Google Pixel 8A Impressions: Just Get The 8!

Summary

The video discusses Google's new budget phone, the Pixel 8A, which maintains a $500 price point while offering several improvements over its predecessor. The phone features a slightly larger battery, a new Tensor G3 chip, and a display upgrade to 120Hz, with a peak brightness increase of 40%. The Pixel 8A retains the same camera sensor as the 7A but introduces new colors and a matte texture. The device also supports Gemini Nano, which is Google's latest AI assistant, creating some inconsistency with the Google Assistant. Despite these enhancements, the Pixel 8A is compared to the Pixel 8, which offers a better display, camera, battery, and charging capabilities for a slightly higher price. The video also mentions dbrand's hydro dip skins, which provide a unique look without adding bulk to the device.

Takeaways

• 📱 Google's new budget phone, the Pixel 8A, maintains a simple design with a few key improvements.
• 💸 Priced at $500, it fits into the mid-range category without being a flagship device.
• 📈 The Pixel 8A has a slightly larger battery, going from 4385 mAh to just over 4400 mAh.
• 🔋 Retains wireless charging capabilities and is IP67 rated for water and dust resistance.
• 🖥 Upgraded to the new Tensor G3 chip from last year's flagships, offering decent performance.
• 🚀 Offers 128GB of storage with a new option for a 256GB version.
• 📺 The display has been improved with a peak brightness 40% higher and a dynamic refresh rate up to 120Hz.
• 📷 Cameras are mostly unchanged from the Pixel 7A but still offer high-quality images.
• 📲 Comes with Google's smart AI features, including Call Assist, Pixel VPN, and Magic Eraser.
• 🔍 Google is developing two separate assistants with overlapping capabilities, which may lead to future consolidation.
• 💰 Compared to the Pixel 8, the Pixel 8A does not offer a significant price advantage, making the Pixel 8 a potentially better deal.

Q & A

What is the price of Google's new budget phone, the Pixel 8A?

The Pixel 8A is priced at $500.

What are the main design changes in the Pixel 8A compared to its predecessor?

The main design change in the Pixel 8A includes slightly more rounded edges, giving it a distinct look, and new color options with a matte texture.

What is the battery capacity of the Pixel 8A?

The Pixel 8A has a slightly larger battery capacity compared to the 7A, going from 4385 milliamp hours to just over 4400 milliamp hours.

What new chip does the Pixel 8A use, and what is known about its capabilities?

The Pixel 8A is equipped with the new Tensor G3 chip, which is also used in last year's flagships, indicating it is decently capable but may be a little inefficient.

What are the storage options available for the Pixel 8A?

The Pixel 8A starts at 128GB of storage, and for the first time, a 256GB version is also being offered.

How has the display been improved on the Pixel 8A?

The Pixel 8A features an improved display with a peak brightness 40% higher than its predecessor and a refresh rate that can go up to 120Hz, compared to 90Hz on the previous model.

What is the Pixel 8A's refresh rate setting out of the box?

The Pixel 8A's refresh rate is set to 60Hz out of the box, but users can manually adjust it to a dynamic rate up to 120Hz in the settings.

What is the Pixel 8A's position in the market compared to other Pixel phones?

The Pixel 8A is a mid-range phone with a solid set of features and is positioned as a budget version of the Pixel line, offering great software and camera capabilities.

What are the concerns raised about the Pixel 8A in terms of Google's AI assistants?

The concerns raised include the inconsistency and potential confusion caused by having two separate but overlapping AI assistants, Gemini and Google Assistant, on the Pixel 8A.

How does the Pixel 8A compare to the Pixel 8 in terms of price and features?

The Pixel 8A is priced at $500, which is not significantly cheaper than the Pixel 8, that can be found for around $550. The Pixel 8 offers a higher quality display, better cameras, a larger battery, faster charging, and an IP68 rating.

What is the reviewer's recommendation for those interested in personalizing their Pixel 8A?

The reviewer suggests using dbrand skins, which add no thickness to the device but can significantly change its look and feel.

What is the reviewer's final verdict on the Pixel 8A?

The reviewer considers the Pixel 8A a solid mid-range phone with all the expected features from a Pixel device. However, they also note that its pricing makes it a less attractive option compared to the slightly more expensive Pixel 8.

