Google Pixel 8a - Long Term, REAL WORLD Review!

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  • Опубліковано 5 лют 2025

КОМЕНТАРІ • 456

  • @arranpbrown
    @arranpbrown  5 місяців тому +11

    What do you think of this phone? Let me know down below 👇
    You can buy any of the products in this video using the links below (note: these are Amazon affiliate links and I may earn a small commission on any purchase you make):
    Google Pixel 8a: geni.us/BFyyR
    Pixel 8a Official Case: geni.us/1EEZdMA
    Google Pixel 8: geni.us/cn8ArA
    Pixel 8 Official Case: geni.us/Jwve

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  5 місяців тому +1

      Yeah, I've not had too many issues with the signal reception, but the modem certainly affects the battery life! And yes, way faster charging is certainly available on other phones!

    • @h_a-www
      @h_a-www 5 місяців тому

      I like android but not pixel phones. Samsung and OneUI works for me.
      Once I had 3a.. its resell value after 2 yrs was... £0.. Tried selling on ebay, no one bought it.

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  5 місяців тому +2

      Fair enough - I definitely prefer the Pixels to Samsung phones (I previously had an S22), mainly because of the software experience on the Pixels, but I didn't dislike the experience on Samsung - I just prefer the stock Android on Pixel!

    • @AndrewTSq
      @AndrewTSq 5 місяців тому +2

      At 5G the phone gets very hot, and battery drains quickly. My daughter often tells me its hard to hear me in the phone, never said anything like that on any other phone I have had. Camera is bad, no macro functionality. The USB-C port on mine is already bad. If I accidently touch the cable while connected to data like android auto, it disconnects. same with 3 other cables I have tried. I will go back to Samsung when my contract runs out. Had have different Samsungs since I bought a Note 2.. not one single problem. 5G on my samsung used as much battery as 4G.. like the other day on my Pixel, it was at 100% battery. My internet went down, so I put it on share data as a acces point. later at the evening, 27% battery left lol. Software is way worse on Pixel than Samsung. Many of the apps renders the text the wrong way, or behind menus etc, so you can not click on things etc. For example happens in Duolingo, the bank app (which is a pain when it happens) and many others. Never seen that on Samsung.

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  5 місяців тому +2

      Thanks for sharing your experience, although sorry it's not been a good one by the sounds of it 😔 I've got to say, I've not experienced any of the things you mentioned apart from the fairly mediocre battery life, especially when using mobile data. And yes, the camera doesn't have any macro capability - maybe Google needs to make that more obvious to people. It's not something I really ever use, but it sounds like plenty of other people care about that missing feature from the camera!

  • @Howard20
    @Howard20 5 місяців тому +39

    Excellent superior review. You kept to the basics understanding that the average person who buys a light version of a phone doesn't need or use some of the more specialized features that more expensive phones offer.

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  5 місяців тому +3

      Thanks Howard! I try and keep it relevant for the average user, so I'm glad you've picked up on that! Thanks for watching! 🙂

  • @vesanius1
    @vesanius1 5 місяців тому +163

    I was thinking of getting Pixel 9, but after seeing it being 949 € today I decided that I might as well save 400 € and get 8a instead. It looks like an excellent phone for its price range.

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  5 місяців тому +26

      Yup, the Pixel 9 has gone up on price and it just makes the Pixel 8a look like an even better deal considering the relative parity of features, especially if you can get it for less than the RRP! Thanks for watching and commenting - I hope you enjoy the 8a!

    • @LaPlant_Mastering
      @LaPlant_Mastering 5 місяців тому +1

      Same

    • @passivevii4052
      @passivevii4052 5 місяців тому +1

      Broke?

    • @vesanius1
      @vesanius1 5 місяців тому

      @@passivevii4052 No, but I just think it's stupid to pay 949 € for the base model of a phone. Or for any phone really.

    • @enotracoon9244
      @enotracoon9244 5 місяців тому +1

      how is your experience with 8a? Also wanted to buy 9, but 8a is way cheaper

  • @tuned4943
    @tuned4943 3 місяці тому +37

    From a IPhone 6s to an Pixel 8a i really noticed a difference in performance such as the 120hz oled screen. For a significantly less price of an iphone 13-14 i feel like the pixel is better when it comes to practicality. Good review!

