Pros:
– Looks premium regardless of the plastic again
– Compact design with IP67 ingress safety
– Excellent most important digicam, good ultra-wide and selfie cameras
– Sharp and vibrant 120 Hz OLED show
– Smooth and clear Android expertise
– 7 years of software program updates promised
– Good total efficiency for the phase
Cons:
– Very gradual charging; no bundled charger
– Unnecessarily thick bezels across the show
Price: Rs 34,999 onwards
Rating: 4/5
A Pixel smartphone with an ‘a’ suffix after the quantity was at all times meant to be a comparatively inexpensive choice from Google. I say relative as a result of the corporate virtually at all times will get the pricing unsuitable at launch, and it was no totally different with the Google Pixel 8a both. The ‘a’ suffix additionally provides the corporate the licence to chop corners with the intention to hold the worth down. We have been keenly following the final three generations of Pixel telephones launched in India, and I can safely say that fewer corners had been being lower with each passing technology.
Going by that logic, the Pixel 8a will get loads of bells and whistles of the Pixel 8, barring a pair, which makes it a extremely profitable choice. But let’s not overlook that the ‘a’ telephones are sometimes launched six to seven months after the primary collection, when the upper variant additionally sees a worth drop, and the earlier technology Pixel telephones might be noticed for much more enticing costs. So with the intention to give the Pixel 8a a good run, we waited just a little additional for the costs to normalise and some updates to reach to shine off its tough edges.
Before we let you know what’s good in regards to the telephone and what’s not, let’s examine the Pixel 8a to the Pixel 8 in addition to its predecessor to present you a fast concept about the place this telephone really suits into the Google portfolio. By the time you learn this, the Pixel 9 collection will already be out, however that shouldn’t have any bearing on this Google Pixel 8a long-term evaluate.
Google Pixel 8a vs Google Pixel 8: What corners did they lower?
The excellent news is – not many; the truth is, only a few that matter. Couple of issues of be aware can be the absence of auto-focus on the ultra-wide digicam of the Pixel 8a and even slower charging. The former could seem to be a trivial factor nevertheless it takes away the macro capabilities of the telephone. So you can’t get too near the topic you need to seize. As for the latter, the charging pace of the Pixel 8 wasn’t nice to start with and it’s even slower right here. We will talk about it at size in a bit.
As for aesthetics, the glass again on the 8 is changed by a plastic one on the 8a, like all different Pixel ‘a’ telephones. It truly might not be a foul factor if you’re susceptible to dropping the telephone typically, and a non-issue in case you use a case anyway. The good half is many of the key options of the Pixel 8 from the processing {hardware} to show high quality to battery life to digicam high quality have been retained on the Pixel 8a making it a strong midrange system.
Google Pixel 8a vs Google Pixel 7/7a: What’s new?
For starters, the Pixel 8a will get the newer and extra highly effective Google Tensor G3 chip with one additional core and enhanced AI capabilities. The show is way brighter and now presents a correct 120 Hz refresh charge versus 90 Hz earlier. The digicam division has just about been copy-pasted from the Pixel 7a, and the enhancements are largely software-based. The battery capability sees a tiny leap of 107 mAh however the battery life appears higher on the 8a.
One of the most important positive aspects is the huge dedication on the software program updates entrance. While you continue to get the purest type of Android on all of the Pixel telephones, the Pixel 8a will obtain much more updates than the Pixel 7 or 7a. While one can safely anticipate at the very least 3 main Android updates on the Pixel 7 collection since launch, Google has promised a whopping 7 years of OS and safety updates for the Pixel 8a and different telephones within the Pixel 8 collection. That will hold the telephone related and safe for lots longer.
Time to get to know the Google Pixel 8a just a little higher.
What we favored in regards to the Google Pixel 8a
The design feels premium regardless of being a finances telephone
The Google Pixel 8a is an effective wanting telephone, and doubtless seems to be a tad higher than the Pixel 8 too, due to its matte-finish again (despite the fact that it’s plastic) and shallower digicam band. The digicam band in the back of Pixel telephones has been a signature design aspect however has typically polarised opinions. The one on the Pixel 8a protrudes rather a lot much less as in comparison with the 8 or 8 Pro and feels rather a lot much less obtrusive. The aluminium body provides to the durability in addition to premiumness, and this compact telephone with IP67 ingress safety feels nice in hand.
Sharp and pretty colour-accurate 120 Hz OLED show
Yes, Google has graced this telephone with a 120 Hz show too. Though the refresh charge isn’t as dynamic (one which adjusts to totally different apps or content material being displayed on the display screen) as on a number of telephones on this phase, 120 Hz is a welcome change. And that’s not all, the OLED display screen is vibrant (2000 nits peak) and properly calibrated for color accuracy. Barring the standard two modes – Adaptive and Natural, you don’t get many display screen changes right here, however most customers received’t want them.
The display screen is protected in opposition to scratches by a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass 3; properly, not precisely Victus however one thing is rather a lot higher than nothing. The placement of the in-display optical fingerprint scanner is spot on as you don’t must stretch your thumb to succeed in it, and it’s responsive too. One factor we didn’t like are the thick bezels across the display screen, which we are going to speak about later.
Camera efficiency that transcends the phase
Just just like the Google Pixel 7a, this telephone too has a 64MP main digicam with optical picture stabilisation (OIS) and a 13MP ultra-wide digicam with fastened focus and 120 levels FOV. You get a 13MP ultra-wide selfie digicam too that does job with its broad FOV and correct pores and skin tones. Interestingly, the megapixel numbers for every digicam are larger than that of the Pixel 8’s. But previous expertise has taught us that the variety of pixels don’t essentially translate into higher picture high quality. Having mentioned that, the images division on the Pixel 8a delivers spectacular outcomes.