Outlines

00:00

📱 Introduction to Google Pixel 8A: Mid-Range Marvel

The video introduces Google's new budget phone, the Pixel 8A, highlighting its similarities with last year's model and its key improvements. The phone is noted to be in the mid-range category, priced at $500, and is recognized for its simple design with rounded edges and new color options. It retains its wireless charging and camera sensor from the previous model but introduces a new matte texture and slightly larger battery. Internally, it's upgraded to the Tensor G3 chip and offers increased storage options, including a 256 GB version. The display has been improved with higher peak brightness and a dynamic refresh rate up to 120 HZ. The Pixel 8A also boasts of advanced software features like AI capabilities, call assist, and Google's Magic Eraser, along with a promise of seven years of updates. The camera quality is praised, referencing the high rating of its predecessor in a blind smartphone camera test.

05:02

💲 Pixel 8A Pricing and Comparison with Pixel 8

The speaker expresses concerns about the Pixel 8A's pricing, noting that it is not significantly cheaper than the Pixel 8, which was named phone of the year and is available for just $550. The Pixel 8 is highlighted to have a better display, camera, battery, and charging capabilities, making the 8A seem overpriced in comparison. The Pixel 8A is described as a solid mid-range phone with all the expected Pixel features, but the comparison with the Pixel 8 and the Pixel 8 Pro raises questions about its value proposition. The video also mentions the availability of dbrand skins for customization, which are thin and do not add bulk to the device, and come in various colors for a unique look.

Keywords

💡Pixel 8A

Pixel 8A is Google's new budget phone, which represents the main subject of the video. It is a mid-range device that aims to offer a balance between cost and features. The video discusses its design, specifications, and improvements over the previous model, the Pixel 7A.

💡Mid-range

The term 'mid-range' refers to products that are positioned between the economy and high-end segments of the market. In the context of the video, the Pixel 8A is described as a mid-range phone, indicating that it offers features and performance that are a step up from budget models but do not match the premium level of flagship devices.

💡Design

Design in the video refers to the physical appearance and styling of the Pixel 8A. The reviewer notes a change from the previous model with more rounded edges, giving it a distinct look. The design is significant as it contributes to the user experience and brand recognition.

💡Wireless Charging

Wireless charging is a feature that allows the phone to be charged without the need for a wired connection. The video mentions that the Pixel 8A retains this feature from its predecessor, which is a convenience factor for users who value the ease of wireless charging.

💡Tensor G3 Chip

The Tensor G3 chip is the processor used in the Pixel 8A, which powers the device's performance. It is an upgraded version from the previous year's flagship phones, suggesting that the Pixel 8A offers improved processing capabilities, which is a key aspect for users interested in speed and efficiency.

💡Storage Options

Storage options refer to the different capacities of internal memory available for the Pixel 8A. The video highlights that the phone starts with 128GB of storage and, for the first time, offers a 256GB version. This is important for users who require more space for apps, photos, and other data.

💡Display

The display is the screen of the Pixel 8A, which has been improved from the previous model. The video mentions a new actua display with 40% higher peak brightness and a refresh rate that can go up to 120Hz, enhancing the visual experience for users, especially when outdoors or using the phone for gaming and video playback.

💡Software Features

Software features refer to the operating system and additional applications that come pre-installed on the Pixel 8A. The video emphasizes Google's smart AI features like Call Assist, Pixel VPN, and Magic Eraser, which are significant for users who value advanced functionality and convenience in their devices.

💡Speech-to-Text

Speech-to-text is a feature that converts spoken language into written text. The video praises the Pixel 8A for having one of the best speech-to-text transcription speeds and accuracies, which is beneficial for users who rely on this functionality for tasks like note-taking or drafting messages.

💡

💡Updates

Updates refer to the ongoing software support provided by Google for the Pixel 8A, including OS updates, security updates, and feature drops. The video mentions a commitment to seven years of updates, which is a significant selling point for users who value longevity and ongoing support for their devices.

💡Camera

The camera is a key component of the Pixel 8A, and the video discusses its capabilities, noting that it is largely unchanged from the Pixel 7A but still offers high-quality performance. The Pixel 7A had received the highest ELO rating in a recent blind smartphone camera test, setting a high expectation for the Pixel 8A's camera performance.

