GOOGLE PIXEL 8A HANDS-ON REVIEW: AI that is better and less expensive

Summary

Google’s Pixel A series of smartphones, which are widely regarded as the pioneers in the industry of mid-range smartphones, have consistently been in the running for the title of best inexpensive smartphones year after year, and the Pixel 8a does not seem to stray from this trend. Although there are some changes to the appearance of the Pixel 8a in comparison to the Pixel 7a from the previous year, the software is where the Pixel 8a really differentiates itself from its predecessor.

GOOGLE PIXEL 8A HANDS-ON REVIEW

There have been a number of recent cheap phones introduced so far this year that pose a challenge to the Pixel 8a. These phones include the Nothing Phone 2a, the OnePlus 12R, and the Samsung Galaxy A35. Therefore, Google has to demonstrate that it is capable of maintaining its position as the market leader. It is possible that this phone will become the standard by which all other mid-range phones that have been introduced this year are measured.

I had the opportunity to have some hands-on experience with the Pixel 8a, despite the fact that Google I/O 2024 is still a week away. In light of the fact that I have been using the Pixel 8 Pro and its useful collection of artificial intelligence capabilities for the last half a year, I am particularly enthusiastic about this one. In my hands-on review of the Google Pixel 8a, I will discuss everything that is new about it, as well as my opinions on the artificial intelligence elements that it has.

GOOGLE PIXEL 8A HANDS-ON REVIEW: PRICE AND RELEASE

As of today, May 7, pre-orders for the Pixel 8a have begun, and the device is scheduled to become available to the general public via the Google Store and other retailers on May 14. It is essential to take notice of the fact that the price of the Pixel 8a has not changed from its previous level of $499. This is a very welcome development, especially considering the speculations that suggested there would be an increase in the price. Your good fortune is that this is not the case here; nevertheless, you should be aware that the price of $499 is for the model that has 128GB of storage space. Google is providing an extra 256GB option for those who want more storage space.

Additionally, Google is providing the Pixel 8a in a total of four distinct hues, which are as follows: obsidian, porcelain, bay, and finally aloe. Aloe is a color tone that is deeper and more bright than the mint choice that is available with the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro. The latter two offer the Pixel 8a the same appeal as its flagship series, but the aloe looks more impressive.

An additional seven years of software and security upgrades will be made available to the Pixel 8a, which is the same support that Google announced with the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro. This is an equally major development. Because the Pixel 7a only receives major software updates for a period of three years, you can be certain that it will continue to get the most recent major Android updates for many years to come. This is a great development.

GOOGLE PIXEL 8A HANDS-ON REVIEW: SPECIFICATIONS

Starting price	$499
Screen size	6.1-inch OLED (2400 x 1080, 430ppi)
Refresh rate	120Hz
CPU	Tensor G3
RAM	8GB
Storage / Expandable?	128GB,256GB / No
Rear cameras	64MP (f/1.89) main; 13MP (f/2.2)
Front camera	13MP (f/2.2)
Battery size	4,404 mAh
Wired charging speed	18W
Wireless charging?	Yes
Size	6 x 2.9 x 0.4 inches
Weight	6.8 ounces
Colors	Obsidian, Porcelain, Bay, Aloe

GOOGLE PIXEL 8A HANDS-ON REVIEW: DESIGN

From a superficial glance, it seems that the Pixel 8a has adopted the same aesthetics and style as its predecessor. However, there are a handful of significant design improvements that, in my view, make it appear to be more appealing. A more pleasant design that is more in line with the design of the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro is the first step that Google takes to make the edges more rounded. This gives the device a more appealing appearance.

The second benefit is that it is considerably easier to grip due to the matte back and polished metal frame that it is wearing this time around. This makes it far more resistant to smudges. This also gives it a soft touch feel, which is much more pleasant to handle than the glossy appearance of the design of the Pixel 7a, which I much like since it makes it more comfortable to carry.

Aside from these two modifications, the Pixel 8a retains almost all of its other characteristics, including the horizontal bar on the back of the device that houses the camera, the USB-C connector, the power button, and the volume controls. Despite the fact that there is still a bigger bezel on the bottom edge of the display, I had hoped that Google would reduce the bezels that surround the display a little bit further.