The most important digicam captures some glorious photographs in vibrant circumstances in addition to low mild with pretty correct colors, ample element and glorious dynamic vary. The distinction is sort of spectacular too; it’s a Pixel telephone afterall. When the sunshine drops beneath some extent, the telephone mechanically switches to Night Sight mode that brightens up the picture simply sufficient with out going overboard or compromising on the element. You can change to it manually too. The Pixel 8a’s low mild efficiency is among the many finest on this phase.
There isn’t any devoted telephoto digicam right here however the digicam app does provide you with a 2X zoom toggle, which is just about hybrid/digital. While the captured pictures aren’t lossless, the 2X zoomed photographs come out fairly good and are completely usable even in low mild. You can hold zooming in until 8X, however you begin dropping element quick past 5X.
The 13MP ultra-wide digicam does a reasonably good job and the outcomes are as spectacular as that of the primary digicam in good mild. While it’s greater than respectable in low mild too, it might be finest to stay to the primary digicam. Void of autofocus, one can’t use it as a macro digicam just like the one on the Pixel 8. Having mentioned that, whilst you can’t seize pictures from too shut, taking pictures from just a little additional away and cropping the picture does yield good outcomes.
All cameras can file movies at 4K decision, nonetheless, the primary digicam can achieve this at 60 fps whereas the opposite two are restricted to 30 fps. You get OIS in movies when utilizing the primary digicam and the captured footage is crisp and well-stabilised. You can file 1080p slow-motion movies at as much as 240 fps. The total digicam efficiency is sort of spectacular, and on condition that the telephone now retails at 35K, one can safely time period it as arguably the most effective on this worth vary.
You can test among the unedited digicam
samples shot on the Google Pixel 8a here.
The Tensor G3 chip is a good choice on this finances
The Pixel 8a is powered by the identical Google Tensor G3 chip discovered within the Pixel 8 and eight Pro. While it doesn’t have the muscle energy of competing Qualcomm chips just like the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and even Gen 2, and in addition throttles beneath load, it is a wonderful choice for a telephone priced beneath Rs 40,000. And let’s not overlook its AI capabilities which may simply get higher with time.
Coupled with 8 GB RAM and both 128 GB or 256 GB UFS 3.1 storage, it delivers a sturdy efficiency in day-to-day actions in addition to demanding duties like photograph enhancing or gaming. You can play many of the present video games on it however could must decrease the graphics settings in some instances for higher body charges.
Fluid Android expertise, 7 years of main updates
You get the cleanest and the most effective Android UI on this telephone. You get the pure Android expertise with none bloatware or adverts and with the Material You design language. The person interface is fluid, completely lag free and now void of any main bugs on Android 14. The Android 15 replace for the Pixel 8a is predicted any day now. Speaking of updates, Google has promised 7 years of OS and safety updates for this telephone, which is a big plus as it should hold the telephone safe and related for a very long time.
You get a bunch of helpful AI instruments on this telephone to mess around with, together with the favored Google apps and providers which can be seamlessly built-in and digicam tips like Magic Eraser and Camouflage to edit or improve your pictures. We don’t anticipate full blown Gemini integration on this telephone as on the Pixel 9 collection, however received’t be stunned to see some extra AI goodness trickling down right here over time.
What we didn’t like in regards to the Google Pixel 8a
Horribly gradual charging pace for 2024
If you’ve gotten learn any of our Pixel telephone opinions, one fixed criticism has been of the charging speeds. While the opposite Pixel 8 telephones have taken a child step ahead on this division, the 8a has taken two large ones backwards. To examine, the Pixel 8 takes about 88 minutes to cost from 1 to 100%. The Pixel 8a will get there in properly over two hours, regardless of having a barely decrease capability battery, and even when utilizing among the quickest USB-PD chargers obtainable. The most important wrongdoer being the drop of help for 27W quick charging in favour of a lot slower 18W.
This wasn’t precisely a nook obtainable to be lower within the first place to create a differentiator between the 2 telephones. To put issues into perspective, loads of telephones as of late handle to cost their larger capability batteries totally in about 45 minutes or much less. An hour can be acceptable too. Over two hours makes the Pixel 8a one of many slowest charging telephones round. However, the battery life is okay with the Pixel 8a lasting a shade over a full day of reasonable use. It helps wi-fi charging too.
Hard to unsee the thick bezels across the show
While one can stay with them, it looks like a deliberate ploy from the designers to make the Pixel 8a look inferior to the Pixel 8. Let’s make the bezels rather a lot thicker even when we don’t must as the remainder of the telephone seems to be pretty much as good. Who would shell out a premium in any other case for the 8, proper? Yes, the bezels across the display screen are a bit too outstanding for our liking and never simply the one beneath. Several extra inexpensive telephones from a yr in the past have leaner bezels than that, and Google might have simply finished a greater job in the event that they needed to.
Google Pixel 8a: Price and verdict
The Google Pixel 8a debuted at Rs 52,999 in India for the 128 GB variant, and like most Pixel telephones at launch, it wasn’t essentially the most profitable deal. Just months later, it may well now be bought for Rs 34,999, which is a good worth for what it presents. In addition to a formidable digicam efficiency for the phase, you get highly effective processing {hardware} within the Tensor G3, essentially the most fluid and clear Android expertise round and seven years of updates to observe. All this makes the Pixel 8a a compelling purchase at its present worth if quick charging isn’t a requirement.
Pro tip: In case you might be on the lookout for a telephone with 256 GB storage, don’t purchase the Pixel 8a for Rs 41,999. For simply Rs 3,000 extra (Rs 44,999 at the moment on Flipkart), you may get the 256 GB variant of the Pixel 8 with extra versatile cameras, slimmer bezels and sooner charging.
