6 months later, the Pixel 8a feels like a Google phone from another era

Typically, I’ll sit right down to overview a telephone, not realizing that it will likely be the final of its sort. I didn’t know that the Galaxy S23 Extremely can be the final time I’d use a Samsung telephone with a curved show, nor did I do know that Google would ditch its rear-mounted fingerprint sensor following the launch of the Pixel 5a. If I did, I might need proven these includes a bit extra love as a manner of claiming farewell.

Then, there are occasions if you notice {that a} telephone will bear vital modifications a lot sooner. Google’s Pixel 8a, for instance, is just six months previous, however I can already inform that we gained’t see one other telephone prefer it for a very long time. It’s not simply the up to date design that means issues are altering, both — I believe Google has modified what it means to be a Pixel gadget, making its most reasonably priced mannequin really feel like a throwback to a different age.

As quickly as I completed my preliminary Pixel 8a overview, I shipped the mid-ranger throughout the nation to my colleague C. Scott Brown. I went on to my subsequent overview, and he figured enjoying round with one in all Google’s extra reasonably priced choices may be enjoyable. Throughout that point, I forgot what it felt like to make use of one in all Google’s older designs, letting flattened aspect rails and premium supplies like titanium take their place in my thoughts. However, like all issues, the Pixel 8a discovered its manner again into my pocket earlier than lengthy, and when it did, I bought to find out how a lot I favored Google’s earlier Pixel design once more.

I returned to the Pixel 8a after spending the higher a part of the final two months with a Pixel 9 (or Pixel 9 Professional) in my pocket, and I figured they wouldn’t be too completely different. I used to be flawed. Nearly every part, from the construction of the digital camera bar to the form of the body to how the again panel meets that body, looks like a throwback on the 8a. Perhaps I shouldn’t name it a throwback when it was Google’s design normal only a yr in the past, however the change is outstanding.

Once I returned to the Pixel 8a, I had forgotten simply how spherical and pebble-like Google’s aluminum body was once. It meets the composite (learn plastic) again at a mild curve and continues to the flat 6.1-inch AMOLED panel with a comparatively thick bezel. The body holds different modifications, too, like the truth that Google beforehand positioned its buttons, ports, and speaker in direction of the rear of the telephone’s sides with a view to account for the again panel’s additional bump. Truthfully, that is one change I don’t thoughts, because the centered buttons on the Pixel 9 sequence look considerably extra premium.

Maybe probably the most vital change, although, in leaping from the Pixel 8a to the Pixel 9 and again once more is that I’d forgotten how a lot the digital camera bar has modified. When Google launched its now-iconic function on the Pixel 6 sequence, it unfold from one edge to the opposite, highlighting the cameras in one thing akin to a shiny visor. That design caught round for a number of years, just for Google to shrink it to a smaller, better-protected digital camera island on the Pixel 9 sequence. I nonetheless assume the brand new design seems good, don’t get me flawed, however I beloved the cut up look and the extra artistic colour choices that went with the complete visor.

Sadly, I believe the Pixel 8a falls brief in sturdiness. Positive, it has an IP67 ranking, so it’ll maintain water and dirt at bay, however each the composite again and Gorilla Glass 3 show picked up a number of scuffs and scrapes, but Scott and I’ve solely used the telephone for a fraction of the time we’ve had it.

It’s not simply the older {hardware} that I’ve needed to alter to whereas coming again to the Pixel 8a, both — the software program is extra completely different than I anticipated, too. Once I arrange my Pixel 8a for the second time, I ran by means of all of its obtainable updates, bringing the telephone to Android 15 earlier than I began to make use of it once more. At first, I figured it’d really feel near what I’d simply completed utilizing on the Pixel 9 Professional, however that’s not the case.

Whereas each telephones are operating Android 15 and have the “Pixel” branding, Google hasn’t precisely leveled the AI enjoying area for its whole lineup but. I fired up my Pixel 8a, anticipating entry to the brand new Pixel Climate app and questioning if I’d get Pixel Studio or Pixel Screenshots, solely to seek out out I had not one of the above. As a substitute, my Gemini expertise began with Gemini Stay and ended with Circle to Search. I nonetheless had the older, much less thrilling climate app, and my screenshots confirmed up in Google Photographs identical to they all the time had. Capturing a panorama required me to maintain my digital camera completely balanced between two horizontal strains, not like the Pixel 9’s new and improved panorama mode — simpler stated than achieved.