In addition, I would like to bring to your attention that the structure of the Pixel 8a incorporates a greater amount of recyclable metal, glass, and plastic, while yet continuing to provide an IP67 classification for resistance to dust and water. The Pixel 8a seems really solidly constructed, particularly while I was holding it in one hand and my Pixel 8 Pro in the other. All of this is remarkable, especially when I was carrying both devices at the same time.

GOOGLE PIXEL 8A HANDS-ON REVIEW: DISPLAY

In this case, you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover since the Pixel 8a has more significant improvements associated with its display. Despite the fact that it is still a 6.1-inch OLED with a resolution of 2,400 x 1,800 pixels, it utilizes the same display technology that is featured in the Pixel 8. This technology is an Actua display, which Google says can achieve a maximum brightness of 2,000 nits.

I used the Pixel 8a to watch a few 4K HDR videos on YouTube, and I have to say that it appears crisp and bright. This is due, in part, to the fact that the colors it generates are so striking to the eye. If our assessment of the Pixel 8 is any indicator, I believe that the Pixel 8a might reduce the gap between its peak brightness of 1,349 nits and the peak brightness of the Pixel 8 while showing high dynamic range material. Nevertheless, I am certain that it will surpass the Pixel 7a, which achieved a maximum brightness of 931 nits, at the very least.

While the Pixel 7a had a refresh rate of 90Hz, the Pixel 7a now has a dynamic display refresh rate of 120Hz, which is another gain in terms of display quality. After viewing just a few movies on the Pixel 8a or as I navigated the UI, it is difficult to determine whether or not there is a discernible difference between the two. On the other hand, the animations that scroll over the UI are silky smooth, exactly as they are on my Pixel 8 Pro.

The 6.1-inch Actua display on the Pixel 8a seems to be clearer and more colorful than the screens included in the Nothing Phone 2a and the Samsung Galaxy A35, according to my quick hands-on experience with the device. The fact that it, in comparison to the Pixel 7a, has a handful of significant improvements is also helpful.

GOOGLE PIXEL 8A HANDS-ON REVIEW: CAMERAS

Although our list to the best camera phones includes a large number of flagship-level devices, the Pixel 7a is the only one of these devices that can be purchased for less than $500. Considering that this particular phone is the one that has earned the title of best camera phone value, it is not completely out of the question that the Pixel 8a will continue the trend.

On paper, the Pixel 8a is equipped with a dual camera setup that includes a primary camera with 64 megapixels, an ultrawide camera with 13 megapixels, and a front-facing camera with 13 megapixels for taking selfies. These back cameras are identical to those that were previously available; however, the front camera has a broader field of vision, measuring 96.5 degrees, in comparison to the Pixel 7a’s 95 degrees. This allows for a greater number of individuals to be captured in the frame while taking group photographs.

In addition to that, I am keeping my fingers crossed that the Pixel 8a will get its fair share of enhancements to its image processing capabilities in order to provide better results. Even if they are very little, it is likely that they would be sufficient to take it ahead of the competition.

Why is it the case? Following the completion of my photo shootout, which consisted of taking over 200 photographs with both the Nothing Phone 2a and the Pixel 7a, it became plainly evident that the phone manufactured by Google was better. Given this information, I have a strong suspicion that the Pixel 8a will continue to establish a new standard for the camera performance of any phone that falls inside its price range.

GOOGLE PIXEL 8A HANDS-ON REVIEW: PERFORMANCE

Therefore, it should come as no surprise that the Pixel 8a is equipped with the same Tensor G3 technology that is used to power the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. This fact makes the Pixel 8a much more appealing considering that its pricing is so similar to that of the Pixel 8. The phone’s 120Hz refresh rate is also responsible for the extraordinarily quick experience it provides while browsing the interface and running a few applications, as I have previously explained.

Taking into consideration the results of my evaluation of the Pixel 8 Pro, you should not anticipate that the Pixel 8a will be able to outperform the competition in any of the synthetic benchmark tests that Tom’s Guide’s lab testing does with each review. The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, in point of fact, managed to achieve scores and outcomes that were lower than those of their most immediate competitors.

