Tech Blog #174 | Pixel 8a - Is it Worth than Pixel 8 Now??

It's been a few months since the release of the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. Those devices brought AI features in smartphones to next level, completely changing the scheme of grading the features of smartphones. And we all know pixel brings these features to an affordable price from "a" series. And it's time for Pixel 8a.

The Pixel 8a has a sleek and modern design with rounded corners, a plastic back, and an aluminum frame for a premium feel. It has a smooth matte texture that improves its grip. The device measures 8.9 mm thick and weighs 188g, making it easy to hold and use. The fingerprint sensor is conveniently located under the display, allowing for quick and secure access to the device.

The Pixel 8a has a vibrant 6.1-inch OLED display with 1080P resolution and a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. This display provides stunning visuals with rich colors and deep blacks, making it ideal for viewing photos, videos, and playing games. It also has HDR support, which allows for a more immersive viewing experience with compatible content. Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protects the display from scratches and minor impacts.

The Pixel 8a is powered by Google's custom Tensor G3 chipset, which provides high performance and AI capabilities. It has an octa-core processor configuration, which includes high-performance cores for balanced tasks and energy-saving cores for light activities. This chipset is paired with 8GB of LPDDR5x RAM, resulting in smooth multitasking and app performance. Storage options include 128GB or 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage, which provides plenty of room for apps, games, and multimedia.

The Pixel 8a has an impressive dual rear camera system, consisting of a 64 MP f/1.9 primary camera and a 13 MP f/2.2 ultrawide camera. The rear cameras include advanced features like astrophotography timelapse, 240fps slow motion, fused video stabilization, Cinematic Pan, 5x digital zoom, and optical image stabilization (OIS) on the main wide-angle camera. The front-facing camera is a 13-megapixel f/2.2 shooter. All cameras can record 4K video, with the rear cameras capable of 4K at 60fps. Additional software features include Magic Editor, Best Take, Magic Eraser, Photo Unblur, Face Unblur, Real Tone, Top Shot, Live HDR+, and Ultra HDR, which improve the overall photography experience.

The Pixel 8a has a 4492mAh battery that provides an impressive 24+ hours of battery life. It supports both 18W wired fast charging and Qi wireless charging, providing users with quick and convenient recharging options while on the go.

While the Pixel 8 is slightly more expensive at $550 than the Pixel 8a at $499, the Pixel 8 provides several benefits that may justify the higher price. The Pixel 8 has a more premium design, including a glass back, wireless charging, and IP68 water and dust resistance, which the Pixel 8a lacks. Furthermore, the Pixel 8 uses the more powerful Google Tensor G3 chipset, which may result in better overall performance than the Tensor G3 in the Pixel 8a. However, if these features are not essential to you, the Pixel 8a still offers excellent value for its price, with a similar camera system, software experience, and 5G connectivity, making it a compelling choice for those looking for a less expensive Pixel device.