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  3 місяці тому +2

      Yeah, the 120Hz screen is really nice! It's especially going to be a big jump going from an iPhone 6S. Glad you're enjoying your experience and thanks for the kind comments 😁

    • @dragourix2217
      @dragourix2217 22 дні тому

      funny, i decided to make the same switch today. Still feels like a betrayal to put my Iphone 6s down now. 😅

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  21 день тому

      Hopefully you enjoy the Pixel experience! 😁

  • @naturemusic9041
    @naturemusic9041 2 місяці тому +8

    You are superb brother in reviewing tech, be patience and continue working hard, you will have huge audience soon

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  2 місяці тому +2

      Thank you for the kind words - I really appreciate it 🙌 😁 thanks for watching and commenting 👌

  • @joshuahurst2971
    @joshuahurst2971 Місяць тому +9

    I've just got the 8a and wow first full day of using I was using 7hr.46 min with 36% left this is great for me definitely think it's a charge at night with adaptive battery thanks for the review as I made my decision on your video

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  Місяць тому +1

      Amazing! Glad it's working well for you - super glad to hear the video was helpful 😁 thanks for coming back and letting me know 🙌

  • @incensejunkie7516
    @incensejunkie7516 2 місяці тому +3

    Thanks for the honest review. I got mine for free today when I switched cell providers - I actually got the better deal for doing so (57 GB more per month but the same price monthly as my old provider, plus a $50 grocery card).
    I'll have to check out your other video about the differences between the 8 and 8a.
    I want good quality pictures and videos more than anything, but I don't need a top quality (ie expensive) phone. I like the 7 yr support, as that's how long I had my previous phone. I debated between this and the Galaxy S23, and still don't know if I made the right choice. A friend got the S23, so we'll compare at some point. She's already complained of slow charging speeds and a short battery life with that one.

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  2 місяці тому +1

      No worries. That's good that you got it free! I love the pictures that you can get with the 8a to be honest - I think it produces excellent results, considering the low price. The battery life isn't the best, but it should last you a day as long as you aren't using it for heavy tasks. Hopefully you like it! Thanks for watching and commenting 😁

  • @ChristopherRose-s5i
    @ChristopherRose-s5i 4 місяці тому +21

    I'm going to buy a pixel 8a thanks to your video. Thank you

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  4 місяці тому +5

      No worries at all - I hope you like the phone! 🙂

    • @silverbeach85
      @silverbeach85 Місяць тому +1

      Mine waiting at home for Xmas. Can't wait! Coming from 3a, which I had for 5 years.

  • @LionRoars918
    @LionRoars918 3 місяці тому +22

    I love my 8a. It just works.

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  3 місяці тому +1

      Glad you like it! It does work really well in my experience too!

    • @mashutaki
      @mashutaki 3 місяці тому

      Do you experience stutter while scrolling?

    • @LionRoars918
      @LionRoars918 3 місяці тому

      @@mashutaki .. only when I bring up my screenshot folder where there are thousands of photos. But under normal usage .. none.

    • @jlcotton19681
      @jlcotton19681 3 місяці тому

      Ditto!

    • @kaffeice7
      @kaffeice7 2 місяці тому

      @@mashutaki scrolling where?

  • @sir_whocampsalot2876
    @sir_whocampsalot2876 5 місяців тому +7

    Good review. The first thing I do to a Pixel device is put GrapheneOS on it. Biggest (albeit very underrated) selling point of the Pixel lineup IMHO. My next Pixel will probably be the 10 though, as the Tensor G5 will be made at TSMC.

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  5 місяців тому +2

      Yeah, I've heard quite a few people who do that and it's great to have the option, particularly if you're very privacy conscious! And yes, looking forward to seeing what Google do with the Pixel 10 series!

    • @Mezthecreator
      @Mezthecreator 5 місяців тому +1

      Same here man, will wait to see the performance and efficiency of the pixel 10 then decide

    • @erikpoephoofd
      @erikpoephoofd Місяць тому

      But you can't normally install apps anymore then?

