Google’s Pixel A sequence smartphones have all the time been the go-to mid-range gadgets for dependable smartphone images and never a lot about efficiency. They’ve additionally been the go-to gadgets for many who have wished a vanilla Android software program expertise, as they’ve all the time provided the cleanest and most up to date Android software program expertise (together with dependable replace timelines) in comparison with all different manufacturers at this value level. Briefly, Google’s Pixel A sequence was a gorgeous selection for the typical client, regardless that these weren’t the most effective gadgets for gaming or battery life. Nevertheless, Google needed to improve it with the occasions; it wished to cram in additional options to compete with different manufacturers, and so we had a really attention-grabbing and feature-packed Pixel 7a, which was launched at Rs. 43,999 (identical to the Pixel 6a).
Instances are altering, and Google has raised the worth of this sensible little smartphone as soon as once more to a beginning value of Rs. 52,999. Its premium price ticket will see this largely inexpensive providing from Google competing with some actually attention-grabbing smartphones from Chinese language manufacturers and Samsung. Whereas Google has upgraded its A-series’ AI smarts by going with the Tensor G3 this 12 months (nearly bringing it on par with its Pixel 8). It is attention-grabbing to see how these options add up towards a sea of gadgets that supply higher uncooked efficiency at this value level. I have been utilizing the Pixel 8a for a couple of weeks, and this is why I imagine there is a small probability it could possibly be your subsequent premium smartphone.
Google Pixel 8a Overview: Value in India
The Google Pixel 8a is the primary A-series smartphone in India to be provided in multiple storage variant. The bottom 8GB RAM and 128GB storage variant is priced at Rs. 52,999, whereas the brand new 256GB storage variant is priced at Rs 59,999. Whereas it looks like a no brainer to spend a bit extra and get the 256GB storage variant (it is all the time higher to have extra storage), you’ll change your thoughts after getting a take a look at what the competitors gives at this very value level in our verdict.
Within the field, Google, as common, gives a Kind-C to Kind-C USB cable for charging and information transfers, a USB Kind-A adapter for information transfers and a SIM ejector device.
Google Pixel 8a Overview: Design
The Google Pixel 8a absolutely has a really enticing design, particularly within the new Aloe and Bay finishes, that are unique to this mannequin. The cellphone has graduated from the largely squared design with corners to a extra rounded look that has a really snug handfeel. Given its compact general dimensions, it’s also fairly manageable with one hand.
The Google Pixel 8a’s rear panels are nonetheless made out of polycarbonate however have a premium frosted end
We obtained the Bay end for evaluate. It has a frosted matte polycarbonate rear panel break up by the long-lasting visor-like digital camera stripe. The flat digital camera module and barely rounded sides of the cellphone’s body are colour-matched and make for a really fashionable and vibrant design that appears focused in the direction of the youth. The rear panel, regardless of being manufactured from polycarbonate, doesn’t entice mud or fingerprints and feels very premium.
The standard points I seen in my evaluate of the Pixel 7a have additionally been taken care of. Other than its IP67 certification (it may be immersed in 1 metre of water), the match and end of this cellphone are wonderful, which is becoming given its new premium price ticket.
The one element I completely didn’t dig concerning the Pixel 8a’s design is its show. It has noticeably thick bezels, which are sometimes seen on entry-level smartphones, and jogged my memory of the iPhone XR from 2018. The thick black bezel (thickest on the backside) additionally eats into the show space, which is crucial on such a compact smartphone. Samsung’s Galaxy S24, which was launched final 12 months and retails at an identical value, has a razor-thin bezel in comparison with the Pixel 8a.
The Google Pixel 8a’s show gives good daylight legibility however has a very thick bezel
Google Pixel 8a Overview: Specs and Software program
{Hardware} specs or bragging rights should not precisely the Pixel 8a’s highlights, however there’s some attention-grabbing stuff baked into it, conserving its value in thoughts. For starters, there’s the Tensor G3 SoC, which permits a ton of AI options (some onboard, others not) which might not be doable with the Tensor G2 at present contained in the Pixel 7a. The processor can also be accompanied by Google’s Titan M2 coprocessor for higher safety. The Tensor G3 additionally permits the brand new and safe Face Unlock characteristic, which debuted with the Pixel 8 and the Pixel 8 Professional. Through the evaluate interval, it labored flawlessly, supplied there was sufficient mild for my face to be clearly seen to the selfie digital camera. If not, I had to make use of the fingerprint reader which additionally labored flawlessly.
The Tensor G3 additionally brings the common-or-garden Pixel 8a on par with its extra premium Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Professional with regards to communication requirements. There’s Wi-Fi 6 for strong information connectivity at residence or workplace and Bluetooth 5.3, which ought to be greater than sufficient for connecting to each Pixel equipment and third-party equipment as properly. Additionally included is NFC and Google Forged functionality, together with help for the standard international positioning techniques. You continue to get a bodily SIM slot plus an eSIM with twin standby and help for a number of 5G bands.
