Product test
Google Pixel 9a: boringly good
by Michelle Brändle
Pixel 8a review: a good deal – with fierce internal competition
15.5.2024
Translation: Katherine Martin
Has Google scrimped on too many features in making the Pixel 8a? Or will the phone actually end up competing with the regular Pixel 8? In my review, I discovered the answers to these questions mostly hinge on the price and camera.
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 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?
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.
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.
In a nutshell
Excellent entry-level smartphone with internal competition
The Google Pixel 8a impresses as a budget-friendly smartphone that doesn’t feel like a slimmed-down version of more expensive models.
The matt back and newly rounded edges make the handset slim and stylish. Google’s decision to use plastic instead of glass doesn’t bother me. Mind you, other people will think of this as substandard. As for the camera, it takes high-calibre photos. Since the Pixel 8a has been kitted out with pure Android, all of Google’s AI functions and its best processor, it’s a pleasure to use.
In terms of battery life, the 8a actually beats the regular Pixel 8. However, since the latter has dropped in price, it’s become a formidable competitor. People who take a lot of photos and videos will be particularly likely to benefit from choosing the regular Pixel 8.
Pro
- matt design
- comfortable size
- seven years of updates
- long battery life
- fair price
Contra
- camera sensors are good, but not better than the Pixel 8’s
- thick, black border around the screen
Header image: Lorenz Keller
Lorenz Keller
Senior Editor
Lorenz.Keller@digitecgalaxus.chGadgets are my passion - whether you need them for the home office, for the household, for sport and pleasure or for the smart home. Or, of course, for the big hobby next to the family, namely fishing.