  • @sidharthshivappa1359
    @sidharthshivappa1359 5 місяців тому +44

    I have been using 8 a since 2 momths and i admit it is a very unique phone with its unique aura to hold and to look at . Functionally its a very comfy phone in the pocket with a right heft. Software wise this phone works like butter and all the features works like its intended to. Such a sophisticated phone ❤ Class 👌

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  5 місяців тому +2

      I'm glad to hear you're enjoying your experience with the Pixel 8 - it's a great phone, especially if you can get it on a discount! I agree with all the points you made there! Thanks for watching and commenting! 😁

    • @anesl
      @anesl 4 місяці тому

      ​@@arranpbrownI'd like to buy it on discount, do you think the prices will go down for the Black Friday period?

    • @rohanpatil7444
      @rohanpatil7444 4 місяці тому +2

      Hey, have you experienced any heating issues? How's the charging speed?

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  4 місяці тому +1

      Yes, I think the prices will go down during Black Friday, so probably a good time to buy!

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  4 місяці тому +1

      The phone gets warm when you are doing intense tasks like gaming, but it hasn't overheated on me. Your experience may be different if you live in a warmer climate though! Charging speeds are particularly slow on this phone, which is one of the main downsides.

  • @PankajN1702
    @PankajN1702 3 місяці тому +11

    Firstly regarding your review, I have seen plenty of Pixel 8a reviews before buying it last month and don't think anyone precisely explained as you did. Great work!
    I switched from iOS after 7 years to Android in Oct 2024 - bought the Pixel 8A under exchange offer in my region by just paying $180 by exchanging my 3 year old iPhone 12 64gb.
    Loving every bit of Pixel software and hardware has to offer for the price and away from the 'walled garden' of Apple. I wonder how I spent 7 years with that!

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  3 місяці тому +5

      Thanks so much for your kind comments - I appreciate it! I try to go in detail on these reviews, so I appreciate you picking up on that.
      Super interesting to hear your experience and that you're happy with your decision to switch 😁 I'm probably going to buy the new iPhone SE when that's announced, to test and review for the channel, so I'm interested to see what iPhone is like, having not used it for a LONG time at this point. But yes, I agree, their walled garden is frustrating, especially for someone who likes to be able to choose the tech they use and not be limited! Thanks for adding to the conversation 😁

    • @PankajN1702
      @PankajN1702 3 місяці тому +1

      ​@@arranpbrown thanks! looking forward for iPhone SE review.. being an ex-iPhone SE 2 user. But honestly I have no expectations from Apple now-adays when it comes to evolution. They have saturated and quite honestly it is no longer exciting.
      They are quite big to fall though [Nokia smiling in the corner ;-) ]
      Side note: No one mentioned it in their review but the form factor of Pixel 8A reminded me (somewhat not entirely) of iPhone 6/6s. I love the form factor, it just hit the sweet spot for me as my hands are small.

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  3 місяці тому +1

      @PankajN1702 great! Yes, agreed, the smartphone market as a whole is less exciting these days as there is only so much they can do to improve things, I guess!
      Very good point about the size - that was something I mentioned in my Pixel 8 review actually, and it's equally true about the 8a. I much prefer smaller phones as they are actually usable with one hand!

  • @MinimalEncourager
    @MinimalEncourager 3 години тому

    The Pixel 8 not being able to focus right away is a huge huge issue. The budget is not an issue for me because they're so similarly priced, but that alone made me choose the 8a. Thanks for this video! By far the best comparison

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  3 години тому

      Yeah, I agree - I think it was still a pretty rare issue that I experienced to be fair and there is likely a very small chance that you would experience that too, but the 8a is a great phone in its own right! Thanks for the kind comments - I appreciate you! 😁

  • @suebrown-nw5qy
    @suebrown-nw5qy 5 місяців тому +6

    Excellent; comprehensive and balanced review!

  • @lalithnarayan1892
    @lalithnarayan1892 Місяць тому +1

    Really nice and crispy review. You got my sub.

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  Місяць тому +1

      Thank you - I appreciate you! 😁🙌

  • @SomeKindOfSpy
    @SomeKindOfSpy 2 місяці тому +2

    Just ordered the Pixel 8a (Aloe, love it!) for just $400. No brainer for that price range.

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  2 місяці тому

      Awesome! I hope you enjoy it when it arrives! The Aloe colour is super nice 😁

  • @raghunandshamarayar1297
    @raghunandshamarayar1297 5 місяців тому +7

    How is the face unlock, Is it more snappier than fingerprint? I'm currently on 6a and planning to upgrade

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  4 місяці тому +2

      Yes, face unlock is nice and quick to be fair and is a good alternative to the fingerprint, especially when you are in front of the phone looking at it!

