Pixel a-Side Story: from 3a to 8a, the evolution of the Google Pixel ‘a’ series smartphones in 8 Points

It started out as Google’s take on the flagship killer range with great cameras, clean Android and assured updates, designed to take on the likes of the Redmi Note, and the Moto G, and then moved up the price ladder to become a sort of flagship killer, and now seems to have gone full premium with its latest avatar. The “a” variant of the Pixel has had quite a tech journey, switching designs and avatars as it has occupied different places in the Google Pixel product portfolio. Here’s the whole Google Pixel ‘a’ story in six points:

• At first, there were two, they were expensive and they were launched at the Google I/O…and they saved the Pixel range

Google’s tradition of launching the Pixel’s ‘a’ variant at its annual Google I/O conference goes back to the first Pixels in the series. Yes, we used plural, because on its debut, the Pixel a series had two variants. These were the Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL, and they were launched at the Google Pixel I/O on May 7th, 2019. The first two a series Pixels came in two sizes, just like the ‘proper’ Pixels, the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3XL, launched a few months before them. And they set a template for the a series in a way – they had broadly similar OLED display sizes to the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL, and looked like them too, with one compact and the other larger in size, with glossy tops on the back and very distinct spherical fingerprint scanners in the centre. However, they had plastic backs and frames and a slightly less premium feel about them.

Their biggest attractions were their 12.2-megapixel cameras that were very similar to the highly acclaimed ones seen on the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3XL. However, unlike the ‘normal’ Pixels which had two 8-megapixel front facing cameras, the a series devices only had a single front-facing camera. The cameras came with a number of features seen on the high-end Pixels such as astrophotography, super res zoom, top shot and Google Lens. Although these Pixels too came with clean Android like the ‘real’ Pixels, they were powered by the very mid-segment Qualcomm Snapdragon 670 processor, as compared to the top-of-the-line Snapdragon 845 that ran the show on the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL. The Pixel 3a was priced at USD 399, which was less than half of the $799 price tag of the Pixel 3, and even the Pixel 3a XL at $479 was much more affordable than the Pixel 3XL, which was priced at $899. The combination of terrific cameras, clean Android with regular updates (both a series phones got features from the Pixel 4 which was launched later that year) and relatively lower prices (especially in the US) made both phones runaway hits, doubling Google’s smartphone sales in Q2 2019. They are credited by many to have not just breathed new life into the Pixel range, but saved it from what had seemed like an early demise. A new chapter had been added to the Pixel story.

• And the complaints about Indian pricing started right away too

The Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL might have been runaway hits because of their pricing in the US, but their Indian prices of Rs 39,999 for the Pixel 3a and Rs 44,999 for the Pixel 3a XL, shocked many, as they were deemed expensive for devices with mid-segment chips. In fact, the OnePlus 6T, which featured the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chip that was seen in the high-end Pixel 3 and 3 XL, had been launched in India at Rs 37,999, which was lower than the Pixel 3a. The pricing of Pixel’s a variants would almost always generate a good deal of dispute in the Indian market.

• The Pixel 4a quietly goes mid-segment…and with a price tag India loved

When Google did not launch the Pixel 4a at the Google I/O in 2020, many felt that the brand might have shelved plans for it, in spite of the success of the Pixel 3a and 3a XL. However, in August, Google announced the Pixel 4a. There was no event, just a press release. There was no XL variant either, just a Pixel 4a. Just as the Pixel 3a resembled the Pixel 3, the 4a also broadly resembled the Pixel 4, but again with a less premium build – the back was plastic and the 5.81-inch display, although larger than the 5.7-inch one on the Pixel 4, only had Gorilla Glass 3 protection. Also while the Pixel 4 and the Pixel 4XL came with dual cameras, the Pixel 4a had a single 12.2-megapixel camera on the back, although this was similar to the main one on the others. The processor was once again a mid-segment one – the Snapdragon 730 and the display had a normal rather than a high refresh rate! This Pixel was however, a massive hit in India, as it was launched at Rs 29,999, which although high for its specifications was seen as being not only significantly lesser than its predecessor but also a great option for a Pixel, as the Pixel 4 and 4XL were never launched in India. In the US too, the Pixel 4a was priced at USD 349 well below the USD 399 for the Pixel 3a and USD 799 for the Pixel 4. Once again, the phone won rave reviews for its camera, for its compact size (a recurring theme with the a series), and for its surprisingly lower price. Some experts complained about the absence of 5G support – something Google was to fix surprisingly shortly.

