The new Google Pixel 8a intends to offer many new features initiated by the recent Pixel 8. Unfortunately, the latter comes into competition with the firm’s previous phones.
Every year, Google has the habit of offering a lighter and less expensive version of its latest high-end smartphones. Only a few months after the release of the Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, the company recently released the new Google Pixel 8a.
The ambitions of this Google Pixel 8a are quite clear: to offer an experience close to the Pixel 8 (excellent photographs and AI-based features) while making certain concessions to display a lower price than the latter. We were able to test the Google Pixel 8a for several years and noted that it ultimately came up against the toughest competition on the market: that of its own predecessor. Discover our full review of the Google Pixel 8a.
Google Pixel regulars won’t be very surprised when looking at the new Google Pixel 8a. The latter takes up the codes previously initiated by the firm’s old models for 2-3 years already. There is still a matte coating on the back of the device with three colors available in France (volcanic black, porcelain white, azure blue) as well as an exclusive color, aloe green. The edges are also covered with a matte aluminum coating that is very pleasant to the touch. Very good point to note: neither the back nor the edges of the Pixel 8a retain fingerprints, despite intensive daily use.
On the back of the Google Pixel 8a, we find the still distinctive photo block of Google phones. Whether we like it or not, the latter clearly stands out from mid-range Android phones. Google has even managed to reduce the protrusion of the sensor so that it no longer tilts the phone when used on a flat surface. A problem that we kept finding on Pixels in recent years up to the eighth generation.
In terms of buttons and connectors, the Google Pixel 8a hardly surprises. All the physical buttons are located on the right edge of the phone where you can adjust the volume of the device as well as its power. The SIM card reader is located on the left side. Below the Pixel 8a, you’ll find the USB-C port as well as a single speaker and microphone.
On the front side, the Google Pixel 8a shocks with its immense borders. The latter do not even have the luxury of being uniform since the bottom edge is more imposing than the others. An observation which takes up even more space within certain applications where the top and bottom edges of the device further reduce the screen size available for displaying content.
On a daily basis, using the Google Pixel 8a is very pleasant. The phone is relatively small with its 6.1-inch screen, which allows it to be easily used with one hand and fits in any pocket. In terms of design, the Google Pixel 8a is a real success as long as you get used to its fairly large borders.
The Google Pixel 8a features a 6.1-inch OLED panel capable of having an HDR brightness of 1400 nits and a peak brightness of up to 2000 nits. For the first time on a Pixel a, the screen has a technology called “Actua” which allows the refresh rate to be increased up to 120 Hz and to automatically adapt according to the content displayed.
In terms of brightness, the Google Pixel 8a is perfectly usable in direct sunlight or in a poorly lit area such as a tunnel or an alley without urban lighting. The automatic brightness functionality which allows it to be modified depending on the ambient environment, however, remains quite approximate. During our week of testing, we much preferred to adjust the brightness of the Pixel 8a ourselves rather than trusting it and having to wait several seconds for good readability.
On a daily basis, however: nothing to complain about. The Google Pixel 8a screen is pleasant to use and the colors are well reproduced. Watching series on Netflix, a YouTube video or images from a video game on the Pixel 8a is done naturally and without feeling a lack of details or colors in our displayed content.
The Google Pixel 8a is equipped with the company’s latest in-house chip, the Google Tensor G3. This same chip powers the company’s high-end phones released at the end of 2023, the Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro.
If there is one point on which the Google Pixels do not particularly perform, it is performance in video games. The Pixel 8a is no exception to this popular belief and is not established as a smartphone designed for gaming.
When first launched, the game Genshin Impact launches by default with graphics that fluctuate between “low” and “medium” with 30 FPS. While it is still possible to crank the graphics up to maximum with 60 FPS, this has a clear impact on performance. Even less resource-intensive games like Pokémon GO sometimes experience slowdowns. We sometimes observe some drops in FPS and above all a certain heating of the phone which clearly indicate that the Pixel 8a only moderately appreciates games that are a little too demanding.
For more “casual” use, the Google Pixel 8a does what is asked of it very well. The phone alternates perfectly between the different applications launched and it is possible to run several of them in a row without experiencing slowdowns or complete freeze of the device.
For its Google Pixel 8a, the performance watchword comes down to two letters: AI. The manufacturer’s latest mid-range phone is equipped with new features based on artificial intelligence that we found on the latest Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. Whether it’s the magic eraser to correct a photo, the audio eraser to remove sound from a video or the summary of articles and web pages, the Pixel 8a benefits from all of Google’s know-how in terms of artificial intelligence, but the results will often depend on the base material. However, you will not fail to be pleasantly surprised by the modifications and corrections that can be made to your photos and videos.
If Google’s phones are not known for being champions in performance or autonomy, they shine in one very particular area: photography. This is one of the points most highlighted by Google for several years and which is based on an image processing algorithm capable of enhancing the captured photographs (even if it sometimes means distorting them, but we will talk about that again in a few days). lines).