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  4 місяці тому +2

      It won't work in dark environments though, so bear that in mind - you'll still have to rely on the fingerprint sensor in those situations.

  • @brunoortiz4588
    @brunoortiz4588 День тому

    I was the happiest with this phone, but, at the ninth month a green vertical line appeared and the entire screen started to flicker, I contacted google and realized that theres an extended guarantee for this known problem with the phone, on the good part google assumed the cost and the screen was replaced, but somehow i wonder how long the new screen is gonna live, beside this problem, the phone i fast, cool design and the camera is amazing

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  День тому

      Yeah, thanks for highlighting this - it's clearly a recurring problem seeing as Google have extended the warranty for the phone. And a few people have asked about it in the comments. Glad to hear that Google covered the cost of the replacement at least, but not great for that to happen only 9 months after getting the phone! I've not had any issues with the screen thankfully, but who knows how it will hold up over time. Hopefully the issue doesn't come back for you again 🤞

  • @snpgamingchannel4551
    @snpgamingchannel4551 5 місяців тому +3

    Nice review. I love GooglePixel specially the A series. I don't have GooglePixel yet, I hope soon with the Pixel9a.

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  5 місяців тому +3

      Thank you! Yes, the A series is great because it brings the best of the Pixel phones without the fluff of the extra features that people don't use that often! Hopefully the 9a delivers again. I heard there was talks of the Pixel 8a being the last A phone from Google, but that was just rumoured and could be incorrect!

    • @Benzyl
      @Benzyl 2 місяці тому

      You love it but you don't have it? That seems to be a bit of a stretch.

  • @chrissavage6905
    @chrissavage6905 5 місяців тому +1

    I also have a Pixel 8 which I've had for three months. I have not had the issues you are experiencing.

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  4 місяці тому +1

      Thanks for the comment! Glad to hear you've not had any issues.

  • @fosters_media
    @fosters_media 4 місяці тому +4

    Excellent Review. Love your delivery and clarity of thought. Thank you - has confirmed my decision to purchase the 8a.

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  4 місяці тому +1

      Thank you for the nice feedback - I appreciate it! I hope you enjoy the Pixel 8a when you start using it 😁

  • @hannahcheney9417
    @hannahcheney9417 3 місяці тому +2

    your lovely accent might just convince me to get this phone :) and your great review for it helps a lot!

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  3 місяці тому +1

      Haha, thank you! It's a nice phone and hopefully you'll like it if you do end up getting it 😁

  • @asmrfan0304
    @asmrfan0304 5 місяців тому +4

    I have the 8a and its great!

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  5 місяців тому

      Awesome - glad you're liking it! Thanks for the comment 😁

    • @mashutaki
      @mashutaki 3 місяці тому

      Do you experience stutter while scrolling?

    • @asmrfan0304
      @asmrfan0304 3 місяці тому

      @@mashutaki No, I have the 120 Hz turned on and it's very smooth.

  • @del2375
    @del2375 Місяць тому +1

    Just picked up a new 8a 256gb + free Pixel Buds Pro for £269 from EE. Very happy with it so far.

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  Місяць тому

      Very nice deal! Glad you're enjoying it 😁

    • @maynknegi
      @maynknegi 27 днів тому

      Whats ee dude ?

    • @del2375
      @del2375 27 днів тому

      @@maynknegi EE is a UK network provider.

    • @nonegiven9579
      @nonegiven9579 25 днів тому

      That's cheap, was that on a contract?

  • @rikoskokos
    @rikoskokos 5 місяців тому +1

    Thanks a lot! Best compared review on youtube. I'll go for 8a.

