Pixel 8a Review: My 365 Day Verdict on the Mid Range King?

It's been a full year since I got my hands on the Google Pixel 8a in that beautiful Bay Blue. My journey with Google phones goes way back to 2016 when my dad had a Nexus 5X, and I've always loved the pure, stock Android experience. After finding a deal for around ₹30,000, My dad got it for me. A year later, here are my thoughts.

What I Absolutely Loved

The first thing you notice is the design and screen. The Bay Blue colour is fantastic, and the display is absolutely incredible. The colours are so beautiful and vibrant, it's a joy to look at. Paired with the surprisingly great speakers, listening to music at full volume is a fantastic experience.

But the real magic of a Pixel is the software. Getting the latest updates promptly and having that clean, bloat free (Google Bloat > Other Bloat) interface is something I've really enjoyed. It’s a definite quality jump from my old OnePlus 5T, and I’ve had no network issues either it’s been solid.

And then there are the cameras. For subjects that are close up, the photos are simply stunning. I would say I've taken some of the best photos with this phone.

Room for Improvement

No phone is perfect, especially at this price. The battery is just alright. It gets me through most of my day, but I find myself topping it up whenever I get the chance. The phone also tends to get a little warmer than I'd like, but it's nothing compared to the older pixels.

My biggest complaint is the zoom. The lack of a telephoto lens is very noticeable, and zoomed in shots are quite bad. I also feel the night photos could be quite bad sometimes.

Final Verdict: 8/10

For the price I paid, the Pixel 8a has delivered in every area that matters most to me. It's a solid 8/10. It's left me excited about the Pixel ecosystem, and I'd love to see what the latest Pixel 10 Pro has to offer.