• The first 5G, dual-camera Pixel a that surprised everyone

The Pixel 4a 5G is perhaps the one Pixel that no one actually saw coming. The Launch Night Event at the end of September 2020 was supposed to be about the Pixel 5. Google did launch the Pixel 5 (with no XL avatar though) at $599, but the real surprise was the launch of the Pixel 4a 5G. Do not go by the name – this was not the OG launched two months ago with 5G connectivity, but a very different device. Whereas the Pixel 4a had been broadly based on the design of the Pixel 4, its 5G successor took inspiration from the Pixel 5, although the lower-grade Gorilla Glass 3 on the display stayed as did the plastic back. It also came with a larger 6.2-inch OLED display and was the first a series Pixel to come with dual cameras – a 12.2-megapixel main and a 16-megapixel ultrawide, similar to the ones on the Pixel 5 itself. It even got a processor bump over the Pixel 4a, running on the more powerful but still mid-segment Qualcomm Snapdragon 765. At 153.9 mm, it was much taller than both the Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a, so much so that many nicknamed it the Pixel 4a XL! It also came at a much higher price than the Pixel 4a – USD 499 as compared to USD 349. Although highly anticipated, it was never released in India, but its price point would set a benchmark of sorts.

• The Pixel a which went all metal, and had the mother(board) of all issues

The a series Pixels have been known for their plastic backs. However, in August 2021, came the only Pixel a to buck this trend. The Pixel 5a launched via a press release like the Pixel 4a, with no event. It remains the only Pixel a to come with an aluminium frame as well as back. It also sported the largest display seen on an a series Pixel, a 6.34-inch OLED display, and the largest battery (4,680mAh). It retained many of the features of the Pixel 4a 5G, including the Snapdragon 765 processor, and the 12.2 + 16-megapixel dual camera set-up. Significantly, it was the first Pixel of the a series to come with dust and water resistance, an IP67 rating. All this at a price of $449, which was lower than the $499 of the Pixel 4a 5G, made the Pixel 5a seem like a great proposition. While it did some reasonable numbers, it was derailed by a number of issues, most notably motherboard failures for which Google provided an additional year’s warranty. It also did not quite fit in with the differently designed Pixel 6 and 6 Pro introduced a few months later, and is considered by some as the least successful Pixel with an a suffix tag. It never made it to the Indian market.

• Returning to the Google I/O, getting the flagship chip, and THAT camera bar design

The Pixel 6 and 6 Pro marked the arrival of a new Pixel era, with distinct designs complete with a camera bar at the back, new colours with funky names (Sorta Seafoam, Kinda Coral, etc.) and Google’s own Tensor processor. And Google I/O 2022 saw the Pixel not only return to the event, but also adopt a new avatar. It broadly borrowed the design of the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, complete with the very distinct camera bar, but also emerged as the most compact Pixel of the lot, with a smaller frame and display (6.1 inches) than the Pixel 6. While cameras remained a USP, the Pixel 6a had different cameras from the Pixel 6 – with a 12.2-megapixel main sensor and a 12-megapixel ultrawide, although the 8-megapixel selfie camera was similar to the one on the Pixel 6. The Pixel 6a also got an in-display fingerprint scanner, but out went the 3.5mm audio jack and the bundled charger.

