Rarely is there a more tempting headphone than the cheapest Google Pixel modelling , and the Pixel 8a is the latest to be released .
It seems to be another great economic value good example you ’d be mad not to count , but before handing over the money in expectancy of using the ever - dependable camera and computer software , is it as good as we all trust — and have come to have a bun in the oven ?
Google Pixel 8a: design
The Google Pixel 8a look so much more modern than thePixel 7a , and it ’s all due to the round corners , which soften the designing and make it more well-off to hold , too . It ’s a thickset earphone compare to the massivePixel 8 Pro , theSamsung Galaxy S24 Plus , andGalaxy S24 Ultra , with the 72 mm width and 8.9 mm heaviness ensure it is never a fuss to use with one hand .
However , the metal frame and plastic rear venire provide little grasp , so you ’ll have to hold it tightly or put it in a case if you want to avoid any accident . I ’ve been using Google ’s silicone case , and while it does n’t attract as much bagatelle and dust asthe Pixel 7a ’s case , it does n’t really up the grasp constituent much . As such , it may be deserving look for anotherPixel 8a caseif you ’re prone to put down your phone . The 188 - gram weight is welcome , and I have not find it pesky in my sac or bag .
Google ’s stylemark photographic camera visor looks excellent and leave the back of the Pixel 8a front and indistinguishability , and confirms it as one of the Pixel kinsperson . I ’ve been using the Pixel 8a in the Obsidian colour , which is very dense , but you’re able to also get it in a beautiful Bay bluing , a Porcelain white , or the novel Aloe green . I ’d advise have one of the brighter colour to really make the great overall design shine .
Even though the cause does n’t add much clutch , it does cut across up the somewhat flashy - feeling plastic rearward panel , which is smooth to the touch and has an unpleasant amount of flex when pressed down . It ’s not as tactile as the Google Pixel 8 ’s glass or as fancy as theSamsung Galaxy A55’sglass , and even the plasticGalaxy A35manages to improve on it . quoin had to be rationalise to get the price right , but otherwise , the Pixel 8a is a compendious , realizable , and pretty phone ; just do n’t expect it to palpate expensive .
Google Pixel 8a: camera
I ’m willing to bet one of the reasonableness you desire a Pixel 8a is the camera , and rightly so , establish on other poser . But how does the cheapest model in the Pixel reach perform ? There are two cameras on the back : a 64 - megapixel main television camera with an f/1.89 aperture and both opthalmic and electronic stabilisation ( OIS and EIS ) , plus a 13MP wide - angle photographic camera with a 120 - point field of perspective . The selfie photographic camera at the top of the screen has 13 megapixels and cook focal point .
When Ifirst started with the Pixel 8a ’s camera , I was n’t quite certain about its operation . There seemed to be something a little off about its photograph and contrast in some position . Since then , I ’ve taken more than 120 extra exposure , and for the most part , the problem has not continued to induce concern . However , in some circumstances — harsh lighting in peculiar — the Pixel 8a did n’t take the photos I expect . Was I expecting too much ?
No . While the Pixel 8a ’s camera is n’t perfect , it isreallygood , and you wo n’t regret getting it . color pop , images are meet with item , and there ’s wonderful consistence between the main and wide - angle photographic camera . I fritter away exposure at an evening car effect , and the Pixel 8a was n’t faze by the low sun and still deal to make the alloy effulgence and the colour endure out . And it did n’t obscure detail in the shadows . At dark , it takes shrewd , bright pic with only a mite of blur when you graze the image .
Wide-angleAndy Boxall / Digital Trends
While the Pixel 8a ’s camera is n’t perfect , it isreallygood .
There ’s no optical zoom here , just like the Pixel 8 , but the tv camera does have a 2x crosscut to lure you . The photo it read are quite soft and it does n’t always pore as you ’d expect . And although you may see what you ’ve taken a photo of using the 8x Super - Res zoom mode , the digital enhancement is obvious . Creative opportunity comes from the editing suite in Google Photos more than the television camera , and to alter this , you ’ll have to fling for the Pixel 8 Pro . It had a shaky start , but I ’ve warm to the Pixel 8a ’s camera a outstanding deal .
Google Pixel 8a: AI
The Google Pixel 8a will get some Gemini Nano AI capableness in the future through a software update , but at the metre of writing , these are not usable . When it does arrive , it ’ll have to be enabled in the developer options menu when other features like Summarize for Recorder and Smart Replies are aerate . In the interim , it hasCircle to Search , Audio Emojis , and Call Assist . They likely are n’t characteristic you ’ll use all the time , but I ’ve establish Circle to Search and the Call Screening feature ready to hand , and they work well . I ’ve not found a time when an Audio Emoji would be appropriate , though .
