Google Releases Pixel 3a
Starting at $400, the Pixel 3a and 3aXL brings one of this generation’s best cameras to the high end of the budget phone category.
By Shainur Ahsan
New Pixel 3a
The Pixel 3a has been expected since early this year after leaks about the phone became rampant across the web. Everyone knew the 3a would be a lower cost version of the 3, and many expected that the new phone would keep some of the great features that gave the Pixel its fame. Today, Google announced the Pixel 3a and 3aXL. I’ll breakdown my thoughts on the 3a model below. The 3aXL is very similar to the 3a with the main differences being a larger screen and battery.
The Pixel 3a has decent key specs for its price range (listed below). Many of the major companies that put out flagship phones, simply do not have a comparable product at the lower price point. As can be expected, the processor has been downgraded to a lower end Snapdragon and some nice features of the Pixel 3 have been removed. However, possibly the best feature, the amazing camera, remains on the phone. Many reviewers are finding the differences between the 3a and 3 camera to be almost indiscernable. one of the nicest features of the 3a is a headphone jack – something that neither the 3 or 3XL has. See below for some of the notable differences. Overall, Google has managed to put out quite a nice phone at the $400 price point.
Key Specs
- Snapdragon 670
- 4 GB Ram
- 12.2 MP Rear Camera
- 3000 mAh Battery
- 3.5mm Headphone Jack
Missing Features
- Wireless Charging
- Unlimited Photo Storage (at original quality)
- Wide-angle Selfie Lens
- Water-resistance
What the Pixel 3a will mean for the smarphone Market
With the last wave of sales of the Pixel 2XL, the new inventory of the last generation Pixel phones is almost non-existant. Google can now focus on the current generation of Pixels. With the new models, Google re-enters a market it had not participated in since the Nexus line. As someone who shopped for and owned a phone in the budget range, I can tell you one of the largest pain points is getting a decent camera. The camera is usually the weakest features of budget phones. In the age of social media, I can see a large amount of younger buyers wanting the excellent camera at the lower price range. Although the quality of photos may be downgraded, many will appreciate the unlimited photo storage. With the price of phones slowly creeping upward, it’s great to see a company trying to cater to customers at a lower price range. Google also announced the Pixel 3a will be sold at Sprint, Tmobile, US Cellular, and AT&T in addition to Verizon. Although the Pixel line hasn’t had record breaking sales numbers in the past, the new 3a and 3aXL models have a strong chance of doing well this year. I can see customers wanting to stay within the Pixel line for future purchases to keep enjoying their large library of photos stored in Google’s cloud.