Google’s Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL smartphones are now official. As expected, the Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL are the company’s less expensive Pixel 3 handsets with which the company aims at creating a new ‘entry-premium’ segment.
The new devices are said to feature imaging capability, security and battery backup similar to the flagship Pixel 3 phones. However, they are running on less-powerful processors and sport a comparatively less-premium build and design.
Instead of glass, like the Pixel 3, both the Pixel 3a and the Pixel 3a XL sports a polycarbonate unibody build, which features a dual-tone design. The two phones are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 670 SoC and come with 4GB RAM and 64GB of internal storage. Similar to the original Pixel 3, the new handsets also come equipped with the Titan M security module.
The phones differ in their display as the Pixel 3a sports a 5.6-inch Full HD+ gOLED display with a 2220 x 1080p resolution, while the Pixel 3a XL gets a bigger 6-inch Full HD+ gOLED panel with a 2160 x 1080p resolution. The displays on both the phones are protected by Dragon Tail and support Always-On and the Now Playing features.
The battery capacity on the two phones also varies as the Pixel 3a is backed by a 3000mAh cell that is touted to deliver up to 12 hours of video playback. On the other hand, the Pixel 3a XL runs on a 3700mAh battery that is touted to deliver up to 14 hours of video playback. The phones feature a USB Type-C port and support 18W fast charging.
The two phones also share the same optics. Pixel 3a and the Pixel 3a XL feature a 12.2MP Sony IMX363 sensor on the rear, which is paired with an f/1.8 aperture lens. On the front is an 8MP sensor with f/2.0 aperture lens and 84-degree field of view. The camera is touted to feature similar imaging prowess as the more expensive Google Pixel 3 smartphone and borrow some of its best features like Night Sight, Top Shot, Portrait Mode, Super Res Zoom, HDR+ capture and more.
The main camera on both phones are capable of recording 4K video at 30fps, 1080p video at 30fps, 60fps and 120fps, and 720p video at 30fps, 60fps and 240fps. The front camera can record 1080p videos at 30fps, 720p videos at 30fps and 480p videos at 30fps.
The Active Edge feature to call up the Google Assistant by squeezing the sides of the phone is also present. The phones come equipped with stereo speakers, are single SIM phones with support for an e-SIM and run on the latest Android 9 Pie OS.
Google Pixel 3a and Google Pixel 3a XL Specifications
| Category | Google Pixel 3a | Google Pixel 3a XL |
|---|---|---|
| Operating System | Android 9 Pie | Android 9 Pie |
| Display | 5.6-inch OLED 2220 x 1080 (18.5:9) |
6.0-inch OLED 2160 x 1080 (18:9) |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 670 2.0GHz + 1.7GHz Octa-core, 64-bit |
Qualcomm Snapdragon 670 2.0GHz + 1.7GHz Octa-core, 64-bit |
| RAM | 4GB | 4GB |
| Storage | 64GB | 64GB |
| Rear Camera | 12.2MP Sony IMX363 1.4μm pixels, f/1.8 OIS + EIS 76° field of view |
12.2MP Sony IMX363 1.4μm pixels, f/1.8 OIS + EIS 76° field of view |
| Front Camera | 8MP 1.12μm pixels, f/2.0 84° field of view |
8MP 1.12μm pixels, f/2.0 84° field of view |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 2.4 + 5GHz 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac 2×2 MIMO Bluetooth 5.0, NFC |
Wi-Fi 2.4 + 5GHz 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac 2×2 MIMO Bluetooth 5.0, NFC |
| Ports | USB-C 3.5mm headphone |
USB-C 3.5mm headphone |
| Audio | Stereo speakers AptX HD |
Stereo speakers AptX HD |
| Security | Rear fingerprint sensor | Rear fingerprint sensor |
| Battery | 3000 mAh 18W fast charging |
3700 mAh 18W fast charging |
| Dimensions | 151.3 x 70.1 x 8.2 mm 147 g |
160.1 x 76.1 x 8.2 mm 167 g |
| Security Updates | Minimum 3 years of security updates | Minimum 3 years of security updates |
| OS Updates | Minimum 3 years of OS updates | Minimum 3 years of OS updates |
