Google Pixel 8a Review: The Smart Choice for Savvy Brits?
Is the Google Pixel 8a the best value phone in the UK? Our definitive review covers the camera, battery, AI features, and everything else you need to know.
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Let’s be honest, the world of smartphones can feel a bit like the London Underground during rush hour: crowded, confusing, and expensive. You’ve got your flashy iPhones that cost a small fortune, and your Samsungs with more features than you can shake a stick at. But what if you just want a brilliant phone that’s clever, takes cracking photos, and doesn’t require you to remortgage your house?
Enter the Google Pixel 8a. It’s the latest in Google’s ‘a-series’ line-up, which has always been about bringing the best bits of their fancy flagship phones to a more sensible price tag. Think of it as the John Lewis of phones: reliable, smart, and reassuringly good value. But in a world of ever-improving budget phones from brands you’ve barely heard of, can Google’s plucky mid-ranger still hold its own? We’re about to find out.
Operating system Android 14
Memory storage capacity 128 GB
Screen size 6.1 Inches
Resolution 1080 x 2400
Model name Pixel 8a
This isn’t just another phone review. We’re going to dive deep into every nook and cranny of the Pixel 8a, from the silicon heart that powers its brainy AI tricks to the camera that promises perfect pictures every time. We’ll see how it stacks up for a typical day in Blighty, whether that’s snapping photos on a drizzly walk in the Peak District, navigating the chaos of a city centre, or just scrolling through TikTok on the sofa after a long day. So, grab a brew, get comfy, and let’s see if the Google Pixel 8a is the phone you’ve been waiting for.
What’s in the Box? Unpacking the Pixel 8a Experience
Before we get to the phone itself, let’s have a quick look at what you get for your money. In classic 2024 fashion, the box is pretty minimalist. You get the Pixel 8a itself, a one-metre USB-C to USB-C cable, a handy ‘Quick Switch’ adapter to help you move your stuff from your old phone, and the all-important SIM tool for popping in your SIM card.
You’ll notice a couple of things missing: a charging brick and a set of headphones. Like most phone makers these days, Google assumes you’ve already got a collection of these gathering dust in a drawer somewhere. It’s a bit of a pain if you don’t, but it does help to reduce e-waste. It’s a small thing, but it’s part of a bigger trend towards more sustainable packaging and products, which is a welcome change.
Design and Feel: A Familiar Friend with a Few New Tricks
A Softer, Friendlier Pixel
If you’ve seen a Pixel phone in the last few years, the 8a will look instantly familiar. It’s got that classic Pixel look with the distinctive camera bar across the back. But this year, things are a little different. The corners are much more rounded, making it feel softer and more comfortable to hold. It’s less like a sharp-edged slab of tech and more like a smooth, friendly pebble.
The back is made from a matte composite material that feels surprisingly premium. It doesn’t pick up fingerprints like glossy glass backs do, which is a massive plus. The frame is made from matte aluminium, which adds a reassuringly solid feel. It’s also made with a good chunk of recycled materials, which is another tick in the sustainability box.
Colours to Suit Your Style
The Pixel 8a comes in four colours: Aloe (a vibrant, minty green), Bay (a lovely shade of blue), Porcelain (an elegant off-white), and Obsidian (your classic black). They’re all quite tasteful and a nice change from the usual black and silver options.
Built for the British Weather
Let’s face it, we’re no strangers to a bit of rain in the UK. The good news is the Pixel 8a comes with an IP67 dust and water resistance rating. What does that mean in plain English? It means it can survive being submerged in up to a metre of fresh water for 30 minutes. So, you don’t need to panic if you get caught in a downpour or accidentally drop it in the sink. It’s a great bit of peace of mind for a phone at this price.
The Screen: A Window to Your World
Bright, Smooth, and Beautiful
The screen is where you’ll spend most of your time with your phone, and Google has given the 8a a real upgrade this year. It’s a 6.1-inch OLED display that’s incredibly bright and vibrant. Colours pop, blacks are deep and inky, and everything looks fantastic, whether you’re watching a show on iPlayer or just scrolling through your photos.
It’s also got a 120Hz refresh rate, which makes everything feel incredibly smooth and fluid. It’s one of those things you don’t think you need until you’ve tried it, and then you can’t go back. It makes a real difference to how responsive the phone feels in day-to-day use.
The screen is also incredibly bright, hitting a peak of 2,000 nits. This means you’ll have no trouble seeing it, even in bright summer sunshine (on the rare occasions we get it!). It’s protected by Corning’s Gorilla Glass 3, which offers a decent level of scratch resistance.
The Pixel Camera: Still the King of Point-and-Shoot?
The camera has always been the star of the show for Pixel phones, and the 8a is no exception. It’s not about having the biggest numbers or the most lenses; it’s about using clever software to take consistently brilliant photos with zero effort.
The Hardware: What’s Under the Hood
The Pixel 8a has a dual-camera system on the back:
- A 64-megapixel main camera that captures incredible detail and vibrant colours.
- A 13-megapixel ultrawide camera for those times when you want to fit more into your shot, like a big group of mates or a stunning landscape.
On the front, there’s a 13-megapixel selfie camera that takes sharp, flattering photos. It’s also wide enough to get a few friends in the frame without everyone having to squeeze together.
