Google Pixel 8A that has surprised me, and a lot, for the better It has (almost) everything good about the Pixel 8 and the potential to be much cheaper. Does google pixel 8a have best take? I count the phones on my fingers that make me feel butterflies in my stomach. Those phones that I would undoubtedly have as a personal device and that I can only find but being very, very picky.
The Google Pixel 8a is one of them. In fact, it is one of the proposals that has surprised me the most so far this year. Away from the Pixel 8 Pro, close to the Pixel 8, theoretical successor to the Pixel 7a.
All that glitters is not gold: there is a key point that will determine whether or not I recommend this phone (or, little hint, if I recommend it to buy now or in a few months). Be that as it may, the google pixel 8a is a phone that I have fallen in love with. Few achieve it, so I’m going to tell you in my in-depth review why this is a phone I would gladly add to my collection.
Google Pixel 8a technical sheet
Google Pixel 8a
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT
152.1 x 72.7 x 8.9mm
188g
SCREEN
Actua Display, 6.1 inches
Full HD+ resolution (2400 x 1080)
430dpi
120Hz
Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Maximum brightness of 1,400 nits (HDR)
Peak brightness 2,000 nits
HDR
24 Bit
PROCESSOR
Google Tensor G3
Titan M2 Security Coprocessor
RAM MEMORY
8GB LPDDR5X
STORAGE
128 or 256 GB UFS 3.1
BATTERY
4,492mAh
18W fast charging
REAR CAMERAS
Main 64 megapixel, f/1.89, OIS
13 megapixel ultra wide angle, f/2.2 aperture
FRONT CAMERA
13 megapixels, f/2.2
OPERATING SYSTEM
Android 14
Seven years of system updates
SOUND
Stereo recording
noise reduction
Magic Eraser for Audio
CONNECTIVITY
Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) with 2.4 GHz + 5 GHz + 6 GHz, HE80 and MIMO
5G SA/NSA
Bluetooth 5.3
OTHERS
Unlocking via fingerprint reader under the screen
Face unlock
Free Google VPN
A mobile finished in plastic on the back and with huge frames. A combination that has everything, on paper, to disappoint me. But it has not been like that. The google pixel 8a is proof that not everything is a technical sheet: sensations are much more important. When I held this phone for the first time in my hand I thought: what a comfortable and well-finished phone.
It has practically the same weight as the google pixel 8a, its back is made of almost matte black plastic, but the sides are made of aluminum. A very unusual combination that manages to give a slightly more premium touch. Personally, I think this black unit has a spectacular finish, even though it is the least striking color.
The lateral aluminum gives it a premium touch, and the rear plastic provides comfort and resistance
Why did I like it so much? Because I’m used to two extremes: glass phones that are scary to look at so they don’t get scratched or plastic phones with questionable finishes. This Pixel mixes the best of both worlds. google pixel 8a mobile phone that I would carry without fear and without a case (something that few of me dare to do), which seems resistant to shocks because it is somewhat thick, and very easy to hold with one hand.
In addition, the rear plastic is very well treated: the paint has a very smooth texture and, although it does not completely repel fingerprints, it looks quite good. Again, the key here is the feel, not the material itself. The camera module, made up of a horizontal strip, is also perfectly integrated. Here it works in its favor that the sensors are very small and take up little physical volume. Still, some containment is appreciated in times of giant modules.
It is true that, if we turn it around, the bezels have no justification in this type of product: they are clearly excessive. Despite this, I can guarantee that after a few days of use it has mattered little to me. I have felt this google pixel 8a as a general proposal for the most mainstream public, those who want a battle phone, without worrying about cases, falls, bumps, etc. This is a mobile phone with some top-of-the-line specs, but with a simple design.
Regarding the button panel, I would have liked it to be a little lower. Being a compact phone and having a large hand, it has not been easy for me to reach the unlock button. The thumb rests on the volume buttons, and we have to force our hand if we want to reach higher.
In short, the design of the Google Pixel 8a is not perfect, the front bezels clash and the back is plastic. Despite this, Google has managed to create a particularly comfortable mobile phone, with a relatively compact size and, in my opinion, beautiful and with personality.