While Magic Eraser is well at removing some items and multitude from image , it often fails to remove them all , resulting in a patchy , distracting look . Used cautiously , though , it can work really well . The same ca n’t always be said for the stylized mode , which has some very odd ideas about how to modify an image . Sometimes , it make a fun , artistic interpretation , but most of the time , it ’s either weird or plain abominable - looking . The AI feature are n’t a reason to buy the Pixel 8a , but it ’s great to see all the same feature film that are present on the more expensive Pixel 8 series phones on the chinchy one , too .
Google Pixel 8a: screen and performance
No matter whether you corrupt the Pixel 8a , the Pixel 8 , or the Pixel 8 Pro , all are powered by Google ’s Tensor G3 C.P.U. . The Pixel 8a has 8 GB of RAM and either 128 GB or 256 GB of storage space , unlike the Pixel 7a , which only came with 128 GB of memory board . If you plan on keeping the earpiece for a foresighted meter , it may be deserving getting the simulation with the turgid capacity , but if you ’re study a lot of photos , then a Google One subscription may exercise out to be the wiser alternative .
I ’ve not experienced slowdown or performance issues , but the Tensor G3 is n’t the most efficient processor , which we ’ll come back to in the battery life section . PlayingAsphalt 9 : Legendsis fast and exciting , but the back of the telephone set does get warm to the tactual sensation after about 15 moment . Not red-hot , just some evidence the phone is working quite hard . On an uncharacteristically ardent sidereal day in the U.K. , the earpiece also sire quite blistering when graze apps outside in the specter . It ’s not something to be overly worried about , but it appear to lead hotter than telephone set with theQualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3processor and more comprehensive cooling , such as theOnePlus 12 .
The screen is a 6.1 - inch , 20:9 aspect proportion Actua display with a 1080 x 2400 pixel firmness of purpose and a 120Hz maximal refresh rate . This is up from the 90Hz refresh rate on the Pixel 7a , but wo n’t be as in effect at managing bombardment efficiency as the Pixel 8 Pro ’s 1Hz to 120Hz adaptive rate , as it can only switch between 60Hz and 120Hz . It also require to be manually enable in the scope , as the Smooth Display feature was not activated by nonpayment on my review article model . While I really noticed the bezel when I first started using the phone , they ’ve combine into the backdrop since .
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Google states that the screen brightness has a maximum of 1,400 nits and a top of 2,000 nit , and while I have n’t observe any problems see it in sunlight , the angle of the screen seems to affect it . When I was taking photos with it and the Nothing Phone 2 , the Nothing ’s screen was brighter and easy to see at unusual Angle liken to the Pixel 8a ’s . This may have to do with the ambient light sensing element , which does tend to lower the brightness as much as it can , presumably to pull through battery , or the quondam Gorilla Glass 3 over the screen , which is not as effective at conduct with reflections .
Google Pixel 8a: software, calls, and connectivity
Android 14 is installed on the Pixel 8a , and Google will support it with security and Android version upgrades for seven years . This is a bighearted benefit on a reasonably priced phone , where unforesightful support periods are common , and means it will have the belated software for the entire amount of time you ’d realistically want to keep it . Samsung offers five years of support for its A - series phones , and theOnePlus 12Ronly baffle three years of version updates .
I lie with Android on a Pixel telephone , from the wonderful tactual feedback throughout to the accuracy of the Gboard keyboard , plus the simpleness of its canonical controls and extensive features . It ’s effortless and favorable to use . Android on the Pixel 8a also count and performs just like it does on the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro , and I have had no issue with install or using apps . The Pixel 8a ’s software bring home the bacon a still , fast , consistent , and simple ownership experience that ’s elusive to beat .
Similarly , calls sound loud and unmortgaged , and I never have to research for a fresh spot to hear the telephoner thanks to the splendid speaker . It pulls in Wi - Fi , 4 gee , and 5 G signals , but does sometimes contend in poor coverage areas more than some other earpiece I ’ve used recently . And the Wi - Fi is n’t always effectual at maintaining a strong signal either . It ’s not disconnecting all the meter , but it does n’t cope with weak signals as well as myiPhone 15 Pro Max , for object lesson .
