Google Pixel 3a/XL – Redefining mid-range

Google seems to be attempting a return to the Nexus era with the Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL. A lot has changed in the smartphone industry since the last Nexus was released and Google has been on top of it all.

Despite that, it seems they are incapable of invoking that warm Nexus feeling among its user base. Even die-hard Pixel users will agree that apart from the audio jack that has made a hero’s return and Night Sight – a feature that is becoming common among even low-tier smartphones – there really isn’t much bang for buck here. The two tone design seems to be the only thing that Google is trying is do different.

Google is pitching its Google Assistant Call Screen feature for users in North America as a way of avoiding those pesky robocalls. And then there is the AR integrated Google Maps feature where directions will be overlaid on the world itself.

Oh, yes, and there is the unlimited storage and super-fast Android updates to be thankful for. But apart from these, there isn’t much to shell out $399 for the Pixel 3a.

Some Specs

Camera:

The Pixel 3 did win the DPreview award for Innovation of the Year in 2018. The same camera with some minor improvements is use in the 3a.

Google’s HDR+ tech with features like portrait mode, Super Res Zoom, and Night Sight help capture clear shots in low light. These features are available in other brands too but not at this price range. Given time, this is something that will change.

Rear Camera:

• 12.2 MP dual-pixel
• 1.4 μm pixel width
• Auto-focus with dual-pixel phase detection
• Optical + electronic image stabilisation
• ƒ/1.8 aperture
• 76° field of view

Front Camera:

• 8 MP
• 1.12 μm pixel width
• f/2.0 aperture
• Fixed focus
• 84° field of view

Display

This is an area where Google always kept expectations low.

Pixel 3a

• Full-screen 5.6″ display/142.2 mm display
• FHD+ (2220 x 1080) OLED at 441 ppi
• 18.5:9
• Always-on display
• Now Playing
• 100,000:1 super contrast ratio
• True black level
• Full 24-bit depth or 16 million colours
• D67 white point

Pixel 3a XL

• Full-screen 6.0″ display/152.4 mm display
• FHD+ (2160 x 1080) OLED at 402 ppi
• 18:9
• Always-on display
• Now Playing
• 100,000:1 super contrast ratio
• True black level
• Full 24-bit depth or 16 million colours
• D67 white point

Now Playing, you will recall is the Shazam like feature that you use to figure out what music is playing around you.

Battery

The Pixel 3a comes with a 3000 mAh battery while it is 3700 mAh for the XL variant. Both come with USB-C™ 18 W adaptor with USB-PD 2.0

Chipset

Qualcomm Snapdragon 670, 2.0GHz + 1.7GHz, Adreno 615, Titan M Security module.

No surprises here. A mid-range 64-bit ARM LTE system on chip for a mid-range phone.

Memory and storage

4 GB LPDDR4x RAM with 64GB storage. The low storage space is not a big letdown considering the unlimited storage offer on Google cloud.

Connectivity

• GSM/EDGE: Quad-band (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
• UMTS/HSPA+/HSDPA: Bands 1/2/4/5/8
• CDMA EVDO Rev A: BC0/BC1/BC10
• LTE: Bands 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/17/20/25/26/28/32/38/40/41/66
• eSIM

Sensors

• Active Edge™ ⁸
• Proximity/Ambient light sensor
• Accelerometer/Gyrometer
• Magnetometer

• Pixel Imprint™ – back-mounted fingerprint sensor for fast unlocking
• Barometer
• Android Sensor Hub
• Haptics

All in all, despite the lack of originality – at this price, there isn’t much the user can demand – the Google Pixel 3a/XL might be a decent buy after all.
In some ways, Google has gone above and beyond what we expect a mid-range phone to be.