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  5 місяців тому +1

      Glad I could help - thanks for the kind comments! I hope you enjoy using the 8a! 😁

  • @DCLUDI
    @DCLUDI 2 місяці тому +2

    Currently having to decide between getting the Iphone 14 or a Pixel 8a so this video is just what i was looking for!
    I appreciate your approach to this review as well. A lot of tech channels are becoming a bit out of touch with how normal people use their phone and it shows in their absurd nitpicking in reviews that arent $1600 flagships

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  2 місяці тому

      Awesome! I'm really glad I was able to help! 😁 Thanks for the kind comment and feedback - I really appreciate it! 🙌

  • @thepopmanbrad
    @thepopmanbrad 5 місяців тому +2

    so im an apple user and i love AI its sooo cool and useful and so google is really pushing to bring tons of AI features to gemini thats integrated on a OS level allowing it to do everything you can which is dope and i hope apple intelligence can do that or heck even allowing you to switch between gemini / chatgpt etc allowing us ios users to get to use gemini

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  5 місяців тому

      Nice one! I'm excited to see what Apple do with Apple Intelligence - many of the features they previewed at their latest event look actually pretty useful! It would be cool to see Apple allow users to select which AI model they use when they send requests to the cloud, but it sounds like they have an agreement with OpenAI to use ChatGPT, so I imagine you will almost certainly be stuck using that! Thanks for the comment 😁

  • @lukecousin
    @lukecousin 3 місяці тому +2

    I was thinking about getting Pixel 9 but in Poland it's almost 1000euros when 8a is 400... So to try the pixel experience I went with 8a.

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  3 місяці тому +1

      Yeah, that's a good plan I think! 1000 euros is crazy for a non-flagship/pro phone 😭 the 8a is a nice phone, so I hope you like it! 😁

  • @xNotFatalx
    @xNotFatalx Місяць тому +2

    I am able to get this phone for $300 used, decided to look up reviews and for that price I really cant say no.

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  Місяць тому +1

      Yeah, for $300 I'd say it's a no brainer! Really solid phone for that price! 😁

    • @xNotFatalx
      @xNotFatalx Місяць тому +1

      @@arranpbrown I thought it was $300, they had an LTO going since they are trying to get rid of stock and I ended up getting it for $100

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  Місяць тому

      Awesome! 😁

  • @jigyansunanda
    @jigyansunanda 5 місяців тому +14

    Good timing. As of yesterday Google India tweeted that Pixel 8 series has entered the production line in India. Earlier it was not made in India. Which means, Pixel 8 will get more price cuts and I can grab it in upcoming sale next month. Right now I can grab it with 600$. I will wait for the price drop of 100 to 150$ in sale. Then Its extremely good value.

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  5 місяців тому +8

      That sounds like a plan, and glad to hear the Pixel 8 will be more affordable in India!

    • @pranees
      @pranees 5 місяців тому

      OMG !! 18w insanely speed charging at 50000 rs price😂😂😂

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  5 місяців тому

      I know, it's one of the places they've tried to cut down the cost of the Pixel 8a, but it's definitely not going to suit everyone haha.

    • @carlsandner
      @carlsandner 5 місяців тому

      Can get it for 350 in Japan lol

    • @Dr.Mzungu
      @Dr.Mzungu 4 місяці тому

      I prefer not made in India. Indians nothing personal but don't take quality control seriously. I. Know Google manament by Indians will address this concern but I'm not convinced.

  • @johnjohn-ne8fw
    @johnjohn-ne8fw 13 днів тому

    What a great video. Thx!

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  12 днів тому

      No problem! Thanks for watching and commenting! 😁

  • @markymarqca2
    @markymarqca2 4 місяці тому +2

    Great review! I currently have the Pixel 7 and the major issue I have with the phone is self dimming screen when the phone gets warm. When out in the sun on summer day the phone is basically useless b/c it dims the screen so much, and there is no way to retain brightness, even disabling adaptive brightness. I understand that this process is built into the operating system to help preserve the life of the phone, but it makes the phone unusable at times. Any feedback on the 8a and its use on hot, sunny days?

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  4 місяці тому +1

      Thank you! I’m afraid being based in Scotland hasn’t really given me much experience of warm sunny days, even though I was using the 8a during some of our warmest months 😅 but I don’t remember encountering any issues with the screen dimming! It’s likely Google still does the same with the 8a to preserve the long-term health of the phone, but I imagine your experience will really depend on how hot your climate is. The hottest it really got here this year was about 25ºC, so it’s not really comparable to warmer climates!

  • @jigyansunanda
    @jigyansunanda 5 місяців тому +2

    Speaking of vibrations, Android 15 is coming with Adaptive Vibration which means depending on which medium your phone is placed on, your phone will adjust the vibration. Maybe that will help. I understand your 5G -> 4G switch. I work from home and have WiFi. so does not make sense to use 5G if 4G LTE gets all my job done, when I go out.

