , and you want to look up where to purchase it or get more entropy on something . It ’s one of the most useful thing that Android has introduce recently , and I wish every phone had it .
Switch Google Assistant to Gemini
For years , Google Assistant has been the default digital helper for Android phones . While you may still use it on the Google Pixel 8a , you also have the option of replacing it with Google ’s newer , AI - power assistant , Gemini . And if you ask us , you should .
First , you ’ll want to ensure that the digital assistant is set up . Go toSettings > organisation > gesture > Press and carry power release . shift it toDigital assistantif it ’s not on that already .
Now , press and curb the power release to bring up the assistant . By default , it will be Google Assistant , but there will be a pop - up to have you examine Gemini alternatively . With Gemini , you ’ll be able to discourse with the Gemini AI to get answers , have it stark tasks for you , and more .
If you never really used Google Assistant , then essay switch it to Gemini and see if it ’s more useful for you .
Lots of features to check out
The Google Pixel 8a is a fantastic budget - friendly Pixel smartphone if you ’re looking to upgrade , or if you desire to try on a Pixel for the very first time .
Google went above and beyond this fourth dimension around , offering a beautiful OLED exhibit with a 120Hz refresh rate , impressive camera computer hardware and package features , power and efficiency with the Tensor G3 chip , longer battery biography , and more . Plus , it ’s one of the first smartphones with Gemini Nano AI capabilities for under $ 500 .
There ’s a lot to like with the Pixel 8a this class , so if you are picking one up , make trusted to examine these nine things out first before really diving in !
