Pixel 8a review: a good deal – with fierce internal competition

At Google, the letter «a» means you’re getting a good deal. Slim Android, good cameras and cutting-edge processors, all at an affordable price. Both the Pixel 6a and 7a won over our Community, with each handset scoring 4.5 out of 5 stars across hundreds of reviews.

The latest «a», the Pixel 8a, has now hit the shelves. As the Pixel 8’s budget-friendly little sister, it needs to prove itself in everyday use. The main question: is it a good deal?

Design: a few changes have made a big impact

Google has only made a few tweaks compared to the design of the Pixel 8 and Pixel 7a. As a result, the 8a is recognisably part of the family, yet still looks unique.

The corners have been rounded, while the camera bar is now flatter and less dominant. It also has a matt back instead of a glossy one. Astonishingly, the 8a looks slimmer and less bulky than the Pixel 8, despite the dimensions being a few millimetres short of identical. Overall, the 8a is pleasingly compact, easily fitting into a trouser pocket.

In fact, the Pixel 8a actually feels better to hold because the matt back is noticeably less slippery. Of course, this is only important if you’re not planning on putting the phone into a case.

The fact that the back is made of high-quality plastic instead of glass doesn’t bother me. However, this is obviously an area Google has scrimped on. Glass is more expensive and appears higher-quality to many consumers.

Screen: baby steps in the right direction

Although the Pixel 8a’s dimensions only slightly differ from the Pixel 8’s, the new model’s screen is smaller, measuring in at 6.1 inches instead of 6.2. This 0.1-inch difference is no big deal during day-to-day use. However, the black edges around the 8a’s screen are significantly thicker. More importantly, it’s no longer symmetrical – the bezel is thicker at the bottom than at the top and sides.

While these are cosmetic imperfections I’m happy to put up with, there are noticeable differences when it comes to brightness. Measuring the Pixel 8a’s maximum brightness using the white surface in an app, I took a reading of 510 nits. Meanwhile, the Pixel 8 reached just over 620 nits.

The 8a’s screen is slightly better than that of last year’s model, the Pixel 7a. It’s now able to adjust the refresh rate from 60 to 120 hertz instead of 60 to 90 hertz. As a result, animations seem to play more smoothly. The 8a is now just as good as the more expensive Pixel 8 in this area.

You can compare the specs of the Pixel 7a, 8a and 8 in this table.

Power: as good as the best model

The Pixel 8a is kitted out with Google’s current best processor, the Tensor G3. As it’s also used in the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro, the benchmark test results are very similar. It does, however, show some slight improvements over last year’s model fitted with the Tensor G2 chip. We haven’t included measurements of our own in this graphic, but you’ll find the benchmarks in the Geekbench database.

The Pixel 8a comes out middle-of-the-road compared to its similarly priced competitors. This is typical of Google’s processors, which, rather than being designed for top performance, are matched to its devices as closely as possible. Not only does the Pixel 8a score brownie points for its smooth menu changes, but the software never freezes, and apps open without delay.

In day-to-day use, I don’t notice any difference compared to pricier Google handsets. When it comes to its navigation, operating system and ease of use, the 8a doesn’t even have trouble going toe-to-toe with Android competitors costing over 1,000 francs. It’s the same story for updates – the 8a gets OS and security updates for seven years. An exemplary move. By contrast, the Pixel 7a only gets them for five years.

The Pixel 8a has slightly better battery power than the 7a. A change that’s certainly noticeable in daily use and evident in measurements. When I was testing the phone, my battery easily lasted the whole day. By the evening, I usually still had a decent reserve of 20-30 per cent – even if I’d been using it a lot.

Running the Work 3.0 Battery Test, I measured 15 hours and 29 minutes at medium display brightness, with standard settings enabled. The Pixel 8, which also has a 4,500 mAh battery, holds out for 12 hours and 37 minutes. Mind you, I’ve been using the Pixel 8 continuously for the last six months. Still, it’s only natural that the 8a with its slightly less demanding screen would last longer.

Cameras: do last year’s cameras still cut it?

It’s a little disappointing that Google has used exactly the same constellation of cameras as last year. Since there hasn’t been an upgrade, the pricier Pixel 8 has a clear advantage – at least on paper. It has better sensors, even if they do have fewer megapixels. But do the 8a’s supposedly inferior sensors make a difference in day-to-day use?

Let’s start with a standard daylight shot. Turns out the differences are immediately visible – especially when you look at the sky and clouds. The photo taken with the 8a is clearly more yellow than the one taken by the Pixel 8. Although that makes the image look more dramatic, it’s not quite as true to reality. In terms of quality, however, there are no visible differences. If I zoom in on the trees in the background, there are no perceptible differences in sharpness or detail – just colour rendering.

Ramping up the difficulty level, I point the camera directly at the morning sun. Again, the colour processing differences catch my eye. The 8a’s photo looks as if I’ve put a sunrise filter on it. Light reflections by the trees are striking and visible in every shot, even in slightly different positions. This looks more natural and slightly better quality in the photo taken by the Pixel 8.

When the two cameras are pitted head to head, it becomes apparent that the Pixel 8’s 50-megapixel sensor trumps the Pixel 8a’s 64-megapixel one. The shot taken by the 8a appears darker and looks as if I’ve put a blue filter over it. The colours in the Pixel 8’s photo are accurate, and I can clearly see more details. Despite this, the photo doesn’t look like it’s been artificially brightened.

I notice the same thing when it comes to the ultra-wide-angle camera. All in all, that means the Pixel 8 has the better camera system. Even so, the Pixel 8a is a worthy competitor. The less tricky the lighting conditions, the better it performs.

8 or 8a: is it worth the saving?

The Pixel 8a performs impressively in my review. However, the Pixel 8 is superior in terms of its camera, display and glass back. On top of that, it boasts features such as a more up-to-date WiFi standard and better protection against water damage.

Both are good smartphones, so just one question remains. Which is the better deal? If you want to spend as little as possible, you can go for the 8a without even thinking. At the time of writing, you can get the device for just under 500 francs, plus a 100-franc voucher. The Pixel 8, however, has also dropped in price – it’s currently available for 550 francs. In Germany, the price difference between the two phones is also negligible – they’re priced at 550 euros and 590 euros respectively.

Smartphones

EUR494,–

Google Pixel 8

128 GB, Obsidian, 6.20", SIM + eSIM, 50 Mpx, 5G

414

Smartphones

EUR494,–

Google Pixel 8

128 GB, Obsidian, 6.20", SIM + eSIM, 50 Mpx, 5G

414

According to my own rule of thumb, a price difference of less than 100 francs or euros means it’s worth going for the Pixel 8 if you have room in your budget. If, like me, you take a lot of photos and videos, you’ll be especially appreciative of the slightly better camera quality. The 8a, on the other hand, comes up trumps in terms of battery life.