At the same time, however, I put a greater focus on how the phone really operates when it comes to day-to-day activities, such as writing emails, sometimes accessing the web, and posting on all of my social media sites. In the event that the Pixel 8a is able to manage them with smooth results and rapid answers, I will be content with that, regardless of whether or not it achieves lower benchmark scores.

GOOGLE PIXEL 8A HANDS-ON REVIEW: BATTERY

It is anticipated that the Pixel 8a would have a longer battery life as a result of its use of the Tensor G3 processor. Additionally, the Pixel 8a has a slightly bigger battery capacity of 4,404 mAh. As a result of this increase from the Pixel 7a’s capacity of 4,386 mAh, it is virtually certain that the Pixel 8a will be able to surpass it in the battery benchmark test conducted by Tom’s Guide. Despite the fact that I am certain that it will exceed the time of 10 hours and 5 minutes that the Pixel 7a has, the Pixel 8a would need a significant amount of staying power in order to attain the same level of battery life as the Nothing Phone 2a and the OnePlus 12R, which is more than 15 hours.

In the past, wireless charging was exclusively available for more expensive mobile devices; but, in recent years, it has become easier to get wireless charging. Even if Google continues to weave it into the Pixel 8a, it does not seem to be any speedier than it was previously. A similar statement can be made about its 18W wired charging speed, which, at this point in time, is a snail’s pace in comparison to the OnePlus 12R’s annoyingly high 80W wired charging speed. Although I had hoped for something that would be speedier, maybe 30W would have been acceptable, it seems that it will have to wait at least another year before it can be implemented.

GOOGLE PIXEL 8A HANDS-ON REVIEW: AI AND SOFTWARE

When it comes to the hardware, every new phone is constantly striving to outdo the previous phone. However, Google is putting a lot more emphasis on the software with the Pixel 8a, in the hopes that it will be sufficient to make it a more worthy upgrade than the previous phone. It gives me great pleasure to inform you that the Pixel 8a, much like the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro that came before it, delves into the realm of artificial intelligence in order to power its new experiences.

It is important for you to be aware that the Pixel 8a has some of the artificial intelligence capabilities that were first released on the Pixel 8, but not all of them. The fact that the more expensive Pixels, the 8 and 8 Pro, nonetheless have their own unique set of artificial intelligence capabilities that justify their higher prices illustrates the significance of this fact. For instance, the Pixel 8 Pro is the only device that can use the Video Boost feature, which improves the quality of films that are taken in low light.

Best Take, Magic Editor, Audio Magic Eraser, Gemini, Circle to Search, Call Assist, and Live Translate are some of the artificial intelligence functions that are available on the Pixel 8a. Please note that I did not get the opportunity to test out these features. Because these are the same artificial intelligence technologies that are currently accessible in the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro, it is great that Google is making them available in a phone that is more affordable. Many of these Google AI capabilities have been described in length in my Pixel 8 Pro; nevertheless, there is nothing new or different about them in terms of their technological implementation in the Pixel 8a.

In spite of this, I believe that there are a few things you won’t find in other phones that are in the same category. The most advantageous aspect of these artificial intelligence tools is that they help me save time. For example, Magic Editor makes it very easy for me to delete undesired subjects from my photographs and then uses generative AI to cover them up. And with Gemini already installed, it is a more advanced artificial intelligence chatbot that can be accessible at any moment on the Pixel 8a. It can provide replies and activities that are pertinent to the situation, such as providing me with the most recent ticket pricing for a trip overseas.

GOOGLE PIXEL 8A HANDS-ON REVIEW: OUTLOOK

Despite the fact that I take great pleasure in utilizing flagship smartphones, the growing prices of these devices make them unattainable for many others who are financially constrained. For this reason, I have been a fan of mid-range phones for years, as they provide an excellent value without the expense, and the Pixel 8a seems to be just what I have been looking for.

Despite the fact that it does not have the dazzling look of the Nothing Phone 2a or the long lasting battery life of the OnePlus 12R, I believe that the Pixel 8a has a wonderful mix of hardware and software that the other two do not have. I am expecting that the camera performance will be improved in a more significant manner, but I really like how the package is enhanced with a comprehensive collection of artificial intelligence functions. With the Pixel 8a, Google has a good chance of reclaiming the title of champion in the mid-range category for the remainder of the year.