In the battle to see who has the most nits, there are some manufacturers who tell half-truths. Some promise peaks of more than 2,000 nits, but when it comes down to it (real use, outside of specific points on the screen in HDR playback), they barely go over 1,000 nits.
In this case, I like the transparency that Google has. The data is exactly the same as what we saw in the google pixel 8a : up to 1,400 nits for HDR content (in 100% of the panel) and 2,000 nits in 5% of the panel when the brightness is at maximum. A real peak of 1,400 nits for 100% of the panel is a lot of brightness for a mobile phone of this type, and the peak of 2,000 nits is in line with what is seen in high-end mobile phones.
Beyond the numbers, I can assure you that the Google Pixel 8a screen looks absolutely stunning in the sun, at the level of a mobile phone that is around four figures in its RRP.
Few phones in this price range have such a high brightness level under strong sunlight
It is, without a doubt, the strongest point of the panel. Here we are talking about 6.1 inches, with OLED technology and a refresh rate between 60 and 120 Hz, without LTPO. It is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3 (old technology, but one of the best at protecting against scratches) and, in these days of intense use, it has not been scratched in the slightest.
There are higher-end cell phones that are practically scratched as soon as I put them in my pocket. Despite this, this mobile does not come with any type of plastic coating as an additional measure of protection, so it is more than advisable to get a good tempered glass to cover your back.
There are no great options to adjust the panel: we can choose between Natural or Adaptive colors, dark theme, vision protection with night light and little else. The configuration could be a little more extensive, but the calibration of the google pixel 8a is always quite pleasant to me and I doubt that the main target of this phone will consider making in-depth adjustments.
The only drawback I have, and which denotes that it is a panel with a lower quality than higher-end mobile phones, is that the rainbow effect is quite noticeable at the slightest angle of the screen. It is something that should not worry us at all in regular use, but it is a test that tells us when we are looking at a category panel and when we have saved a little with a slightly cheaper screen.
Despite this, being an OLED panel, with 120 Hz and 2,000 nits of peak brightness, I can only applaud Google for not having cut any specifications compared to the Google Pixel 8a.
Sound: homework well done
One of the points where the range that competes in quality-price tends to falter most is the sound. This is not the case with the google Pixel 8a. It is not the best exponent on the market, but I am more than satisfied with both the maximum volume and the equalization response. There is a certain (discreet) presence of bass, and playing multimedia content by listening directly to the speaker is a more than satisfactory experience.
Google has a curious option under the name “adaptive sound”, responsible for improving sound quality by analyzing the acoustics of the environment in which we are located. Basically, it adjusts the playback parameters according to the information that comes in through the microphone. google Pixel 8a
The best functions related to the sound of the Google Pixel 8a are automatic: the software is responsible for putting the cherry on top of the experience
It is also important to highlight that this phone improves the audio quality in calls via WiFi (making the voice a little clearer) and that it has details such as being able to identify the songs that are playing around us automatically and without consuming hardly any energy. google Pixel 8a
Spatial audio works with both compatible Bluetooth headphones and wired offerings. If you have Pixel Buds Pro, you will have the ideal pair for playing multimedia on Android.
It is always important to analyze the specifications based on the concept and range with which the terminal wants to compete. In a model that costs more than 1,000 euros to start with, I think it is logical to demand the best processor on the market. In one that costs half (before offers) and, as happened to us with the Pixel 8, the demand for performance is lower. This Pixel 8a has the same processor as the Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8a: the Tensor G3. google Pixel 8a
This is a SoC manufactured by Samsung and derived from the Exynos platforms: fast, fluid, but well below in numbers compared to a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 or an Exynos 2400. In fact, just look at the benchmark table to see that it is an SoC with figures close to those of Qualcomm’s mid-high range. Its direct rival would be the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2.
But, in the real world, how has Tensor performed? Pretty good. The Pixel 8a is a fast, fluid mobile phone with which we can play for long days as long as we are not very demanding with the graphic settings. The weak point of this processor is throttling: as soon as it warms up, its performance begins to drop higher than usual. In fact, in the 3Dmark performance test it drops almost 50%. google Pixel 8a
On a day-to-day basis, we will feel that we are looking at a high-end mobile phone. We can only make it falter with the most demanding games if we play for long days
It is a drop in FPS that we will only notice in deliveries with maximum graphical load, such as Genshin Impact. When using multitasking (8 GB of RAM helps), photo editing applications like Lightroom, CapCut and others… the phone flies.
