Hands-on: Google Pixel 3a
Price: £399 from fave.co/2PUAOdX
As expected via the usual onslaught of Internet leaks, Google has announced some new mid-range smartphones. The firm’s own-brand Android range is now more affordable thanks to the addition of the Pixel 3a, and we were lucky enough to have an early look at it.
Design
A mid-range device, especially a version of a flagship phone, can often be a much poorer construct due to
the price difference. Google has, however, kept things very similar with the 3a, and even side by side you’d struggle to tell it apart from the regular Pixel 3 (£739). The design is kept the same with all the little details found on flagship devices. That includes a two-tone finish on the back with a shiny glass section around the camera. The main difference is that the 3a is a little bit more chunky, but not by much. There are also slightly thicker bezels either side of the screen. The main thing here is the big chin below the display.
The Pixel 3a is available in Clearly White, Just Black, and a new colour called ‘Purple-ish’. This is a dusty pastel-looking colour, which is very subtle and has a lime green power button.
The pressure sensors on the side of the phone remain, so you can use Active Edge to, for example, summon Google Assistant.
There are two big things to note about the Pixel 3a design when comparing it to the Pixel 3. First, you get a headphone jack, thanks partly to the slightly bigger frame. Secondly, it’s not waterproof.
Processor
Although the design of the Pixel 3a is like its flagship big brother – the 3a XL (see page 33) – there are some specification changes you should be aware of. First off, you get a lower tier processor: a Qualcomm Snapdragon 670 instead of an 845. In general use, the phone doesn’t feel any different to the Pixel 3. It does, however, take longer when demanding tasks arise such as taking a Night Sight photo with the camera. It’s a small sacrifice for a phone at this price, though.
There’s still 4GB of RAM, but just 64GB of storage. Google, like Apple, doesn’t offer expansion with a microSD card slot, but you can make use of unlimited cloud storage for photos and videos at High Quality. That means full resolution photos as the cap is 16Mp, but videos will be 1080p.
Cameras
Often what you’re paying for when buying a flagship phone is the significantly better camera. You might be surprised to learn that the 3a’s 12.2Mp lens is exactly the same as that of the regular 3. Plus, it comes with the same software features, including Night Sight.
Having just one camera in a world of phones with three, four or even five might seem odd, but Google’s handsets offer some of the best software out there.
As well as Night Sight you get other things such as Photobooth (complete with new triggers, including pouting) and a new Timelapse feature, which will automatically choose the right frame rate between 6fps and one frame every four seconds, depending on what’s being filmed. Google Lens can now identify objects you point the camera at and show you similar ones.
AR navigation
A new feature (in preview form) that uses the camera is part of Google Maps. It’s called AR (augmented reality) navigation and gives you handy directions for when you’re walking. Simply, hold up the phone and you’ll see huge arrows and other useful bits of information overlaid on the real world to make sure you’re going the right way. Move the phone down and Maps will
automatically revert to normal. Note that Google Maps AR is designed to work in urban areas.
Display
You’ll be able to see all of this clearly on the Pixel 3a’s 5.6in screen – making it marginally bigger than the Pixel 3’s 5.5in panel. It’s still OLED despite this lower price point and has a Full HD+ resolution.
Connectivity
We’ve already mentioned the headphone jack, which is an advantage over the Pixel 3. There are also stereo speakers (although the lower one is down firing) and a USB-C port, which supports fast charging. What you don’t get here is wireless charging, though that’s to be expected on a £399 phone.
Battery life
In terms of battery life, Google claims you’ll get 30 hours from a single charge, so it’s designed to last longer than a day. A feature called Adaptive Battery will limit power to lesser used apps to make your phone last as long as possible. During our hands-on, the 3,000mAh battery easily lasted a couple of days, and used about half the power in a typical day. There might not be wireless charging at this price, but the 18-watt fast charging quickly tops the phone up.
Software
There’s little to say about the software here because Google doesn’t hold stuff back for the more expensive devices. You get the pure Android experience you’d expect and the firm promises three years of OS and security updates, so you will definitely get Android Q when it arrives, and future versions as well.
First impressions
We’re feeling very positive about the Pixel 3a, with the phone offering what we believe many consumers want and have been missing out on for a long time now. This is Google going back to the philosophy of its Nexus devices, which were great value for money. It’s fantastic to see an affordable Pixel phone.
The 3a provides that Google design, physically, but also in software, which is important when it comes to the camera. Of course, there are downsides such as a lower grade processor, lack of waterproofing and no wireless charging, but these are necessary to achieve a lower price point. Chris Martin
Specifications
• 5.6in Full HD+ (2,220x1,080; 441ppi) 18:9 OLED capacitive touchscreen • Android 9.0 Pie • Qualcomm Snapdragon 670 octa-core processor • Octa-core (2x 2GHz 360 Gold, 6x 1.7GHz Kryo 360 Silver) CPU • Adreno 615 GPU • 4GB RAM • 64GB storage, no microSD support • Rear-facing camera: 12.2Mp f/1.8 with dual autofocus • Front-facing camera; 8Mp f/2.0 • Active Edge • Pixel Imprint rear fingerprint sensor • Stereo speakers • Headphone jack • Dual-band 11ac Wi-Fi • Bluetooth 5.0 LE with aptX HD
• A-GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO • NFC • Nano-SIM • USB 2.0, Type-C 1.0 • Non-removable 3,000mAh lithium-polymer battery • 18-watt Fast charging • 151.3x70.1x8.2mm • 147g