Google Pixel 8a review: AI power in a compact form factor

The new Google Pixel 8a has a similar design to last year’s Pixel 7a (review), but it has been upgraded within in terms of power and performance. In reality, it has many similarities to the more expensive Pixel 8 (review) and may even outperform the older brother in terms of camera megapixels.

The Pixel 8a meets practically every expectation for a smartphone in this price range. It provides quick performance thanks to a new chipset onboard. Cameras are as reliable as ever. The battery backup is likewise reasonable, however the charging pace may be improved. There’s also the magic of AI, as well as native Gen AI features that will be accessible shortly. To gain an advantage, Google must take into account the Indian smartphone market and price its handsets more wisely.

GOOGLE PIXEL 8A KEY FEATURES

Google Pixel 8a is currently available in a variety of markets, including through the official Google Store and third-party retailers. It looks very similar to the original Pixel 8, although it has a more simplified feature set and is slightly less expensive. But is it the one to get? Let us find out.

The Google Pixel 8a is the latest addition to the Pixel ‘a series, which many consider standing for ‘cheap’. The argument is sound: the design has been streamlined, the cameras are less sophisticated, and the networking is less high-end. Finally, it is cheaper than the Pixel 8, albeit not by a significant margin.

The Pixel 8a has a similar design, however the front glass is an earlier Gorilla Glass 3, and the entire back is made of plastic, including the camera housing. It has an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance and comes in four familiar colorways: obsidian, porcelain, bay, and aloe.

The Pixel 8a has a slightly smaller 6.1-inch OLED panel with enhanced 1080p resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. It uses the same Tensor G3 CPU and memory configuration as the Pixel 8, with 8GB RAM and 128GB UFS storage.

Of course, when people hear the word Pixel, they immediately think of the camera, and it will undoubtedly be one of the most talked about parts of the Pixel 8a. We also have a dual-camera configuration similar to the Pixel 8 but with different sensors: a 64MP OIS main and a 13MP FF ultrawide. The front camera is also 13MP and features the same ultrawide lens as the Pixel 8.

Finally, the Pixel 8a is powered by a 4,492mAh battery that supports up to 30W of rapid wired charging and up to 7.5W of wireless charging.

The Google Pixel 8a appears to be a strong tiny flagship, one of the few on the market that does not cost a thousand dollars or euros. The slow 18W wired charging is a blatant omission from the spec sheet.

UNBOXING THE PIXEL 8a

Google was among the first to limit the retail box contents. The Pixel 8a comes with a USB-C cord and a USB-A-to-C adapter.

And that’s it. Still, it’s two accessories more than what Sony would give you in the Xperia retail box so we guess we should not complain.

CAMERA

Google’s Pixel A-series phones are a popular choice for the best budget camera phone since they are simple to use and create high-quality photographs that are ideal for internet sharing. By that, I mean they don’t look amazing if you zoom in too close, but for viewing on smaller displays, the Pixel 8a produces surprisingly nice photographs.

How good? To evaluate the Pixel 8a camera, I compared it to the Pixel 8 Pro, Google’s best camera phone and one of my favorites. The photographs looked quite similar. If I didn’t zoom in on a photo, it was difficult to identify which was taken by the Pixel 8a and which by the Pixel 8 Pro. Google’s color and light balance are practically comparable across both phones. Only in the darkest situations was the Pixel 8 Pro’s advantage apparent.

To compare to the Google Pixel 8 Pro, here’s a sample with better detail from the Pro camera, but both shots are fine. The colors and lighting are pretty comparable on both devices.

This low-light image reveals the most noticeable difference between the Pixel 8 Pro and the Pixel 8a. The Pixel 8 Pro is clearly better in low-light situations, but when I looked at the images on my phone screen, this was the only one where I could easily tell which phone took the shot.

That’s an impressive feat, and good news for Pixel 8a customers, as both phones shoot excellent images. You’ll notice the difference in the minute details, though. Finally, the Pixel 8 Pro has a 50MP sensor.

The Pixel 8a has a 64MP sensor, yet it produces only 16MP photos. It merges four pixels into one using a process known as ‘pixel binning,’ and the Camera app does not allow you to take full-resolution, 64MP photos. Even RAW image files (why on a low-cost A-series phone?) have just a 16MP resolution.

The Pixel 8a has all of the same shooting modes as the Pixel 8 Pro, including Night Sight for nighttime images in town and long exposure for cool shots of moving traffic and rushing water.