The internal memory configuration remains at UFS 3.1. In its price range it is not absurd to ask for UFS 4.0, but the truth is that I have not had the slightest problem with the read and write speeds.
Biometrics
Regarding biometrics, we have a fingerprint reader that is located especially above the screen. Thanks, Google. I’m used to having to bend my thumb quite a bit to reach it properly, when its natural position is to fall almost in the middle of the screen. In addition to being well located, it is precise (although not the fastest). google Pixel 8a
It is complemented by a 2D facial recognition system using the phone’s camera, a method that is not the most secure, but works quite quickly. Google has been polishing this technology over time in its Pixels, and it is a great alternative for when the finger is dirty or we don’t want to use it for whatever reason.
How beautiful is Android Stock. And how I miss it every time I test a phone that moves away from it. The magic of this Pixel 8a is in its software: we have Pixel Experience with seven years of updates, a success. This Pixel is going to be updated to Android 21 (if it is called that), a huge figure. google Pixel 8a
The ROM is the one we already know in the Pixel: Android with no more additions than Google applications and, in this generation, with many touches of artificial intelligence. Surround for Search, generation of wallpapers using AI, a gallery application (Google Photos) that allows you to modify elements such as the sky, deleting people or other elements of the photographs. google Pixel 8a
I continue to highlight, on an aesthetic level, the brutal integration of the automatic themes of Material You. The system’s native apps (almost all of Google’s), settings menu, system accents and more adapt to the same color suitcase as our wallpaper. An addition that few manufacturers are respecting and that represents one of the greatest milestones in interface design that Android has suffered in recent years.
From my personal point of view and experience, there is no ROM that works more fluidly, that has such fluid animations and in which each of the additions really adds value, beyond the manufacturer’s whim for us to use your service.
Autonomy: without too many parties in sight
Autonomy is one of those points of this Pixel 8a that may worry me thinking about its future aging. We are talking about 4,492mAh with 18W fast charging, a figure that I do not fully understand in a mobile phone of this magnitude. Even input terminals are already playing with 33W, while charging ends up taking just over an hour and a half to complete.
The phone does not come with a charger, only a cable, although it is compatible with any Power Delivery charger that we have at home.
Regarding screen figures, it is difficult to reach six hours in mixed use. A somewhat poor data, considering that I have used the phone with quite a lot of WiFi network. For users who don’t use the terminal much (like me on a regular day without much camera use), you can reach the end of the day with about 4 hours of screen time and just over 20% battery. Just numbers to get through the day.
A relevant fact is that we have wireless charging, with 7.5W of power. It is an added value if we leave the phone charging at night.
Camera: a very Pixel Pixel
One of the things I like most about Google is that it doesn’t get carried away by trends. Here we do not find 200 megapixel sensors, a pack of four cameras in which only two are useful or too much fuss: there are two small sensors of 64 and 12 megapixels, nothing more. Don’t let the resolution fool you: although this phone has more megapixels than the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro, its sensor is much smaller.
Primary sensor: 64 MP, f/1.9, 26mm, 1/1.73″, 0.8µm, with dual pixel phase detection autofocus, and optical image stabilization.
Ultra wide angle sensor: 13 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 1.12µm.
Selfie sensor: 13 MP, f/2.2, 1.12µm.
Before talking about the results, let’s briefly review the camera app. The Pixels have one of the best camera applications on the market, since it is very easy to use and almost everything is done automatically. We have photography mode, portrait, automatic night mode and long exposure.
This phone does not have manual controls or professional mode, although it is capable of shooting in RAW mode (not highly recommended with such a small sensor). We can also adjust brightness, shadows and white balance before taking the photo.
I really liked the shooting speed. My main issue is the same as always: I don’t understand why the Pixel lacks a portrait mode preview. We need to trust it, take the photo, and hope that we find out in the gallery if it worked.