The experiment with metal backs was given up, but the Pixel 6a still looked snazzy with a shiny plastic back in shades of chalk, charcoal and sage, and a metal frame. It retained its IP67 rating and Gorilla Glass 3 display protection, and came with the same price as the Pixel 5a, USD 449. However, the biggest change of all was the fact that this was the first Pixel a series phone to come with exactly the same processor as the higher-end Pixels – the Pixel 6a was powered by Google’s Tensor chip, enabling it to do many things just like the more expensive Pixels. Its price of Rs 43,999 was seen as expensive by some in India, but many felt the camera performance (which was again exceptional, now aided by Tensor smarts) made it worth it, especially as the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro were not released in India. The days of the Pixel a series running on a less powerful processor were over!

• Love comes in the seventh wave

The Google I/O 2023 saw the launch of the Pixel 7a. Although it got a slight price bump up to USD 499, its performance was so impressive that many considered it to be superior to the Pixel 7 released in late 2022. The Pixel 7a retained the same classically Pixel design and once again was the most compact of the Pixel 7 series, with a 6.1 inch display. It also ran on the same processor as the more expensive Pixel 7 and 7 Pro, the Tensor G2. There were however a number of improvements – the 6.1-inch display had a 90 Hz refresh rate and the in-display fingerprint scanner worked more smoothly than the ones on the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro. The main camera got a massive megapixel bump up to 64 megapixels with a 13-megapixel ultrawide on the back and a 13-megapixel selfie camera. The phone also got wireless charging, although at a very humble 7.5W (wired charging remained at 18W). IP67 dust and water resistance remained unchanged as did Gorilla Glass 3. Although its price went up to USD 499 in the US, it remained at Rs 43,999 in India, although many felt it should have been lower, given the gaming limitations of the Tensor processor and rumours of heating (thanks to the Pixel 7) as well as the presence of a number of flagship killing devices at comparable prices (the OnePlus 11R at Rs 39,999 for instance). The Pixel 7a’s excellent camera performance, Tensor chip and better fingerprint scanner, however, made many recommend it above the Pixel 7 which was available for Rs 59,999, but had been beset with a number of issues including heating and an inconsistent fingerprint sensor. The Pixel 7a also got some very attractive colours – charcoal, snow, sea and the very eye-catching coral. Not everyone liked its price in India, but almost everyone loved its design and performance (and those cameras).

• ‘a’ for AI, but at ‘a’ premium price!

The Pixel 8a was widely expected at the Google I/O 2024 got underway, and sure as clockwork, it was launched. It retained the USD 499 price tag of the Pixel 7a and its compact frame, as well as its Gorilla Glass 3 protected display, metal frame and IP67 rating, but came with a better and brighter 6.1-inch OLED display with 120Hz refresh rate. The camera megapixel count was the same as on the Pixel 7a but performance was much better with brighter colours. The battery was bigger although charging speeds remained a little sluggish. But what made the Pixel 8a most special was the fact that thanks to its Tensor G3 processor (similar to the one on the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro), it came with close to the same amount of AI muscle that its more expensive siblings did. You could use Google’s Gemini as well as a number of AI editing tools and tweaks, letting you do everything from creating wallpapers to writing emails to transcribing notes and providing search and note summaries. The Pixel 8a also comes with seven years of assured updates (just like the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro), which means it is likely to keep getting new AI features in the coming days, making it future-proof to an extent. The catch is that although its USD price has not gone up, the Pixel 8a is priced in India at Rs 52,999, which is a big step up from the Rs 43,999 of the Pixel 7a. The coming days will reveal whether all the AI magic the Pixel 8a brings is worth this price hike, which is being heavily debated. Just as it was in 2019 when the Pixel 3a and 3a XL were launched in India. We do not see those price debates changing, although the Pixel a is likely to continue to do so!

The post Pixel a-Side Story: from 3a to 8a, the evolution of the Google Pixel ‘a’ series smartphones in 8 Points first appeared on 91mobiles.com.

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