Pixel 3a and 3a XL: flagship camera inside midrange devices

You probably remember the Nexus series, at that time, Google was betting on accessible mobile phones to bring Android in its essence for the largest audience possible, but this eventually changed with the arrival of the generation Pixel. The latest releases of the brand, such as the Pixel 3 XL, were aimed at competing with top-of-the-line smart phones from leading manufacturers. Now Google goes back to the mid-tier segments with the new Pixel 3a and 3a XL. Do we have here the best combination of hardware, Android updates and price without losing the magic camera that made the line famous? That’s what you’ll find out with Tudor Cellular! Unlike the old Nexus smart phones, these are not premium priced models but only a watered-down version of the current Google flagships. 

And what do you lose by paying less for it? The first change is in build quality - the metal and glass are off in the back and the good old plastic returns. The design has been kept and we even have a colored power button in the 3a XL. The rear has two finish types: shiny plastic at the top, while on the bottom is matte. The new phones are larger than the current flagships due to the wider edges. Fortunately, Google has not adopted that strange giant notch we saw in 3 XL, but it is undeniable that this detail seems well outdated by now. In addition to the change in materials used, new smart phones also lose protection against water bus in return; they bring the p2 input for earphones. A second front speaker was thrown closer to the USB connection. The screen remains OLED with vivid colors, but the Gorilla Glass protection gave way to the Dragon Trail glass, an inferior solution common in Sony smart phones and that scratches with a certain ease. Support for HDR videos is also out here. The delivered brightness stays on the same level as the more expensive models, is high enough to ensure a good experience in open places but seeing content on the screen in direct sunlight can be tricky. 

The sound is stereo but not as engaging due to the placement of the second loudspeaker - the good news is that the sound power exceeds the more expensive models, but do not force the volume to the maximum, as the audio begins to distort in the bass. With the Pixel 3a and 3a XL you get bundled earphones with the P2 standard. The quality is decent, but it tends to deliver a half-muffled sound. Overall, the sound quality does not differ much from the more sophisticated one, that comes bundled with the more expensive handsets - and these are even more comfortable. And the performance is it good? Google switched from Snapdragon 845 to 670 to reduce costs but this did not do very well for their new smart phones. They are slower than the vast majority in this category and stand behind even cheaper Chinese models, such as the Homophone F1. Even if the Pixel 3a and 3a XL have the same processor and amount of memory, the smaller version has worse ram management. In benchmark we have good numbers, which shows that it is more of an Android optimization problem than gross power itself. 

Something that is not exactly new in the pixel line. Both deliver great gaming performance - the lower resolution screen requires less of the weaker GPU of these models. Google’s cell phones were never referenced when it comes to battery. The new models bring a greater capacity and, because they have weaker hardware, the performance is better. The Pixel 3a XL is the one that delivers better autonomy of the two, with a difference of more than three hours of duration and similar use but even with the Pixel 3a, its possible to spend all day out of the house without worrying about the battery, as long as you do not require much of the device. If you like to game or watch many videos we recommend investing in the larger version - but keep in mind that it spends a little more time in the socket to recharge. As expected, the new Pixel come out of the box with the latest version of Android, the 9 Pie. Both models are also part of the beta program and will receive updates from Android Q. The final version is expected for the third quarter and will arrive on these two models before the smart phones of other manufacturers. 

Features are exactly the same as the most expensive Google phones - here you’re not penalized for paying less. Even the controls when tightening the sides of the handset are available; we only wish the memory management Was good enough to keep more applications opened at the same time. Let’s hope that Google will fix this with the launch of the next Android. The Pixel 3 is reference when the subject is photography and Google kept the same sensor of the most expensive models In these two here. On the front is a bit different - secondary camera (ultra-wide) comes out and, in its place, Google has left only one camera, but with a wider lens. The camera app is also the same, including the much-praised Night Mode which destroys the competition - and that exactly what we saw here with the new Pixels.

By having the same hardware, it was expected to see the same quality in photos, both Pixel 3a and 3a XL shoot detailed images with good balance between contrast stiffness. But sometimes it registers darker shadows than they usually are. The colors are well represented with cooler white balance, while usually Samsung's smart phones tend to go to the warmer tones. In low-light scenarios, the new devices do well - with images lighter than most of the segment and low noise level; but its in the dark that the Pixels really stand out. It may seem unfair to compare the $400 smart phone with other ones that cost twice as much, but that precisely why the Pixel 3a impresses. It captures a high level of detail and without losing focus in poorly lit environments. The difference is very large compared to what the Galaxy S10e and iPhone XR deliver. It is clear that Google did not want to sacrifice the photographic experience by reducing the price and this will undoubtedly be the biggest highlight. 

Portrait mode is also present here and works just as well as in Pixel 3.The effect may be a little overdone at times, but you can adjust the intensity even after capturing the photo. The front camera tends to deliver images more grainy than the Pixel 3, especially if you take photos against the light - but even so, the night mode helps; it not only leaves the selfish with a more balanced lighting but also reduces the noise on the image, but in return we lose a bit of sharpness. In the recording department, poor performance was inherited from the Pixel 3 - as it could not be otherwise. So if this is a feature you want to have maximum quality, the rivals are at an advantage. Are there more interesting options than the new Pixels in the national market? The Homophone F1 may be an alternative, it is a Xiao mid-range with flagship hardware.

But it delivers lower performance on camera - its Cpu performance is better and the battery just stays below the Pixel 3a XL. If you are looking for an amazing camera and a more affordable price tag, then you should have considered the Galaxy S10e and the XR iPhone, right? At that point Google still dominates and the new Pixels are not below the most expensive models of these series Regarding photo quality Here you have better results than the Samsung and Apple models. Google made sacrifices with its new smart phones to deliver the photographic quality of the Pixels at a more affordable price. And the company succeeded! What wave seen is that you pay half of what Samsung and Apple asks for in their flagships, and get a much better camera. One point that improved was the battery, which yields more on those two than the more expensive versions - but the performance could be better. There is a lot of Chinese cell phones out there that are faster, as is the case with the Homophone F1. The new pixels are great mid range option - plus the amazing camera, you’ll still have anticipated access To new versions of Android, with updates guaranteed for at least three years. It’s a shame that the new Pixels are not officially sold here yet, but if you’re willing to import Its good to think of these two as a good option. For more details of the Pixel 3A and 3A XL you can check tudocelular.com by accessing the links that are there in the description. Take advantage of space below and leave you’re the comment telling us what dp you think of Google’s new strategy. I’m Wesley Morales and I’m staying here. See you next time, a big hug.

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