Photography with the main camera
Analyzing the Google Pixel camera is usually quite easy: every year they have the same advantages and disadvantages. Even the most untrained eye can tell that a Pixel photo is a Pixel photo. Its features do not change: rich color photographs, with a touch of contrast and clarity higher than what the eye actually perceives, a fairly intense HDR and a completely neutral white balance. google Pixel 8a
It is a look that people like. It is an aspect that works well. This style of photography has an artistic touch. Even after many years, it still creates that “wow” effect. As someone who loves natural photography, I would like Google to tone down the artificial sharpness and white balance. Other manufacturers are doing this too. But of course, this would give us a realistic photograph, not a photograph with a Pixel soul. google Pixel 8a
One of the things I value most about this camera is that, for better or worse, I know what it is going to do at all times. This is a particularly problematic point on Android phones: the cameras are usually very inconsistent. This does not happen to the Pixel. Whether you like it more or less, always process the same. We already know what we are going to find when we take the photo.
In this price range, I can’t say anything but good things about the camera. Even looking for distortion and dirty noise in the corners, I don’t find any big drawbacks. As a somewhat “annoying” point, I find the white balance correction too aggressive. If you are in a room with warm light, you will want to turn it cold no matter what to tend towards neutral. It is something that we can configure before taking the photo, but it would be enough to not be so aggressive in correcting it.
Despite not having a large sensor, the small night support that the camera has, exposing for a few more seconds (if we don’t want it to take a couple of seconds, we can deactivate this option) means that the results are well above their rivals. The processing saves the hardware seams, and I dare say that we are facing one of the best nighttime exponents in its price range. It’s not perfect nor does it pretend to be, but it is a camera to rely on when there is not so much light. google Pixel 8a
Regarding the portrait mode, it did disappoint me, as it disappointed me in the Pixel 8 Pro. In fact, I offer the same reflection here. Google is, by far, the company with the most experience when it comes to creating depth maps. Such is its capacity, it is even capable of converting images that have not been captured in portrait mode into photographs with depth of field.
However, on a day-to-day basis, the results are not good. Poorly cropped areas, poorly applied depth by areas, very artificial subject-background separation… While the rest of the manufacturers have advanced brutally in portrait mode, Google has fallen somewhat asleep in this regard. google Pixel 8a
The ultra-wide angle is quite well resolved. It is a less muscular sensor, but the photographs remain with the same look and balance of the main camera. If we zoom in we will notice the seams of the smallest sensor (as a curiosity, it is the same sensor used by the selfie camera). google Pixel 8a
When the light falls slightly, the processing ensures that the photographs are salvageable. Here we will notice that the amount of detail drops and noise appears especially in shadow areas. Despite this, very good results.
Selfie
Regarding the selfie, I am also happy. There is still sharpening, but if we do not zoom in to the extreme we will find a very detailed photograph. Portrait mode has the same problems as the main camera, with some problems getting the crop right.
Despite this, this phone probably has the best front camera in its price range (and even better front camera than even more expensive phones). google Pixel 8a
Video
The video section is the one that suited me least on this Pixel. Despite having OIS, the phone also tries to stabilize electronically (EIS). Either the latter did a poor job of compensating for the judder, or the OIS is not strong enough. As a result, there are many micro-movements that are not corrected.
Even when we walk slowly, the camera still shakes a little. This makes the image not completely stable. The final quality of the video is acceptable. However, we need to be careful with stabilization. google Pixel 8a
I have been analyzing high-end mobile phones for years and using them as a personal mobile phone. This is the first phone outside that range that has made me rethink a lot of things. Both the “mid-range” and “mid-premium range” (in quotes because the meaning is unclear) often have problems for me. They usually have low panel brightness, poor performance for heavy use, and average cameras. google Pixel 8a
This google Pixel 8a, precisely, differs in each of these points. It is an affordable phone with a 2,000 nits screen. It has a great camera, but a telephoto lens would be nice for this price, even if it were just 2x. Its performance is exceptional for its category.
As soon as the price drops a little, this Pixel 8a will be the purchase to recommend within the google pixel 8a by far
The biggest sticking point? The price of the Pixel 8 on offer. This is a phone that, for less than 400 euros, I would recommend to anyone (me included). At the moment, we have a juicy Google trade-in with a 150 euro bonus. Even better news? I am convinced that when this program ends (June), the price of this phone will begin to drop. And, at that point, it will be practically unbeatable.