The Magic of Google’s AI
The real secret to the Pixel’s camera success isn’t the hardware; it’s the software. Google’s computational photography is like having a professional photo editor living inside your phone, making tiny adjustments to every picture you take to make it look its best.
Here are some of the clever tricks the Pixel 8a can do:
- Best Take: Ever taken a group photo where one person has their eyes closed? Best Take lets you swap their face with another shot from the same burst of photos. It’s genuinely magical and a real lifesaver for family pictures.
- Magic Editor: This is like a simplified version of Photoshop. You can move objects around, change the colour of the sky, and generally tidy up your photos with just a few taps. It’s incredibly powerful and a lot of fun to play with.
- Magic Eraser: This lets you remove unwanted objects or people from your photos. Got a photobomber in the background? Just circle them, and they’re gone. It’s not perfect every time, but when it works, it’s amazing.
- Photo Unblur: Got a slightly blurry photo? Photo Unblur can sharpen it up and bring it back into focus. It can even work on old photos that you didn’t take on your Pixel.
- Real Tone: This is a really important feature that ensures the camera accurately captures all skin tones. It’s been trained on thousands of images to make sure everyone looks their best.
- Night Sight: This lets you take incredible photos in low light. It brightens up dark scenes and captures loads of detail without needing a flash. It’s perfect for pubs, parties, and evening cityscapes.
Video Recording
The Pixel 8a can shoot video in 4K at up to 60 frames per second. The footage is sharp, stable, and looks great. There are also some clever AI features for video, like Audio Magic Eraser, which can remove distracting background noises like wind or traffic from your recordings.
Performance and Battery Life: The Engine Room
The Power of Google Tensor G3
At the heart of the Pixel 8a is Google’s very own Tensor G3 chip. This is the same chip that’s in the more expensive Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. It’s not the fastest chip on the market if you’re just looking at benchmark scores, but that’s not the point. The Tensor chip is specially designed to power all of Google’s clever AI features.
In everyday use, the Pixel 8a feels fast and responsive. Apps open quickly, scrolling is smooth, and it handles everything from browsing the web to a bit of gaming without breaking a sweat. It’s a real pleasure to use.
A Battery That Goes the Distance
The Pixel 8a has a battery that Google says will last for over 24 hours. In our testing, we found that to be pretty accurate. With normal use – a bit of social media, some music streaming, taking a few photos, and sending messages – it comfortably lasted a full day with plenty of juice to spare.
If you’re really in a pinch, there’s an Extreme Battery Saver mode that can stretch the battery life up to an incredible 72 hours. It does this by turning off some features and limiting which apps can run, but it’s a great option to have for emergencies or long weekends away.
When it’s time to charge, the Pixel 8a supports fast charging, so you can get back up to speed quickly. It also supports wireless charging, which is a nice feature to have at this price point.
Software and AI: The Brains of the Operation
Pure, Uncluttered Android
One of the best things about owning a Pixel phone is the software experience. You get a clean, simple version of Android, just as Google intended it. There’s no bloatware or weird customisations that other manufacturers often add. It’s fast, easy to use, and a joy to navigate.
The Smartest Phone Around?
The Pixel 8a is packed with clever AI features that are designed to make your life easier. Here are a few of our favourites:
- Circle to Search: See something on your screen you want to know more about? Just circle it with your finger, and Google will search for it. It’s incredibly useful for finding out where to buy a piece of clothing you’ve seen online or identifying a landmark in a photo.
- Live Translate: This feature can translate conversations, signs, and menus in real-time. It’s brilliant for holidays and works surprisingly well.
- Call Screen: Fed up with spam calls? Call Screen can answer unknown numbers for you and ask who’s calling and why. You get a real-time transcript of the conversation, so you can decide whether you want to pick up or not. It’s a game-changer.
- Gemini: Google’s powerful AI assistant is built right into the Pixel 8a. You can use it to help you write emails, plan trips, and get quick answers to your questions.
Seven Years of Updates: A Promise for the Future
This is a big one. Google is promising seven years of operating system, security, and feature updates for the Pixel 8a. That’s more than any other phone manufacturer, including Apple. It means your phone will keep getting better over time and will stay safe and secure for years to come. It’s a massive selling point and a huge vote of confidence from Google in their hardware.
The Verdict: Is the Google Pixel 8a the Right Phone for You?
After spending a lot of time with the Google Pixel 8a, it’s clear that Google has another winner on its hands. It takes everything that was great about its predecessors and makes it even better.
The camera is still the star of the show, delivering incredible photos with minimal effort. The new AI features are genuinely useful and a lot of fun to play with. The screen is a huge improvement, and the promise of seven years of software updates is a game-changer.
Is it the perfect phone? Not quite. The design, while comfortable, might be a bit plain for some. And while the Tensor G3 chip is great for AI, it’s not the most powerful processor on the market if you’re a serious gamer.
But for most people in the UK, the Google Pixel 8a is an absolutely fantastic choice. It’s a smart, reliable, and capable phone that offers incredible value for money. It’s the kind of phone you can recommend to your friends and family without any hesitation.
If you’re looking for a phone that just works, takes amazing photos, and will last you for years to come, then the Google Pixel 8a should be at the very top of your list. It’s the sensible, smart choice in a market that’s often anything but. It’s not just a great mid-range phone; it’s a great phone, full stop.
Operating system Android 14
Memory storage capacity 128 GB
Screen size 6.1 Inches
Resolution 1080 x 2400
Model name Pixel 8a
