Pixels 8a
How Google’s new smartphone performs in everyday life
Google is introducing the color “Aloe” to its smartphone line-up with the Pixel 8a.
Google has released a new mid-range smartphone. How does it perform in the test?
The competition in the mid-range smartphone sector is enormous. Cell phones between 300 and 600 euros can do almost everything that ordinary mortals want from a modern device, regardless of the brand. Year after year, manufacturers therefore have to weigh up exactly how they equip their devices. Why Google finds a good compromise with its Pixel 8a.
Externally, the Pixel 8a differs only marginally from the Pixel 8. The size is almost identical, only the radius of the rounded corners has become slightly larger. On the back, the Pixel-typical horizontal bar has become narrower and protrudes significantly less than on its siblings. Google has managed to pull off a design trick because overall the device looks more compact and narrower than the Pixel 8, which it actually isn’t.
This effect is reinforced by the noticeably wide black borders around the display compared to the other smartphones in the Pixel 8 series. They are about twice as thick as those on the Pixel 8. This makes the visible display appear narrower, but at the same time represents a drawback for all those who have become accustomed to screens with no or very thin borders over the years. Google specifies the visible display as 6.1 inches, compared to the 6.2 inches of the regular Pixel 8.
Hardly any compromises: The Pixel 8a’s performance is on par with its siblings
However, this remains the only noticeable compromise that Google is asking its customers to make in terms of hardware with the Pixel 8a. The OLED display itself is impressive across the board and delivers a fantastically smooth Android experience with a continuous refresh rate between 1 and 120 Hertz. The brightness values of more than 2,500 nits also correspond to the top values of the Pixel 8 models, as does the resolution of 1,080 x 2,400 pixels.
All of this is powered by the same “Tensor G3” processor that is also found in the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro. This means that there are no performance issues in any application scenario and, especially with local AI features such as the “Speech to text” or “Magic Eraser” functions, the 8a is as impressive as the rest of the Pixel family since the Pixel 6. Google wants to guarantee its customers that this will remain the case through updates until 2031, i.e. for seven years.
Camera and battery: Google relies on solid hardware for the Pixel 8a
Although the Pixel 8a has different cameras than the regular Pixel 8 phones, with a 64-megapixel wide-angle camera and a 13-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera, there is hardly any real difference in quality in practical tests. The only thing missing is a macro mode, and the 8a does not have a camera with a telephoto lens like the 8 Pro. However, all AI features related to photography are on board from the release. In practice, these work as well and reliably as usual, just like Google’s photo algorithm.
The question remains about the battery, which is usually smaller in Google’s a devices than in its immediate predecessors. This is also the case this time, but the battery with a minimum capacity of 4,404 mAh is enough in most cases to easily get through the day. With the “extreme energy saving mode”, the manufacturer even promises a running time of up to 72 hours. The 8a can also be charged wirelessly, but unlike its siblings, the device cannot provide wireless power.
Conclusion
The Pixel 8a is the best argument against buying a regular Pixel 8. Not only does it currently cost 250 euros less (Pixel 8a from 549 euros; Pixel 8 from 799 euros; Pixel 8 Pro from 1,099 euros), it also has no loss of performance compared to its older siblings and has the most important Pro features on board. It should be interesting for all those who want to buy a reliable device for a longer period of time without having to make many compromises compared to the upper class smartphones.