There are a number of extra AI-powered Gemini tips to attempt, however not many. The Pixel 8a packs digital camera options like Magic Editor, Audio Magic Eraser, and Face Unblur, however they’re not fairly on the extent you get with the Pixel 9 sequence. You are able to do different issues, like generate AI wallpapers based mostly on easy prompts and faucet into Stay Translate, however one thing is lacking. It seems just like the Pixel 8a desires to present you a free trial of Gemini, however it’s important to seize a flagship Pixel if you would like the entire expertise.

Fortunately, the replace to Android 15 did carry a number of thrilling new options to the Pixel 8a. Even when it hasn’t gained the distinctive Pixel choices like Climate, Screenshots, and Studio, it did snag improved safety features like Theft Detection Lock and Distant Lock, each of which make your Pixel 8a safer ought to it wind up out of your palms. In fact, these can be found on different Pixels and different telephones that may get Android 15, too, so added safety doesn’t assist the Pixel 8a sustain in opposition to Google’s ever-evolving flagships.

Finally, I noticed in returning to the Pixel 8a that Google has modified what it means to be a Pixel. When it launched the Pixel 6 sequence, it confirmed that it might have a hand in constructing a chipset and use it to gas a flagship expertise with out the flagship worth. Google then refined its providing with the Pixel 7 and Pixel 8 sequence, letting costs climb barely however sticking to its weapons in balancing energy and worth. All of the whereas, it stored the Pixel A sequence at an nearly impossibly good worth, pairing its newest Tensor chip with barely cheaper supplies to present you an expertise that far outweighed its mid-range price ticket and different cheaper telephones.

At launch, the Pixel 8a felt like a no brainer to suggest as a result of it completely match that mould. It arrived at a barely larger worth of $499, but it nonetheless undercut the Pixel 8 by a cushty $200 whereas providing the overwhelming majority of the identical expertise. It was the kind of worth that earned an Editor’s Alternative badge in our preliminary overview, garnering reward for its chipset, wealthy show, and stable battery life, all of which had been greater than sufficient to make up for using plastic and the underwhelming charging choices. I used to be even keen to seize the Pixel 8a over its flagship counterparts if the telephones had been at full worth, primarily since you might use these financial savings to select up a pair of Pixel Buds or most of a Pixel Watch.

Then, Google made its Pixel 8a a fair higher worth by elevating the value of the Pixel 9 sequence. All of a sudden, you had a $300 hole, making it potential to construct a fledgling sensible house with the cash saved by sticking with a mid-ranger. Or, at the least, that’s how I believed I’d really feel. I shortly realized that the Pixel 9 sequence had turn into costlier as a result of it had raised its sport to a brand new degree. Google had elevated its construct high quality to rival Apple and continued to steer the AI cost with the entire software program options I’d talked about above. It felt like Google had lastly mixed its {hardware} and software program in a manner it all the time wished to, but it surely left the Pixel 8a feeling only a bit too far behind.

It’s not all dangerous information, although. As they are saying, a rising tide lifts all ships, and I anticipate Google’s Pixel upgrades to trickle down sooner moderately than later. Whereas they may not carry the Pixel 8a totally on par with the Pixel 9 sequence, I believe they’ll get it nearer, and I believe they’ll arrange the eventual Pixel 9a for larger and higher issues. We’ve seen leaks that recommend the mid-ranger will observe the flagship’s design once more, and I can solely anticipate that it’s going to seize new software program options, too. This in all probability signifies that the Pixel 9a can be costlier when it arrives, but it surely’s a pure evolution for a telephone that may possible rival Samsung’s Fan Version providing moderately than its top-end Galaxy A tool.

When that day comes, I’ll in all probability mud off the Pixel 8a once more, solely to surprise how Google made so many modifications after only one yr.