Portrait modeAndy Boxall / Digital Trends
you could use the in - showing fingerprint sensing element or look unlock to procure the Pixel 8a . The fingerprint sensor has been a trivial erratic , but does seem to have settled down into work on a regular basis . The facial expression unlock system is very fast and often ticktock me to the fingerprint detector anyway .
Google Pixel 8a: battery and charging
The prescribed watchword from Google is that the Pixel 8a will return an norm of “ 24 - plus hours ” of life from the 4492mAh capacity battery . As usual , for you to get close to this , it very much depends on how you practice the phone . My use is mostly between three and four hours of screen meter per sidereal day , with mixed use , and I ’ve become accustomed to seeing about 25 % stay by the end of the night . With light employment of about two hours of screen metre per day , the Pixel 8a ’s battery still won’tquitemake it all the way through day two .
Watch 30 second of 1080p video on YouTube and about 4 % of the barrage fire will melt , while playing 30 instant of a game likeAsphalt 9 : Legendsuses about 10 % of the battery . Google may say the Pixel 8a has quick charging , but it ’s a chip of a stretch as it maxes out at 18 watts using a USB - ampere-second cable ( there ’s canonic 7.5W wireless Qi charging too ) . Using an Anker 313 battery charger and USB cable for shoot , it only reach 40 % in about 30 transactions , and it took a small over 90 minutes to turn over 100 % . The Pixel 8a is not a fast - institutionalize speech sound .
If you need a telephone set with staying power and speedy charging , the Pixel 8a probably wo n’t be for you , and I certainly would n’t believe it a machine for “ top executive users , ” which I see as someone who racks up more than five hr of covert sentence per daytime and always requires a sufficient index reserve for more . The short(ish ) battery life will give you some anxiety , and the slow charging look bad next to the OnePlus 12R. Everyone else call for to go into the Pixel 8a expecting a day ’s battery life , and anything more from it will be a bonus .
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Google Pixel 8a: price and availability
The Google Pixel 8a costs $ 499 , or 499 British Ezra Pound , for the standard 128 GB model , or you may pay off a minuscule more to get the 256 GB version ( $ 559 , or 559 British pounds ) . It ’s available to buy now .
What else should you consider ? TheSamsung Galaxy A55is one of its magnanimous competitors , along with theOnePlus 12R , and both provide dissimilar advantages . The OnePlus 12R has great carrying out , long battery lifespan , and dependable fast charging , but the package wo n’t be to everyone ’s taste . The Galaxy A55 looks great and is made from high - quality materials , plus it has good package and age of support , but it ’s not as comfortable to have got as the Pixel 8a and the photographic camera is n’t as merriment .
Pay a little more , and theNothing Phone 2andSamsung Galaxy S23 FEcome into eyeshot , along with theGoogle Pixel 8 , and all three are a stair up from the Pixel 8a . Expect faster performance , gamy - quality stuff , a better designing on the Nothing Phone 2 and Galaxy S23 FE , and a somewhat stronger camera on the Pixel 8 for just a niggling more money . However , the Pixel 8a still represent first-class note value if these aspect do n’t occupy you .
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Google Pixel 8a: verdict
For the Pixel 8a to be the respectable - value Pixel phone this twelvemonth , it needs to beat the Pixel 8 . It ’s $ 200 cheaper , which is a very good commencement . It also has the same processor , a pretty like camera , and will have most of the same AI sport too . Unless you find an offering on the Pixel 8 that brings the price down to under $ 600 ( which does happen ) , the Pixel 8a is a very good leverage and an excellent value considering the software system , camera , and public presentation .
The Pixel 8a is a very good leverage and an excellent value .
But it ’s not a perfect bargain . The Pixel 8a ’s bombardment life is a disappointment and worse than I had with the Pixel 8 . The body is slippy and a bit bum , the screen is sometimes severe to see , and the camera is n’t always quite as refined as I ’d like . It mean other smartphones around the same price are n’t good beaten by the Pixel 8a , which has as much to do with the improvement in mid - price phones as it has to do with any Pixel shortcomings . It have in mind more choice , and it ’s a great position for us to be in as buyers .
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It may vocalize like I ’m being quite tough on the Google Pixel 8a , so I ’ll put aside the negatives and order you why this is another cheap Google phone to rush out and buy , provided you ’re aware of the few downside . If you ’ve interrogate whether you involve a $ 1,000 smartphone , but still want the practiced software system , a camera that take vivacious and exciting photograph , some of the latest AI smarts , and a pretty cool blueprint , then the Pixel 8a is exactly the phone for you .
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Google Pixel 8aAndy Boxall / Digital Trends
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