The Pixel 8a is powered by Google’s Pixel UI, which relies on Android 14. Like with its Pixel 8 and eight Professional gadgets, Google additionally gives 7 years of OS, safety, and Function Drop updates, which is one thing few smartphone manufacturers can match as much as, each at and above this value level. Whereas it stays to be seen if the brand new Tensor G3 processor can correctly energy Google’s future Android experiences, such commitments do converse volumes a few model with regards to software program help (no, I didn’t state after-sales help).
The Android software program expertise of the Google Pixel 8a is top-notch and is jam-packed with AI-enabled options
As for the Pixel UI, it is similar to what we’ve seen on the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Professional gadgets launched late final 12 months. There have been a couple of additions since then. I completely love the enjoyable widgets (which completely match the system theme and accents) like the brand new Particular person contact widget with a photograph within the background together with name and message buttons up entrance.
Additionally new is the Snapshot widget, which turns your private home display right into a board for snapping and pinning images. It has its personal digital camera button for immediately snapping and pinning a picture to the house display, and it additionally works as a reminder each time you unlock the system.
Then there’s the plethora of AI-enabled options from the premium Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Professional, like Audio Eraser (which may erase undesirable sounds in any given video), Magic Editor (which may take away, transfer topics, and enhance images), and Greatest Take (which helps you to select one other facial features), which make it right here. All of them work impressively and have reached the purpose the place they don’t seem to be gimmicks however strong characteristic add-ons, supplied you want them.
Google Pixel 8a Overview: Efficiency
The Tensor G3 processor, whereas designed with Google’s synthetic intelligence and machine studying necessities in thoughts, is not any slouch with regards to working day-to-day apps and informal video games. So, most informal customers who use their telephones for social media apps and calls each day will not actually discover any issues associated to the identical. Nevertheless, fireplace up a recreation or the digital camera and it turns into fairly apparent that this cellphone wasn’t designed to tug off both.
Charging the Google Pixel 8a takes 2 hours, which is kind of gradual in comparison with the competitors
Beginning off with artificial benchmarks, the cellphone managed decrease than common scores, delivering 8,69,163 factors in AnTuTu whereas managing a extra tolerable 1,580 and three,558 factors in Geekbench’s single and multi-core checks. Going by these scores, it performs on par with the mid-range Poco F6 (priced at Rs. 30,999) however is on no account similar to gadgets just like the iQoo 12, which is supplied with the most recent Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC, is priced equally and managed an AnTuTu rating of 1,98,3471 (in our unbiased testing), which is greater than double of the Pixel 8a.
Hearth up a recreation, and that is when one begins to expertise the restrictions of the Tensor G3. Name of Obligation: Cellular was playable at Extremely graphics and even at Very Excessive graphics however was not as responsive as most smartphones accessible at and beneath this value level, with a number of skipped frames whereas gaming. The cellphone additionally warms up fairly a bit whereas taking part in 3D video games. Video games apart, I skilled some extra real-world issues when utilizing the cellphone’s cameras. Hearth up the digital camera app and the cellphone barely takes 5 minutes to warmth up after which continues heating up in the event you begin taking pictures video (4K and even 1080p). In about 10 minutes within the afternoon solar, the cellphone turned too sizzling to carry, however then I seen different underlying points.
Other than the show routinely dimming to the purpose that it is barely seen to chop down on heating (it will get onerous to inform what’s within the viewfinder), the cellphone’s handbook controls additionally disappear. Along with the standard White Stability, Shadow, and Brightness controls, the Shadow management disappears after which reappears as soon as the cellphone has cooled down.
As soon as good and toasty (takes about 10 minutes of combined digital camera utilization), the cellphone will warn you that it’s “too sizzling”, that “recording might finish all of a sudden”, and that “video high quality can be diminished” to compensate for the overheating. Clearly, that is right down to the shortage of a cooling system, which Google has all the time refused to incorporate in any of its telephones, choosing “software program optimisations” as a substitute, which, as you’ll be able to clearly inform from the above messages, do not work.
A screenshot displaying the heating points when utilizing the digital camera app on a sunny day
These points smash the digital camera expertise. However it’s kind of unusual that such heating points weren’t an enormous deal on the Pixel 8 Professional. My greatest guess is that it is right down to the Pixel 8a’s compact dimension. Identical to the Pixel 8 Professional, the Pixel 8a additionally has the identical problem in Portrait mode, the place the cellphone greys out the shutter button after clicking a number of Portrait photographs in succession (due to a full buffer), which may result in a number of missed moments. Certainly, the Pixel 8a is best suited to work in colder climates for optimum efficiency and so just isn’t the cellphone to hold in your subsequent summer season trip.
