It’s been about a month since Google officially unveiled the Pixel 8a. While several other Pixel products were announced at the time of the Pixel 7a launch and even previewed at the 2023 I/O conference, the Pixel 8a launch was very low-key. Google unveiled the Pixel 8a a week before the I/O 2024 conference on May 7, 2024, and in fact, I would argue that the announcement was overshadowed by Google’s broader AI announcement that came just a week later. Now that it’s been about a month since its launch, I’ve had a chance to test the Pixel 8a thoroughly, so here’s what I liked and didn’t like after using it for over a week.
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Pixel A series needs XL model
The Pixel 8a needs a bigger display
Here’s a little background: I’ve mostly used the iPhone 14 Pro Max and the Honor Magic 6 Pro this year. Both phones are big and hard to use one-handed, but I noticed that the moment I took the Pixel 8a out of the box. The Pixel 8a is tiny compared to those devices. It’s still bigger than the Samsung Galaxy S24, but if you’re coming from a OnePlus, Motorola, or even HMD device, you’ll notice the Pixel 8a is noticeably smaller.
I like the Pixel 8a’s display, and Google has improved the screen quality and given it a 120Hz refresh rate, so it doesn’t feel inferior to other phones. Flagship Mobile Phones — The 120Hz refresh rate isn’t on by default and needs to be enabled in settings. However, I think Google should consider increasing the screen size of the A-series to compete in this price range. Many budget and mid-range smartphones, such as the OnePlus 12R, Nothing Phone 2a, and Moto G Power (2024), offer screens larger than 6.7 inches, which is what I want from the Pixel 8a.
While we have grown accustomed to the compact form factor of the Pixel 8a, we do crave a larger display, especially when watching football at night or scrolling through reels. And the place for Google to look is to increase the screen size of the Pixel A-series or introduce an XL model. The current A-series devices may be perfect for many, but for those who prefer a larger screen, the addition of an XL model would be a welcome one. The Pixel 9 series is expected to bring back the “XL” model, and we hope the A-series will follow suit.
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Hey Google, why should I buy the Pixel 8a?
The Pixel 8 is constantly being discounted to similar prices.
The Pixel 8a’s camera is easy to use
A camera you can trust for everyday use
Now, let’s talk about what I really like about the Pixel 8a – its camera. The Pixel 8a’s camera is definitely the star of the show. Last year’s Pixel 7a impressed us with its excellent camera, and the Pixel 8a follows suit. It remains the same setup as last year’s 7a: a 64MP primary sensor and a 13MP ultra-wide lens. Of course, there’s no dedicated telephoto zoom lens, which I wish more phones had, but for everyday photography the Pixel 8a is more than perfect.
Megapixel count isn’t everything, but as expected, the Pixel 8a takes sharp, detailed images during the day. At night, when the computational photography algorithms kick in, the photo quality is comparable. Dynamic range is excellent, and colors are accurate in any lighting. I found the camera to have very few shortcomings. In most cases, the Pixel 8a’s camera felt better than the iPhone’s. In fact, I used the 8a as my primary camera instead of the iPhone for an entire week.
The bottom line is that, like most recent Google Pixel devices, the Pixel 8a offers one of the best cameras you can buy at this price point. From the ease of use of the camera app to taking photos and editing with AI features, the Pixel’s overall imaging experience is simply unparalleled. If camera performance is your number one priority, the Pixel 8a is the best you can get at this price.
Google AI and Tensor
Some features are impressive, some feel unnecessary
With the recent Pixel lineup, Google has mimicked other services and approaches to AI, packing a ton of AI-based features into its Pixel 8 series of phones. The Pixel 8a has AI packed into every part of the phone, from the Assistant to photos, messages, and even the audio recorder. Similar to other devices in the Pixel 8 series, the Pixel 8a runs on the same Tensor G3 chip. While we expected some lag, the Pixel 8a has been smooth so far. Apps open quickly, animations are smooth (among the best we’ve seen on an Android device), and the AI features work well.
![Pixel 8a image not edited using the Magic Editor](https://static1.anpoimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/pxl_20240601_095318409.jpg)
![Pixel 8a image edited using Magic Editor](https://static1.anpoimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/pxl_20240601_095318409-2.jpg)
But are they useful? To be honest, I mostly use the AI Wallpaper feature and Magic Editor on my Pixel 8a photos. It’s great that Google has built in the same set of AI features (like Audio Magic Eraser and Call Assist) as the more expensive Pixel 8 models, but I don’t use them much. The Magic Editor is handy, though. The clouds and blue sky image above had wires in it, which I removed using the Magic Editor.
One AI feature I found particularly useful was “Circle to Search.” I used it more than I expected, finding the shoes my favorite influencers wear and learning about soccer legends that appear in my feed. It feels like I’m using Google Lens all the time, but being able to “Circle to Search” for an object by holding down the home button is great.
![Pixel 8a circle search demo](https://static1.anpoimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/circle-to-search-pixel-8a-anim.gif)
Speaking of AI, one thing I’d like to test more is on-device AI, and Google plans to bring an on-device Gemini Nano model to the Pixel 8a, meaning that in future updates, most of the AI processing will be done offline on the device, keeping data off the cloud.
But the bottom line remains the same: the AI features, while there for those who want them, aren’t the primary reason most people would buy this device. After using the Pixel 8a for a week, I found myself not using the AI features all that much. I’d say they’re more of an added bonus to have fun with, rather than the primary reason to choose the Pixel 8a.
![A Samsung smartphone on a kitchen counter displaying the Google Gemini interface.](https://static1.anpoimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/wm/2024/02/google-gemini-omelette-samsung-galaxy-s24-plus-1.jpg)
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What the Pixel 8a can improve
The Pixel 8a has some shortcomings
The Pixel 8a is by no means a perfect device. Take charging speeds, for example. For years, Pixel competitors have offered faster charging speeds, some of which were priced much cheaper than the 8a, but still, Google expects the Pixel 8a to accept 18W charging. This is unacceptable. The Pixel 8a takes over an hour and a half to fully charge, which is unreasonable for such an expensive device. Sure, the battery life is great and lasts all day, but the long charging time is a big drawback.
There are a few other minor gripes with the device. First, I don’t like the speakers on the Pixel 8a. They’re not as loud as I’d expect for a device in this price range, and even at maximum volume they sound muffled. Another issue is the bezels on the screen. I figured I’d get used to them after a week, but they’re still as noticeable as they were on day one. This is disappointing, especially since devices like the OnePlus 12R, which is roughly the same price, offer much smaller bezels.
As mentioned above, the Pixel 8a has room for improvement in some areas, but where Google does things well, like the camera, it does it superbly.
![Google Pixel 8a Aloe, front and back photos](https://static1.anpoimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/google-pixel-8a-aloe-2.jpg)
Google Pixel 8a
The Google Pixel 8a has its pros and cons, but if you’re looking for a compact Android smartphone with a reliable camera, a host of new AI features, long-term update support, and a clean software experience, the Pixel 8a is a great choice.