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  5 місяців тому +1

      Ahh nice - I wasn't aware of that. That could make a big difference in the vibration quality then! And yes, 4G is probably fast enough for most people, but there are some people who might benefit from the faster 5G speeds 🙂

    • @KnotsOfWonders
      @KnotsOfWonders 5 місяців тому

      You can also manually adjust the vibration strength in the 8a.

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  5 місяців тому

      Very good point! Just checked and mine is already on the minimum vibration setting for notifications though... So I imagine it sounds even worse on maximum!

  • @callmeNeno
    @callmeNeno 9 днів тому +1

    Still have my iPhone 13 Pro going on 4 years

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  9 днів тому

      That's good that it's still going strong! It's great when tech lasts. Cheers for the comment!

  • @MurtazaRetiwala
    @MurtazaRetiwala 2 місяці тому

    Hey Arran, great review. I want to upgrade from my iphone 7plus and leave apple now. I live in Europe and so have heard that pixel doesn’t have a lot of features out of the USA, would you still recommend 8A or any other pixel ? Thank you

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  2 місяці тому +1

      Hey! I would recommend going for the Pixel 8 as you can likely get it for a price fairly close to the 8a and it is slightly better than the 8a in a few areas. I'm currently working on a video comparing the 8a, 8 and 9 which should be released before Christmas which could be helpful for you, but you also may be able to get a good deal on the Pixel 8 just now with the Black Friday sales, so you may want to get it sooner rather than later! Hope this helps 👌

    • @MurtazaRetiwala
      @MurtazaRetiwala 2 місяці тому

      @ thank you for your quick reply Arran. Theres a 150 euro difference between both. Also, what about all the USA features not being there in Europe/UK. Does it make a huge dealbreaker, for me upgrading from an iphone 7plus. I’m someone who uses a phone for a minimum of 5 years. My iphone7plus is 8 years old and just want to change because now it has become slow and updates have stopped.

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  2 місяці тому +1

      @MurtazaRetiwala ahh okay, that is quite a fair difference. I think the 8a is a great phone for the price too! Sorry, I missed that part of your comment - with regards to US exclusive features, I think there is more parity between the features available in the US and the features available in other countries now than there was in the past and I've not really found myself wanting the features that are missing. However, it's probably best to do some research on the features that are still US exclusive to find out whether they are dealbreakers for you, as everyone is different. The main thing I was waiting to be brought across was Gemini, and I've found that very useful since it was introduced in the UK!

    • @MurtazaRetiwala
      @MurtazaRetiwala 2 місяці тому

      @ thank you so much Arran, this was really helpful and quick as well. Cheers

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  2 місяці тому +1

      @MurtazaRetiwala no problem - glad I was able to help! Good luck picking your new phone 😁

  • @robertheron7017
    @robertheron7017 4 місяці тому +1

    First thing I done was got a case and a 30watt charger love my pixel 8

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  4 місяці тому

      Nice one - glad you're enjoying it! 😁

  • @phritza
    @phritza 5 місяців тому +2

    Since you already own a pixel 8, just curious, what made you buy the 8a?

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  5 місяців тому +11

      Basically just to test it out and compare it directly to the Pixel 8 as most people probably aren't in a position to do that, so I thought it would be helpful for anyone who is unsure of which phone to buy based on their budget! 🙂 Hopefully this comes in useful to anyone in that position!
      Thanks for continuing to show up on the channel - I appreciate you!

  • @fazlerabby5163
    @fazlerabby5163 3 місяці тому +2

    This phone is insane for me❤

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  3 місяці тому

      Glad you're enjoying it! Thanks for the comment 😁

  • @gambvp
    @gambvp 2 дні тому

    do you think 8a has display issues like pixel 8? my country does not support the pixel so it may be a pain in my cheecks if the display is broken (by the manufacturer) even if google extended the warranty

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  2 дні тому

      It seems to just be the Pixel 8 that has had that recurring issue, so I don't think it should be a problem with the 8a. However, if you're concerned about it, then it's probably best to go with a different phone from a company that is supported in your country! Hope this helps!

