Google’s Pixel A sequence smartphones have all the time been the go-to mid-range units for dependable smartphone pictures and never a lot about efficiency. They’ve additionally been the go-to units for many who have needed 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. In brief, Google’s Pixel A sequence was a sexy selection for the common client, despite the fact that these weren’t the most effective units for gaming or battery life. Nonetheless, Google needed to improve it with the occasions; it needed 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).
Occasions are altering, and Google has raised the value 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 principally 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 yr (nearly bringing it on par with its Pixel 8). It is attention-grabbing to see how these options add up towards a sea of units that supply higher uncooked efficiency at this value level. I have been utilizing the Pixel 8a for a number of weeks, and this is why I consider there is a small likelihood it might be your subsequent premium smartphone.
Google Pixel 8a Evaluation: Worth in India
The Google Pixel 8a is the primary A-series smartphone in India to be provided in a couple of 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 upon getting a have a look at what the competitors provides at this very value level in our verdict.
Within the field, Google, as regular, provides a Kind-C to Kind-C USB cable for charging and knowledge transfers, a USB Kind-A adapter for knowledge transfers and a SIM ejector instrument.
Google Pixel 8a Evaluation: 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 principally squared design with corners to a extra rounded look that has a really snug handfeel. Given its compact total dimensions, additionally it is fairly manageable with one hand.
The Google Pixel 8a’s rear panels are nonetheless created from 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 enduring 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 direction of the youth. The rear panel, regardless of being fabricated from polycarbonate, doesn’t appeal to 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. Aside from its IP67 certification (it may be immersed in 1 metre of water), the match and end of this cellphone are glorious, 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 yr and retails at an identical value, has a razor-thin bezel in comparison with the Pixel 8a.
The Google Pixel 8a’s show provides good daylight legibility however has a extremely thick bezel
Google Pixel 8a Evaluation: 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, protecting its value in thoughts. For starters, there’s the Tensor G3 SoC, which allows a ton of AI options (some onboard, others not) which might not be potential with the Tensor G2 presently contained in the Pixel 7a. The processor can be accompanied by Google’s Titan M2 coprocessor for higher safety. The Tensor G3 additionally allows the brand new and safe Face Unlock function, which debuted with the Pixel 8 and the Pixel 8 Professional. In the course of the evaluate interval, it labored flawlessly, offered 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 standard Pixel 8a on par with its extra premium Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Professional on the subject of communication requirements. There’s Wi-Fi 6 for strong knowledge connectivity at residence or workplace and Bluetooth 5.3, which must be greater than sufficient for connecting to each Pixel equipment and third-party equipment as properly. Additionally included is NFC and Google Solid functionality, together with help for the same old 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 units, Google additionally offers 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 communicate volumes a few model on the subject of 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 units launched late final yr. There have been a number 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 own home display screen right into a board for snapping and pinning photographs. It has its personal digital camera button for immediately snapping and pinning a picture to the house display screen, and it additionally works as a reminder each time you unlock the gadget.
Then there’s the plethora of AI-enabled options from the premium Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Professional, like Audio Eraser (which might erase undesirable sounds in any given video), Magic Editor (which might take away, transfer topics, and enhance photographs), and Finest 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 are not gimmicks however strong function add-ons, offered you want them.
Google Pixel 8a Evaluation: Efficiency
The Tensor G3 processor, whereas designed with Google’s synthetic intelligence and machine studying necessities in thoughts, is not any slouch on the subject of 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. Nonetheless, 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 sluggish in comparison with the competitors
Beginning off with artificial benchmarks, the cellphone managed decrease than regular 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 assessments. Going by these scores, it performs on par with the mid-range Poco F6 (priced at Rs. 30,999) however is on no account akin to units just like the iQoo 12, which is supplied with the newest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC, is priced equally and managed an AnTuTu rating of 1,98,3471 (in our impartial testing), which is greater than double of the Pixel 8a.