💡Gemini Nano

Gemini Nano is a new feature enabled on the Pixel 8A that allows AI processing to occur locally on the device. The video expresses concern about the potential inconsistency and overlap with Google's other AI assistant, Google Assistant, suggesting that having two separate AI systems might be confusing for users and could lead to a need for consolidation in the future.

💡Price Comparison

Price comparison is a consideration mentioned in the video when evaluating the Pixel 8A against its predecessor, the Pixel 8. The reviewer notes that the Pixel 8A, priced at $500, is not significantly cheaper than the Pixel 8, which can be found for around $550, leading to a discussion about the value proposition and whether the improvements justify the price difference.

Highlights

The Pixel 8A is Google's new budget phone, maintaining a simple design with key improvements and the same $500 price point.

The phone features a slightly larger battery, going from 4385 milliamp hours to just over 4400.

The Pixel 8A retains wireless charging capabilities and an IP67 rating.

The device has a new Tensor G3 chip, offering decent capabilities and starting at 128GB of storage with a new 256GB option.

The display has been improved, now featuring an Actual Display with 40% higher peak brightness and a 120Hz refresh rate, up from 90Hz.

The Pixel 8A comes with great software, including smart AI features like Call Assist, Pixel VPN, and Magic Eraser audio.

The phone offers the best speech-to-text transcription speed and accuracy, allowing for fast and reliable typing.

The Pixel 8A promises seven years of updates, including OS, security, and feature drop updates.

The camera setup is mostly unchanged from the Pixel 7A, but it received the highest ELO rating in a recent blind smartphone camera test.

The first Pixel device to enable Gemini Nano, which operates locally on the device.

There is an inconsistency with different assistants on the Pixel phone, with Gemini and Google Voice search operating side by side.

The Pixel 8A is priced at $500, which is not much cheaper than the Pixel 8, which is currently priced at $550.

The Pixel 8 offers a better deal with thinner bezels, a brighter display, better cameras, a bigger battery, faster charging, and an IP68 rating.

The Pixel 8A is a solid mid-range phone with all the expected features from a Pixel device.

Channel sponsor dbrand offers hydro dip skins for the Pixel 8A, providing a unique look without adding thickness.

dbrand supports nearly 200 devices with their hydro dip skin, including phones, laptops, tablets, and consoles.

The Pixel 8A is a safe bet for Google or Pixel fans, offering a reliable mid-range experience.