  • @miloismyfave
    @miloismyfave 4 місяці тому +1

    It sucks that no Pixel device has been released in the Philippines

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  4 місяці тому +1

      Yeah, that's annoying :( hopefully they will release one soon!

    • @asadfarraj
      @asadfarraj 4 місяці тому +1

      Much the same with other non-mainstream Asian countries. Our governments also put huge import taxes to support local businesses, which is nice, but that means that for stuff like this, a $500 phone becomes a $900 phone.

    • @mashutaki
      @mashutaki 3 місяці тому

      Anong wala? Ang dami sa greenhills san juan at sa facebook marketplace 🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️

  • @wheresierraat
    @wheresierraat 4 місяці тому +1

    Hello, I'm coming from a google pixel 4a. I absolutely love it, but it is on its last leg and probably has a few days or weeks left due to battery issues. Would you recommend google pixel 7a, 8a, or 8? Or something else?

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  4 місяці тому +3

      If you can afford a Pixel 8, then I'd recommend going for that! If you can push to the Pixel 9 then I'd recommend going for that if you can get it on sale - it's better in my experience than the phones you listed, particularly from a battery standpoint and some other aspects like the fingerprint sensor. I hope this helps!

    • @wheresierraat
      @wheresierraat 4 місяці тому

      @@arranpbrown okay, thank you so much!!

  • @samratgaur4915
    @samratgaur4915 4 місяці тому +2

    I currently have a oneplus and I hate it's camera. If I just wanted to take photos which pixel would you recomend because in my region the pixel 8 is cheaper than the 8a

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  4 місяці тому

      I would recommend getting the 8! If you can afford the 9 then go with that as it's a much more refined experience than the 8, but the 8 is still great!

  • @kennlarsen8106
    @kennlarsen8106 2 місяці тому +1

    Immediately, it is fine on many parameters, but
    unbelievable that you cannot make a full backup
    to your own PC and not to the cloud.

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  2 місяці тому

      Fair point - I'm not sure how many people would realistically make use of that, but it's good to know for anyone who it does affect! Thanks for the comment 👌

  • @ericadams7834
    @ericadams7834 5 місяців тому

    Nice recap mate!

  • @David_JA_Noble
    @David_JA_Noble 4 місяці тому +1

    Just bought a second hand unit for just under £300 ... 3 months old. Was looking at Motorola Neo 50 pro or pixel 8a ... under contract with vodafone, both good deals. The motorola looked better on paper with 12GB ram and 512gb storage. But coming from Apple iPhone space since y first smart phone iPhone 2g ... I thought pixel 8a clean android experience best option.

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  4 місяці тому +1

      Yeah, that makes sense - I really enjoyed using the 8a, so I hope you like it! I love Pixel OS to be fair, it is nice and clean.

  • @johnny_bravo9990
    @johnny_bravo9990 17 днів тому

    Those thick bezels does it mean better drop protection? I think that display won't crack easily because of the thick bezel when accidentally falls

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  17 днів тому +1

      I highly doubt it will make a difference for drop protection I'm afraid. Even though the screen doesn't stretch to the edges of the device, the glass does, so that can still shatter just the same as a screen that has small bezels!

    • @johnny_bravo9990
      @johnny_bravo9990 16 днів тому

      @arranpbrown so I should look for something that has better than gorilla Glass 3

  • @curtisrafa7211
    @curtisrafa7211 Місяць тому

    Hey, some people complain about the display showing sort of a purple banding if you tilt the screen or you're not looking at it straight, like on an angle. Did you notice this at all with your pixel 8a?

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  Місяць тому

      I didn't notice any of this when using the Pixel 8a - I've found the screen to be excellent!

    • @curtisrafa7211
      @curtisrafa7211 Місяць тому

      @arranpbrown Okay, that's good to know! Thanks for your timely response 👍

  • @OnlineEnglishSpeakingClub
    @OnlineEnglishSpeakingClub 5 місяців тому +2

    Xiaomi user here. I switched to a Pixel 6 a while back and was horrified by the shockingly slow charge and awful battery life. I got rid of the phone and headed to Poco. Brilliant phone, but I need a better camera. Thinking of making the move to Pixel 8a, but having nightmares of the charge time and battery life ...