Fireplace up a recreation, and that is when one begins to expertise the constraints of the Tensor G3. Name of Responsibility: Cell was playable at Extremely graphics and even at Very Excessive graphics however was not as responsive as most smartphones obtainable at and under this value level, with a number of skipped frames whereas gaming. The cellphone additionally warms up fairly a bit whereas enjoying 3D video games. Video games apart, I skilled some extra real-world issues when utilizing the cellphone’s cameras. Fireplace up the digital camera app and the cellphone barely takes 5 minutes to warmth up after which continues heating up for those who begin capturing 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.
Aside from the show routinely dimming to the purpose that it is barely seen to chop down on heating (it will get laborious to inform what’s within the viewfinder), the cellphone’s guide controls additionally disappear. Along with the same old White Steadiness, 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 blended 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 shall be decreased” to compensate for the overheating. Clearly, that is all the way 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 possibly can clearly inform from the above messages, do not work.
A screenshot exhibiting the heating points when utilizing the digital camera app on a sunny day
These points destroy 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 all the way down to the Pixel 8a’s compact measurement. Similar to the Pixel 8 Professional, the Pixel 8a additionally has the identical subject 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 might result in a number of missed moments. Certainly, the Pixel 8a is best suited to work in colder climates for optimum efficiency and so is just not the cellphone to hold in your subsequent summer time trip.
Maintaining in thoughts its larger 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 normal, and this might primarily be all the way down to using a 120Hz show versus the 90Hz show on the Pixel 7a. With informal use (sans digital camera or gaming), it’s potential 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 % left within the tank. With heavy utilization (loads of calls), this cellphone will not final a whole day, and it’s possible you’ll have to carry out a top-up cost earlier than you permit your workplace on the best way residence.
The Google Pixel 8a makes use of the identical cameras as final yr’s Pixel 7a
Google Pixel 8a Evaluation: 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 essential White Steadiness, 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 we may even see some minor enhancements primarily due to the brand new processor.
Google Pixel 8a daylight digital camera samples. Prime to backside: Ultrawide, major and 2X digital zoom crop (faucet photos to broaden)
Images captured from the first digital camera showcase pure colors with good dynamic vary, nonetheless, it was straightforward to identify some blown highlights in some photographs, particularly these with contrasted lighting. The photographs, not like the Pixel 8 Professional, showcase the usually cooler color tones that Pixel cameras have had for some time. Fortunately, there’s a white steadiness slider which is able to allow you to appropriate this whereas capturing. The noise is properly managed outside and when capturing 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 loads of noise, particularly when capturing 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’t 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’t deal with brilliant background lighting, leading to blown-out backgrounds.
Google Pixel 8a’s daylight selfies shouldn’t have correct edge detection and likewise showcases blown out backgrounds (faucet picture to broaden)
Google Pixel 8a’s major digital camera provides spectacular low-light efficiency (faucet picture to broaden)
The ultrawide digital camera captures spectacular photographs with glorious element and good dynamic vary and manages to herald 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 remains 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 comfortable 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 comfortable total.
Google Pixel 8a Evaluation: 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 number of issues going towards it. The Tensor G3 processor handles day by day duties simply effective however will get a bit too sizzling when harassed. Battery life is not the most effective in school, whereas wired charging is extraordinarily sluggish in comparison with competing units at this value level. There’s additionally the apparent undeniable fact that it has a smaller show in comparison with most smartphones at this value level. And this makes it very laborious to advocate except a compact type issue, together with well timed updates are all you want 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 units from competing manufacturers can be found in India at cheaper price factors.
If a compact type issue is what you search, Samsung’s Galaxy S23 (Evaluation whereas a yr previous, is a much better choice and even provides Qualcomm silicon (Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC), which has gone lacking from this yr’s fashions. AI options from the newest S24 sequence have additionally made it to the S23, so you’ll not be lacking out on a lot by way of options both. The S23 additionally provides 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 harassed.
The iQoo 12 (Evaluation), which retails at the very same value, provides an even bigger show, far superior efficiency, good cameras, and quick wired charging. And if you’re prepared to spend a bit extra, the OnePlus 12 (Evaluation) is just not too distant at Rs. 64,999 (12GB + 256GB) and is an all-rounder of kinds on this value vary.