Maintaining in thoughts its greater battery, the Pixel 8a’s battery life sadly didn’t final any longer than what we managed with the Pixel 7a. The cellphone barely lasted 12 hours and quarter-hour in our video loop battery take a look at which isn’t nice by any commonplace, and this might primarily be right down to the usage of a 120Hz show versus the 90Hz show on the Pixel 7a. With informal use (sans digital camera or gaming), it’s doable to make the cellphone final greater than a day, however you’ll have to plug it in by the tip of the day with simply round 20 p.c left within the tank. With heavy utilization (loads of calls), this cellphone will not final a whole day, and you could have to carry out a top-up cost earlier than you allow your workplace on the way in which residence.
The Google Pixel 8a makes use of the identical cameras as final 12 months’s Pixel 7a
Google Pixel 8a Overview: Cameras
The Google Pixel 8a additionally inherits the newer digital camera interface which has been rolled out to different latest Pixel fashions (sans Professional Controls) as properly. There’s nothing completely different out right here, and one will get entry to the fundamental White Stability, Shadows and Brightness sliders after tapping on the settings icon close to the highest left nook. What has not modified are the cameras. Google has retained the rear and entrance cameras from the Pixel 7a, and which means that we might even see some minor enhancements primarily due to the brand new processor.
Google Pixel 8a daylight digital camera samples. High to backside: Ultrawide, main and 2X digital zoom crop (faucet pictures to broaden)
Images captured from the first digital camera showcase pure colors with good dynamic vary, nevertheless, it was simple to identify some blown highlights in some images, particularly these with contrasted lighting. The images, in contrast to the Pixel 8 Professional, showcase the sometimes cooler color tones that Pixel cameras have had for some time. Fortunately, there’s a white stability slider which can allow you to appropriate this whereas taking pictures. The noise is properly managed open air and when taking pictures indoors or in low or dim settings as properly. Outcomes from the digital 2X zoom focal size are good in daylight however showcase noticeably much less element in low mild, so it is best averted in dim lighting.
Portraits captured utilizing the rear digital camera present good element and edge detection however present quite a lot of noise, particularly when taking pictures topics underneath synthetic lighting or low mild. Certainly, the 2X zoom is greatest averted in Portrait mode, and most customers will discover the 1.7X default in Portrait mode sufficient to eliminate any undesirable distortion. Selfies pack loads of element however have barely aggressive edge detection, which can not detect edges evenly, resulting in noticeable borders across the topic. Pores and skin tones seem fairly pure, however I seen that the selfie digital camera can not deal with vivid background lighting, leading to blown-out backgrounds.
Google Pixel 8a’s daylight selfies do not need correct edge detection and in addition showcases blown out backgrounds (faucet picture to broaden)
Google Pixel 8a’s main digital camera gives spectacular low-light efficiency (faucet picture to broaden)
The ultrawide digital camera captures spectacular images with wonderful element and good dynamic vary and manages to usher in much more into the body in comparison with the first digital camera. It is also good to see how Google has completely matched the color tones of each rear cameras, which continues to be a rarity at this value level.
Video high quality is a little bit of a success or a miss relying on how a lot the cellphone heats up because it routinely scales down the standard. Nonetheless, I managed to get loads of samples, and the 4K 30fps video appears to hit the candy spot for this cellphone, managing good high quality and distinction. However the digital camera, for some cause, doesn’t keep focus whereas panning, making issues seem a bit delicate when doing so. Low mild video recordings aren’t all that nice for a smartphone at this value level, with footage showcasing some noise and textures showing a bit delicate general.
Google Pixel 8a Overview: Verdict
Google’s Pixel 8a certain seems to be a strong contender on the backside finish of the premium section. However the cellphone additionally has fairly a couple of issues going towards it. The Tensor G3 processor handles day by day duties simply tremendous however will get a bit too sizzling when pressured. Battery life is not the most effective at school, whereas wired charging is extraordinarily gradual in comparison with competing gadgets at this value level. There’s additionally the plain incontrovertible fact that it has a smaller show in comparison with most smartphones at this value level. And this makes it very onerous to advocate except a compact kind issue, together with well timed updates are all you need out of your subsequent premium smartphone.
The Pixel 8a’s beginning value of Rs. 52,999 (8GB + 128GB) is making issues worse. Quite a few gadgets from competing manufacturers can be found in India at lower cost factors.
If a compact kind issue is what you search, Samsung’s Galaxy S23 (Overview whereas a 12 months outdated, is a much better possibility and even gives Qualcomm silicon (Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC), which has gone lacking from this 12 months’s fashions. AI options from the most recent S24 sequence have additionally made it to the S23, so you’ll not be lacking out on a lot when it comes to options both. The S23 additionally gives a extra versatile digital camera setup with a correct 3X telephoto digital camera. It additionally has a vapour chamber cooling system to handle warmth and will not decelerate or get sizzling when pressured.
The iQoo 12 (Overview), which retails at the very same value, gives a much bigger show, far superior efficiency, good cameras, and quick wired charging. And in case you are keen to spend a bit extra, the OnePlus 12 (Overview) just isn’t too far-off at Rs. 64,999 (12GB + 256GB) and is an all-rounder of kinds on this value vary.