During the day, and when ideal conditions are present, the Google Pixel 8a excels in photography. The photos taken “on the go” (understand without specific settings beforehand) are teeming with colors and details. These can be fully exploited for use on social networks, without even having to go through a filter or editing software. The sharpness is relatively correct even if the smallest details can be missed if we zoom in on our photos. The colors remain quite garish but do not become unnatural. No surprises here for a smartphone from Google.
The Google Pixel 8a has a 2x optical zoom and is capable of digital zoom up to 8x. It’s not much, and the loss of quality is already felt. The more pronounced your zoom, the more difficulty the Pixel 8a will have in restoring certain details. The phone will also tend to exaggerate the light captured and create images that are much clearer than reality. A rather gray/beige wall then appears completely white and skin tones quickly become pale.
The “portrait” mode is not without its flaws either. The latter already does not display background blur (more commonly called “bokeh”) behind its subject when shooting. You must then take your photo with “portrait” mode activated so that the Pixel 8a’s image processing does not activate and add the blur afterwards. It is therefore impossible to have a preview before taking the photo. The results also remain quite messy and the phone never managed to avoid blurring the temples of our glasses and some of our hair during our tests.
At night, we are sometimes pleasantly surprised by the photo capabilities of the Google Pixel 8a. Outdoors, Google’s phone manages to capture a little light so that your scenes aren’t completely dark while dimming the few lighting sources like street lamps or car headlights. However, the loss of detail is still felt on certain details, particularly distant ones. Indoors unfortunately, the quality collapses and some shots just turn out to be unusable as there are so many blurs.
The Google Pixel 8a is capable of filming in two different quality: Full HD 1080p and 4K. Both qualities can have a fluidity of 30 or 60 frames per second which you can choose to gain quality (but at the expense of the size of the final file).
Both of the Pixel 8a’s video qualities are very good and easy to use, whether for use on social media or for some editing afterwards.
The Pixel 8a also has three stabilization modes for its video:
The Pixel 8a’s stabilization is relatively good. People with some natural tremors or in a vehicle will be able to take advantage of this to make better quality videos. However, this stabilization does not work wonders either and will quickly find its limits.
For many years now, we have been recommending Pixel phones to those around us and our readers. Unfortunately, if there is one black point that often comes up in our ears, it is the autonomy of the latter. Google phones are often far behind the competition in the field, especially compared to the Nothing Phone or the Samsung Galaxy A.
Unplugged at 8 a.m., our copy of the Google Pixel 8a still showed 40% at the end of the day around 6 p.m. We are therefore far from the “more than 24 hours of autonomy” promised by Google, but this will still allow you to enjoy the Pixel 8a for a whole typical day. Obviously, the autonomy of the phone depends mainly on the use you make of it. For our tests, we mainly used the following applications: Phone, Facebook Messenger, Whatsapp, Youtube, Genshin Impact and Gmail.
Regarding charging, Google announces “fast charging” on its official website mentioning the Google Pixel 8a. The latter depends above all on what we mean by “fast” since the phone is limited to a charge of up to 18 W. Here are the readings of our charging on our test copy:
One hour of charging to gain around 80%, we’ve had better. Allow a little less than 2 hours to fully recharge the Google Pixel 8a. That’s a lot, especially since no charging block is provided in the box.
The Google Pixel 8a could be tested with multiple other objects paired with it. Whether it’s Airpods Pro, Nothing Ear (2) or a Google Pixel Watch, we haven’t noticed any problems connecting to our connected objects and devices. The Pixel 8a is also compatible with 6E wifi bands for fast and smooth connections. We were able to browse the web, download apps and spend hours playing online games without experiencing unwanted disconnections.
On the communications side, the Google Pixel 8a is compatible with the 4G and 5G bands as long as you have a compatible plan. During our test week, we had no problem making calls which were as clear for us as for our interlocutors.
Finally, let’s mention the number of updates planned for the Pixel 8a. Like its previous two high-end phones, Google will equip the Pixel 8a with seven years of OS updates and security updates. An example in the industry and one that should be welcomed since it will allow users to enjoy the Google Pixel 8a for a long time.
The Google Pixel 8a is undoubtedly a good little phone. Its format and design make it a very pleasant device to hold and handle on a daily basis while allowing it to be easy to store. Its photo capabilities are worthy of a Pixel phone and allow you to take very good photos as long as the ambient conditions (especially brightness) are met. Finally, the addition of Google AI within the Pixel 8a allows you to benefit from very useful and reliable tools.
Unfortunately, the Pixel 8a suffers from the problems inherent in Google’s line of phones. Its autonomy is more than average while recharging clearly takes its time. Add to this very pronounced asymmetrical borders (but which may not bother some users) and very variable photo quality in low light and you get a Pixel 8a that is as interesting as it is frustrating.
But the real problem with the Google Pixel 8a comes from the competition. By raising its base price to 549 euros (compared to 509 euros for the Pixel 7a), Google places its new mid-range phone against serious competitors like the latest Nothing Phone (2) or the Samsung Galaxy A55. But above all, the Google Pixel 8 released at the end of 2023 has dropped in price in recent months, and this is why we recommend extending your budget a little and going with the latter (or considering a Google Pixel 7 Pro).