The photo test from the DxOMark laboratory shows that for 50 euros more, the Pixel 8 is much better than the Pixel 8a. In other words, if you’re willing to pay a little more, the Pixel 8 is a very good alternative to Google’s latest “affordable” smartphone.
The promise of the Pixel 8a is simple: to bring Google’s expertise in photography and software, all for less than a Pixel 8 released for 800 euros a few months ago. The DxOMark laboratory put it through the mill by putting it through its strict photo testing protocols to see what it had in its stomach.
The problem is that in the meantime, the latter has seen its price drop to 600 euros, which puts it 50 euros more than the Pixel 8a. If the photo is really your number 1 criterion, you would probably be better off not opting for the Pixel 8a.
DxOMark tested the photo on the Pixel 8a: the results are clear
The Pixel 8a comes out with an overall score of 136, which places it in 33rd position in the DxOMark rankings. Thus placed, it is ahead of the Galaxy S24 by three points and is nine points behind the iPhone 15.
Among the praises that the laboratory sings to this model we remember its always fair exposure, the good contrasts and the good details.
On the video side, this Google smartphone offers beautiful colors, a balanced white balance as well as effective video stabilization.
However, it is not free from small flaws: autofocus can be unstable (if you take several photos in a row) or even artifacts in background blur mode. Nevertheless, Google has succeeded in its bet with a nice evolution in photos between the Pixel 7a and the Pixel 8a.
As for the Pixel 8, it obtained a score of 148 and currently occupies 14th position in the Dxomark photo ranking. If the latter recognizes close results between the Pixel 8a and the Pixel 8, there are still differences. What advantages the Pixel 8 is its better abilities to display colors and details in video, especially in portrait scenes.
Pixel 8a vs Pixel 8 in photo: the question is quickly answered
As a reminder, here is the photo configuration of the Pixel 8a:
- A 64 Mpx 1.73-inch wide-angle sensor with wide-angle lens (80°, f/1.89) and a pixel width of 0.8 µm;
- A 13 MP ultra-wide-angle sensor with an ultra-wide-angle lens (120°, f/2.2) and a pixel width of 1.12 µm;
- A 13 MP selfie sensor with ultra-wide-angle lens (96.5°, f/2.2) and a pixel width of 1.12 µm.
Here are also the photo sensors found on the Pixel 8:
- A 50 Mpx 1.31-inch wide-angle sensor with wide-angle lens (82°, f/1.68) and a pixel width of 1.2 µm;
- A 12 MP ultra-wide-angle sensor with an ultra-wide-angle lens (125.8°, f/2.2) and a pixel width of 1.25 µm;
- A 10.5 MP selfie sensor with ultra-wide-angle lens (95°, f/2.2) and a pixel width of 1.22 µm.
This echoes our own photo comparison between the Pixel 8a and the Pixel 8 published in our columns a few days ago. If the colors offered by the Pixel 8a are very good, even better than those of the Pixel 8, the little brother has more difficulty rendering details, especially in digital zoom. More generally, the rendering of the Pixel 8 is more natural. What puts the Pixel 8a at a disadvantage in favor of the Pixel 8 is the price difference between the smartphones.