I’ve spent a week with the Pixel 8a and this is what I love and hate

It’s been almost a month since Google officially unveiled the Pixel 8a. Unlike the Pixel 7a launch, which was accompanied by several other Pixel products and sneak peeks at I/O 2023, the Pixel 8a launch was very low-key. Google announced the Pixel 8a a week before I/O 2024 on May 7, 2024, and in fact, the launch was overshadowed by Google’s wide array of AI announcements just a week later. Nearly a month after its launch, I had the chance to thoroughly test the Pixel 8a, and here’s what I love and hate about it after using it for over a week.

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We need XL models in the Pixel A series

A larger screen is what the Pixel 8a needs

Let me put some context here – I’ve been using the iPhone 14 Pro Max and Honor Magic 6 Pro for most of this year. Both phones are large and difficult to use with one hand, something I realized the moment I took the Pixel 8a out of the box. The Pixel 8a is small compared to these devices. Although it’s still larger than the Samsung Galaxy S24, if you’re coming from devices made by OnePlus, Motorola, or even HMD, you’ll find the Pixel 8a noticeably smaller.

I love the Pixel 8a’s display. Google has improved the screen quality, and now that it offers a 120Hz refresh rate, it doesn’t feel like a downgrade compared to some. Leading phones -Although you need to enable the 120Hz refresh rate in settings, as it is not turned on by default. However, to compete in this price segment, I think Google should consider increasing the screen size of the A series. Many budget and mid-range smartphones, such as the OnePlus 12R, Nothing Phone 2a, and Moto G Power (2024), offer displays larger than 6.7 inches. , which is something I want for the Pixel 8a.

Although I’ve gotten used to the Pixel 8a’s compact form factor, I still find myself longing for a larger screen, especially while watching football and scrolling at night. Here’s where Google should take note: it needs to either increase the screen size of the Pixel A series or introduce XL models. The current A-series devices may be ideal for many, but for those of us who prefer larger screens, the XL version will be a welcome addition. The Pixel 9 series is expected to bring back the “XL” model, and I hope the A series follows suit.

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Using the Pixel 8a’s camera feels easy

A reliable camera for everyday use

Now, let’s talk about something I absolutely love about the Pixel 8a: the camera. There’s no doubt that the Pixel 8a’s camera is the star of the show. The Pixel 7a wowed us with its excellent camera last year, and the Pixel 8a is following suit. It still has the same setup as last year’s 7a with a 64MP primary sensor and a 13MP ultrawide lens – and yes, it lacks a dedicated telephoto zoom lens, which we wish more phones had – but for everyday photos, the Pixel 8a is better . More than perfect.

Pixels never tell the whole story, but as expected, the Pixel 8a captures vivid, detail-rich photos during the day. When the computer imaging algorithms kick in at night, the images are perfectly fine. Dynamic range is excellent, with accurate colors in any type of lighting – and you won’t feel the camera is lacking. For the most part, I found the Pixel 8a’s camera to be superior to my iPhone, and in fact, the Pixel 8a replaced my iPhone as my primary camera for the week.

The bottom line, as with most Google Pixel devices these days, is that the Pixel 8a offers one of the best cameras you can buy at this price. The entire photography experience on the Pixel, from the ease of use of the camera app to taking photos to editing with AI features, is unparalleled. If camera performance is your top priority, the Pixel 8a is the best it gets at this price.

Google Artificial Intelligence and Tensor

Some features are impressive, others feel unnecessary

With its latest Pixel lineup, Google has reversed its approach with other services and AI, bombarding the Pixel 8 series phones with tons of AI-based features. The Pixel 8a features AI in every part of the phone, from Assistant to photos and messaging to the voice recorder. What’s similar to other devices in the Pixel 8 series is that the Pixel 8a runs on the same Tensor G3 chip. Although I expected some lag, the Pixel 8a’s performance has been smooth so far. Apps open quickly, animations are smooth — arguably some of the best among Android devices — and the AI ​​features work well.

But is it useful? Honestly, I mainly used the AI ​​wallpaper function and the magic editor in photos on the Pixel 8a. It’s nice that Google includes the same set of AI features, like Audio Magic Eraser and Call Assist, as in the pricier Pixel 8 models, but I didn’t use them much. However, Magic Editor is very useful. The image above with the clouds and blue sky contained a wire, which I removed using Magic Editor.

One AI feature I found particularly useful is the search circle. I’ve used it more than I expected — to find the shoes my favorite influencer was wearing, to recognize a soccer legend in my feed, and more. It’s like using Google Lens all the time, but being able to hold down the home button and just “circle to search” for something is great.

While we’re on the subject of AI, one thing I’m looking forward to testing more of is the on-device AI. Google is set to bring the on-device Gemini Nano model to the Pixel 8a. This means that from a future update, most of the AI ​​processing will take place on-device and off-device, keeping your data out of the cloud.

However, the end result is still the same. The AI ​​features are there if you want to use them, but for most people, they’re not the main reason to buy this device. I found myself not using them much during my week with the Pixel 8a, and I see these features more like extra bonuses to enjoy rather than main reasons to choose the Pixel 8a.

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Where the Pixel 8a could improve

There are a few areas where the Pixel 8a falls short

The Pixel 8a is by no means a perfect device. Take charging speed for example. For years, Pixel competitors have offered faster charging speeds — some at a much lower price than the 8a — yet Google still expects us to accept 18W charging on the Pixel 8a. this is unacceptable! The Pixel 8a takes over an hour and a half to fully charge, which is ridiculous for a device that costs this much. Yes, the battery life is great and lasts all day, but the long charging time is a major drawback.

There are also other small annoyances with the device. First, I don’t like the speaker on the Pixel 8a. It’s not as loud as I’d expect for a device of this price, and it sounds muffled at full volume. Another problem is the screen frame. I thought I’d get used to the edges after a week, but I still noticed them just as much as I did on day one. This is disappointing, especially when devices like the OnePlus 12R, which cost about the same, offer much smaller bezels.

As I mentioned above, the Pixel 8a has room for improvement in several areas. However, when Google gets it right, like with the camera, it does it great.

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 for you. You.