In case you’re eyeing the brand new Google Pixel 8a, you’re in all probability questioning why the additional couple of bucks for a seemingly just like final 12 months’s Pixel 7a telephone. In any case, they’re each touted as maybe the very best cameraphones of their respective value ranges. And we agree for essentially the most half.
By analyzing the specs sheets alone, it is fairly evident that the upgrades this 12 months are moderately modest. However there’s greater than meets the attention, as is sort of at all times the case. Stick round to see if the €100 value distinction is justified by the newer mannequin.
Desk of Contents:
For starters, you may examine the entire specs sheets or straight proceed with our editor’s evaluation within the following textual content.
Dimension comparability
The newer Pixel 8a is sort of equivalent to the Pixel 7a size-wise. And it is no shock – the 2 handsets share the identical display diagonal and largely the identical {hardware} and design language.
Nevertheless, the Pixel 8a’s chassis is now extra rounded. Gone are the sharp corners from the Pixel 7a. We consider the previous’s design makes it extra comfy to carry. The rounded corners present a safer and comfy grip.
Show comparability
Though the specs sheet suggests minimal adjustments within the show, the newer 8a has a far superior OLED panel.
Two of essentially the most notable enhancements are 120Hz refresh price (up from 90Hz) and brightness. The 8a can enhance as much as 1,500 nits, which is a flagship-worthy rating, whereas the 7a settles for simply round 1,000 nits.
Clearly, the Pixel 8a has the higher panel – it is sooner and brighter on the identical time, little doubt about that.
Battery life
Since we reviewed the Pixel 7a earlier than implementing our new battery life testing routine, we must depend on our legacy battery assessments for this side-by-side comparability.
The information exhibits a slight improve in battery life throughout all situations on the newer mannequin. The Pixel 8a has a tad longer name time, net shopping and video playback scores. Nevertheless, the general distinction is kind of small.
Charging velocity
Fairly surprisingly, the Pixel 7a appears to cost a tad sooner than its successor. The distinction is generally negligible because the 7a beats the 8a with a couple of proportion factors on the 15 and 30-minute marks and costs 12 minutes sooner to 100%.
Each handsets share the identical 18W PD charging commonplace over a wire and seven.5W wirelessly. The longer charging instances by the newer Pixel 8a is maybe because of its battery being barely bigger. Both method, we would not advise deciding primarily based on the charging velocity, as for all intents and functions, the 2 gadgets are equally sluggish.
Speaker check
Given the equivalent loudness rating, one would assume the Pixel 8a and 7a share the identical audio system. We won’t say for positive, however the 8a undoubtedly adopts a special sound tuning and a greater one at that. No less than upon subjective evaluation.
The Pixel 8a has extra pronounced bass and mids, resulting in a fuller total sound, whereas the 7a favors highs a bit extra. Both method, the 8a sounds higher.
Efficiency
As anticipated, the newer Pixel 8a is the extra highly effective handset of the 2. It employs a Google Tensor G3 SoC primarily based on the 4nm manufacturing course of, whereas the Pixel 7a depends on final 12 months’s top-tier Google {hardware} – Tensor G2 on the 5nm node.
The bottom storage variant hasn’t modified from final 12 months – 8GB/128GB, however the newer 8a provides one other much-needed 8GB/256GB choice as effectively.
Benchmark efficiency
As anticipated, the Pixel 8a is extra highly effective than the Pixel 7a, due to its Tensor G3 chipset. Within the CPU-heavy Geekbench 6 benchmark, the G3 outperforms the G2 by about 20%, whereas in AnTuTu 10’s mixed testing situation, the G3 pulled forward of the G2 by round 25%. The GPU-intensive 3DMark Wild Life has an analogous efficiency distinction – 27% in favor of the G3.
Digital camera comparability
The Pixel 8a has borrowed the 7a’s digicam {hardware} so going into this comparability, we did not count on giant variations. Each gadgets function the identical cameras – a 64 MP important shooter (f/1.9, 26mm) joined by a 13 MP ultrawide unit (f/2.2, 120˚).
The 13 MP selfie digicam (f/2.2, 20mm) stays the identical, too.
Picture high quality
As anticipated, there’s virtually no distinction between the Pixel 8a and 7a’s digicam efficiency through the day. The 2 gadgets ship equivalent photograph high quality with their two cameras and within the 2x zoom mode. We wrestle to seek out any significant distinction.
Pixel 8a: 0.6x • 1x • 2x
Pixel 7a: 0.6x • 1x • 2x
In low-light situations, nonetheless, we noticed a distinction within the ultrawide samples. The Pixel 7a delivers stills which can be much less noisy, cleaner, sharper and with a bit extra distinction.
The identical goes for the 2x zoom crop the place the Pixel 7a has the higher hand. The 7a’s 2x zoom footage are extra detailed and barely sharper too. The pictures taken within the default 1x Picture mode are largely equivalent.
Pixel 8a: 0.6x • 1x • 2x
Pixel 7a: 0.6x • 1x • 2x
Video high quality
There’s not a lot distinction within the video recording capabilities both. The primary and ultrawide cameras on each gadgets file near-identical 4K movies, however we did discover a barely hotter colour temperature on the 8a in addition to higher shadow improvement. That final bit might be because of the distinction in recording instances, although.
Pixel 8a: 0.6x • 1x
Pixel 7a: 0.6x • 1x
Verdict
Having a value hole of simply €100, it is in all probability secure to say the Pixel 8a is price the additional money. The show improve is greater than you would possibly suppose at first and the telephone additionally has better-sounding audio system. The chipset is quicker and barely extra environment friendly, judging by the battery life. And also you get Google’s promise for 7 years of OS updates, in comparison with the two years remaining for the 7a.
However, the older Pixel provides an analogous battery life, charging and digicam expertise. So when you worth both of these essentially the most, it can save you a couple of bucks and get the cheaper Pixel 7a.
- The higher show.
- The marginally longer battery life.
- The higher ergonomics.
- The 5 further years of OS updates.
- The higher audio system.
- The extra highly effective chipset.
Get the Google Pixel 8a for:
- The lower cost.
- The same digicam expertise and charging.
Get the Google Pixel 7a for: