Every year the best Pixel phones get better and better. Since the launch of the Pixel 6 devices, Google’s handsets have proven to be not only the best Android phones, but also some of the best you can buy.
In October 2023, Google launched the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, and long story short, these are some of our favorite phones. Digital Spy. I write about technology for a living, and I liked the Pixel 8 so much that I went out and bought one for myself. That’s saying something!
But recently, a new smartphone was released that offers many of the same specs and features as Google’s flagship, but for much less money. The Google Pixel 8a is priced at £499 at the time of writing, while the Pixel 8 currently retails for £629.
We expect to see Pixel 8a deals that lower the price even further in the future. Its predecessor, the Pixel 7a, was priced as low as £329 in sales such as Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day. But if you’re buying a phone now, the sub-£500 price point is still jaw-droppingly good considering everything you get.
Why should you buy Google Pixel 8a?
Apart from being affordable, these are the 5 main reasons why you should buy the Google Pixel 8a as your next smartphone.
Google Pixel 8a looks great
First of all, the Pixel 8a looks very similar to the Pixel 8 flagship phone, but it has a new matte plastic casing instead of glossy glass. This has its pros and cons; Even though it looks a little less premium, it feels considerably more durable.
The Google Pixel 8a also has a pretty respectable 6.1-inch display with FHD+ quality, 120Hz refresh rate, and up to 2,000 nits of peak brightness. In daily use the screen is very nice to use, it is crystal clear, super smooth, colorful and you can easily see it on a sunny day; That’s more than you can say for many other budget smartphones.
It has one of the best budget phone cameras
One of the biggest reasons to buy the Google Pixel 8a is that it has the best budget phone camera I’ve seen so far in 2024.
The Pixel 8a uses nearly the same setup, although it doesn’t let in as much light as its flagship counterpart. You consistently get detailed, balanced photos day and night.
When testing the Pixel 8a, I loved the fact that I could pick up the phone, press the shutter, and take a nice photo. It is a completely hassle free point and shoot snapper. The reason it can do this so well is because there is a lot of clever software working behind the scenes to enhance the images.
Additionally, there are some really useful editing tools. Magic Eraser allows you to resize, move and delete objects in your photos. Best Take combines images to make everyone look their best. Unblur sharpens photos. Portrait lighting, on the other hand, improves the lighting in people shots, making them look more professional.
You get a flagship processor
Another major advantage is having the flagship Tensor G3 chipset powering the operation. Of course, it’s not as fast as the processor you’ll find in one of the best Samsung phones, but it’s still very impressive considering its price. Whether you’re editing photos using the Magic Eraser, taking notes in a meeting using Live Caption, or filtering spam calls using Call Screening, it puts all of Google’s best AI features to work.
Battery lasts all day
If you need a phone with solid battery life, the Google Pixel 8a is an excellent choice. On days when I didn’t use it much (sending a few messages, playing the odd song on Spotify, and occasionally scrolling through social media), it lasted well into the evening and even the next morning without needing to be unplugged.
When I spent more time on the phone, like watching a show on one of the top streaming services, it lasted me through most of the day and I didn’t need to charge it until later that night. Influential!
Google Pixel 8a wins in software
Software is perhaps one of the most compelling reasons to buy the Google Pixel 8a because it promises 7 years of software updates. This means you’ll continue to get new feature discounts until May 2031 as long as it doesn’t break or you lose it. By comparison, the Pixel 7a only promises 3 years of OS upgrades, while the Samsung Galaxy A55 only offers four years of updates.
Other than that, Google devices run the purest version of Android, and in my opinion, this is the best version. It’s easy to use, colorful without being cartoonish, and has tons of customization options. Aside from that, it comes loaded with great software, many of which I’ve already mentioned, but there’s a monochrome bedtime mode, placing the phone face down to turn on Do Not Disturb, and a free VPN built into the device.
The Google Pixel 8a is now available to buy from retailers including Amazon, Argos, John Lewis and Currys.
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