It also has all of the same AI editing capabilities as the Google Photos app. Magic Eraser removes undesired people, while Magic Editor transforms them into giants or moves them to one side. Best Shot substitutes faces in a group photo when someone’s eyes are closed. It even has an incredible Audio Eraser for videos, which removes background noise and distractions.

What’s especially cool if you’re new to Pixel phones, is the ability to edit photographs and movies that were not taken with your Pixel phone. Anything on Google Photos is fair game. Upload all of your old iPhone images to Google, then get a Pixel 8a and use Unblur to make them all sharp as new.

DESIGN AND SCREEN

I’m particularly delighted with the Pixel 8a design, which looks and feels quite similar to Google’s more expensive flagship phones. For a mid-ranger, it surely has a charm that few phones can rival. It has a more appealing design than Samsung’s equivalent Galaxy A35, and it makes the aged iPhone SE (2022) look even more out of date.

There are a few design tweaks that make the Pixel 8a appear better than the Pixel 7A. First and foremost, the corners have been softened to better reflect the design language of the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro.

Second, the matte back and polished aluminum frame make it considerably more comfortable to grip this time around. It does not feel as slick as the Pixel 7a’s glossy surface, and the matte texture is significantly more smudge-resistant. I appreciate how the Pixel 8a always looks clean whether I take it out of my pocket or use it for a while.

Aside from these two alterations, the Pixel 8a is nearly identical, including the horizontal bar on the rear of the phone that houses the cameras, USB-C port, power button, and volume buttons. I was hoping Google would reduce the bezels surrounding the display more; there is still a bigger bezel on the bottom edge of the panel.

The Pixel 8a’s structure reflects Google’s commitment to sustainability, as it incorporates more recycled metal, glass, and plastic while maintaining an IP67 grade for water and dust protection. This is all good news, especially since the Pixel 8a feels exceptionally well-built. If my Pixel 8 Pro long-term review is any indicator, I expect the Pixel 7a will hold up just as well.

Google is neither the first nor the last phone maker to promise exceptional brightness with its displays and while some of these claims may appear exaggerated, I’m pleased to report that the Pixel 8a has a brighter screen than the Pixel 7a. With a 6.1-inch OLED and a resolution of 2,400 x 1,800 pixels, it uses the same display technology as the Pixel 8: an Actua display that Google claims can attain a peak brightness of 2,000 nits.

Tom’s Guide’s lab testing shows a peak brightness output of 1,378 nits and 1,350 nits with HDR content. The latter is quite close to Google’s figure of 1,400 nits.

Even if the Pixel 8a display’s max output falls far short of Google’s 2,000-nit rating, it is significantly brighter than the Pixel 7a’s modest 931 nits. I was able to see several 4K HDR videos outside on a bright day.

HOW’S THE PERFORMANCE?

The Pixel 8a is equipped with the unique Tensor G3 SoC as well as an in-house M2 chip for enhanced security, which are the same chips that power the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. This year, the phone will also be available in a 256GB form priced at Rs 59,999. The phone supports LPDDR5X RAM and USF 3.1 storage standards, with the former representing a minor increase. Both storage versions have 8GB of RAM.

The most significant advantage of utilizing Google’s in-house devices is access to the most recent Android version. The phone comes preloaded with Android 14 with the latest May 2024 security patch. The Pixel 8a also commits to an ambitious seven-year Android update cycle. You may expect a slew of AI features, including “Circle to Search,” in the future.

Based on the stats, Pixel phones appear modest, including the Pixel 8a. You can see how the phone compares to some of its immediate competitors (picture below). However, real-life experiences can differ greatly, and it is safe to assume a seamless performance. Additionally, the standard Android interface can be a joy to use. Don’t forget the existing AI functions (for wallpaper and photos) that Google has begun to offer.

Google’s Gemini gen-AI app was not pre-bundled when this review was written. Perhaps that will change after this year’s Google IO? The Pixel 8a offers a middling gaming experience at best. The most serious issue with Pixel phones is the sudden heating, which must be addressed immediately. To be clear, it did not affect my usage; nonetheless, some users may find it scary and become dissatisfied with their purchase within a short period.

Buy it if...

• Sturdy Pixel design, appealing, IP67, and compact.
• Great OLED: bright, color-accurate, and smooth.
• Good battery life.
• Very good speakers.
• A satisfactory performance.
• Exceptional photo and video quality across all cameras.
• Clean Android 14.7 years of software support.

Don't buy it if…

• Expensive at launch.
• The thick bezels suggest a low-cost device.
• Very sluggish charging.
• There was no charger in the box.
• The chipset suffers significant throttling under load.

FULL SPECIFICATION