Transcripts

all right so there is just one thing

that's starting to feel a little bit

weird with this new pixel but I'll get

to that by the end of this video let's

just start with the obvious stuff what's

actually new here so I just got some

Hands-On time with Google's new budget

phone the pixel 8A and I can confirm

they are mostly sticking to the script

here keeping it simple last year's phone

was already really good making a few key

improvements where it counts and keeping

the price the same $500 500 bucks isn't

cheap but it's also not a flagship it's

definitely in this nice little mid-range

territory and I feel like that pixel has

been slowly catching up their Hardware

to the rest of the competition in this

price point so at first glance it is

well pretty unmistakably a pixel with

the camera bar up top but there's a

little change there's a little bit more

rounded edges I really hope I'm not the

only one getting round SpongeBob vibes

from these corners but that's definitely

what I see but that's the main design

change back here and then also around

the back it's still got wireless

charging it still has the same main

camera sensor as the 7A with an ultra

wide next to it but now there's new

colors and this new matte texture so

there's a black and a white that are

called obsidian and Porcelain which look

pretty tame but then there's also a new

green and blue called aloe and Bay and

they are definitely more vibrant the

rails and the camera bar are all

aluminum still it's still IP67 rated and

then there's a slightly larger battery

but I mean it's we're talking very

slight here I think it goes from 4385

milliamp hours to just over 40 4400 but

it still has wireless charging too then

on the inside it's been bumped up to the

new tensor G3 chip from last year's

flagships so we know it's decently

capable if a little inefficient but then

it'll also start at 128 gigs of storage

but for the first time they're also

going to offer a 256 gig version of the

aone as well and then around the front

an improved display so it's the same

size still 6.1 in still has the middle

hole punch cut out for the selfie camera

still has an optical fingerprint reader

but it's now an actua display so the

peak brightness is 40% higher than

before and I think it's noticeable this

is one of those things that makes a big

difference to everyday life and

usability just being able to see it

outdoors and it's now a ped that gets up

to 120 HZ instead of the 90 HZ like last

year now before you even type it I know

a lot of people are going to argue

immediately this is not something that

makes much of a difference to most pixel

buyers and you're right in fact many of

them will not notice this Improvement

just because smooth display is actually

off Again by default so it's a 60 HZ

phone out the box and then you have to

know to go into the settings and turn it

on knowing it'll impact battery life and

then even once you do it's not like

locked at 120 HZ it's Dynamic up to 120

HZ so I played around with this phone

for a little bit it did feel very smooth

to me it feels nice at 120 HZ so I'm

personally happy about that change but I

won't dwell on about it for too much

longer so from there you already know

what a pixel is right this is the

mid-range SL budget version of the phone

with great software like this is the one

with the really smart AI features like

call assist and pixel VPN and Magic

Eraser audio and all kinds of other

classic Google features it's the one

with easily the best speech to text

transcription speed and accuracy I've

ever used on a phone it's reliable

enough to just write whatever you want

emails texts notes whole paragraphs as

fast as you want it's also the one

that's promised seven years of updates

OS updates security updates feature drop

updates and it's the one with really

good cameras mostly basically unchanged

from last year but all the pixel 7A did

was literally get the highest ELO rating

on our recent blind smartphone camera

test with millions of votes up against

other top tier Flagship phones so I'd

say that's a pretty good Baseline so it

seems like a pretty safe bet pretty easy

bet if you're a Google or pixel fan but

I'll just say here are my worries with

this pixel so first of all this is the

first as series device that they're

going to enable Gemini Nano on and Nano

is the one that can go locally on the

device entirely which is great they're

probably going to make a big deal about

it at the event and talk about it more

at Google IO and all this stuff but

there's also now like this weird

inconsistency with different assistants

on the pixel phone it's not even just

this phone but now you've got the Gemini

app like showing off prominently on the

home screen on these pixel 8 a which is

the latest available and most capable

voice and multimodal AI search that they

have but then the Google search page

right next to the home screen if you tap

the mic there that's going to a totally

separate but also very capable Google

Voice search with Google Assistant

Google is literally now developing two

different assistance side by side with

overlapping but not fully congruent

capabilities is just a little weird a

little inconsistent and we saw it coming

and we knew this would happen but I

think they'll eventually have to

consolidate them all into one I think

Gemini will do everything at some point

but then hey I guess the other thing to

keep in mind is the price so again it's

this phone's launch for $500 US

mid-range phone mid-range price

everything seems reasonable here but let

me remind you you can still buy last

year's phone of the Year brand new pixel

8 for 550 bucks so this 8A right now is

not that much cheaper than the 8 and if

you do go with the eight while it is a

couple months old now sure you're also

getting a phone with thinner bezels and

a brighter higher quality display

arguably even better cameras with bigger

sensors a bigger battery faster charging

ip68 and it's the same tensor G3 like is

that not a way better feeling deal I

mean if you can find one used that's

even better pixel 8 was just such a good

phone for that price that it makes

phones both more and less expensive feel

like worse buys like I talked about how

pixel 8 Pro feels like such a hard sell

cuz it's $250 more but now it also kind

of makes the pixel 8A look a little too

high priced so either way I'm sure pixel

9 and 9 Pro when they come out will

shake things up but uh as of right now

pixel 8A is just it's a solid mid-ranger

solid it's got all the stuff you kind of

already know you're getting from a pixel

and if you also plan on picking one of

these up then Channel sponsor dbrand

also has you covered with their hydro

dip skins now I've been using dbrand

skins literally since 2013 so that's

over a decade now uh and the biggest

thing for me is they basically add no

thickness obviously to the device like a

case wood but they can still totally

change the look and feel now Beyond just

the pixel skin and case dbrand also

supports with the hydro dip skin almost

200 devices so there's phones but also

laptops tablets consoles you name it and

there's four colorways of this one so

Gold Rush solar flare toxic waste and

cotton candy I'm thinking Gold Rush is

the best looking one out of the bunch

like I'm into the black white and gold

combo super clean but honestly they all

look pretty unique so if you have a

favorite I'll leave a link down below so

you can grab one for yourself but yeah

that's basically it let me know what you

think of pixel 8A versus pixel 8 in this

weird 6mon release stage thing Google's

doing I'll check the comments either way

thanks for watching catch you guys in

the next one peace

[Music]