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  5 місяців тому +6

      Hmm - might be worth thinking twice about the Pixel 8a to be honest if charging speed and battery life is important to you. The charging is very slow compared to competitors, and the battery life, while not bad, is just average in my experience. I'm not sure if it would meet your needs to be honest - although the cameras are really nice! Have you considered the OnePlus 12R at all? I don't think the cameras would be as good as the 8a, but it seems like a very solid phone apart from that. Plus you get a large battery and 100W charging for a decent price. Possibly worth considering!
      Hope this helps!

    • @asadfarraj
      @asadfarraj 4 місяці тому +3

      I recommend you to try out Motorola, or the other Chinese brands like Oppo and Vivo. These have excellent cameras and support fast charging too. Motorola has the added plus of clean Android software if you don't live in the US (weird exception I know, but ask them not me)

    • @amggdeals620
      @amggdeals620 3 місяці тому

      Umm, if you're a xiaomi user, there is only one option for you, it is Oneplus, otherwise all other phones won't be a better choice for you 🙏🏼

    • @OnlineEnglishSpeakingClub
      @OnlineEnglishSpeakingClub 3 місяці тому +1

      Thanks for the recommendations. I actually went with the Pixel 8 Pro. So far none of my fears have come true. I'm really impressed by the batty life. Way more than a day's worth. Charge time hasn't been an issue because its battery has been so good I only charge when going to sleep.

    • @gluteusmaximus7608
      @gluteusmaximus7608 2 місяці тому

      ​@@OnlineEnglishSpeakingClubMakes sense, as the Pro version has faster charging

  • @terrytegra4009
    @terrytegra4009 3 місяці тому +2

    I've just upgraded my trusty 6a to an 8 pro as I got a great deal. It's a great phone but bloody huge so I'm thinking I've made the wrong decision. Wondering if to swap to the 8a while I'm still in my cooling off period...

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  3 місяці тому +1

      Thanks for the comment! I think it might be worth considering the Pixel 8 too? It's a better phone than the 8a and you can get it on some great deals now too!

    • @woofwoof7226
      @woofwoof7226 3 місяці тому +1

      better wait for 9a or buy the 9 when 10 comes :) at drops in price

  • @welskie
    @welskie 4 місяці тому

    Haptic on pixel 8 is like on iPhone 15 😊 you can hear the spring on the engine

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  4 місяці тому +1

      Yeah, that's fair - I love the haptics on the Pixel 8!

  • @qtotter
    @qtotter 3 місяці тому

    Hmm... Your review was good, but too many quick small zoom ups bothered me a lot. Also, please wear something nicer. You looked like you shot the video right before you went to bed... The lighting was also not too good... Small changes make your future reviews look more serious. Anyway, I enjoyed it, and it was a 👍.

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  3 місяці тому

      Haha - thanks for the feedback. I think the t-shirt I wore just looks a bit baggy which is why you think that I'm wearing pyjamas 🤣 I can assure you that I'm not!

  • @Hamzaali-cn1vx
    @Hamzaali-cn1vx 2 місяці тому +1

    Does the phone still have overheating issues?

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  2 місяці тому +1

      I haven't experienced it overheating at all, but it can get hot when doing heavier tasks like gaming. I'm also based in Scotland, so your experience may be different if you live in a hotter country!

  • @mikef8846
    @mikef8846 3 місяці тому

    Got a 4a now but soon the company I work for won't allow Android 13. So gotta upgrade this holiday season. I like the 8a but will get an 8 if it's very close in price for the close up camera lens.

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  3 місяці тому

      Yeah, the 8 is making more and more sense as the price is coming down. If there is only $50/$100 difference, I would certainly go for the 8 as it is a better phone than the 8a. I hope you like it if you decide to pick one up! Cheers for the comment 😁

  • @sanzosanzo4524
    @sanzosanzo4524 5 місяців тому +1

    Just wanna confirm if the refresh rate on the pixel 8a is adaptive just like on the 8? Thanks!

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  5 місяців тому +1

      Yes! But only between 60 and 120Hz, just like on the 8. It doesn't adapt down to 1Hz like the 8 Pro does. Hope this helps! Thanks for watching 😁

    • @sanzosanzo4524
      @sanzosanzo4524 5 місяців тому

      @@arranpbrown Great! Thanks for the confirmation! Quality content as always 👌🏻

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  5 місяців тому

      Thank you!!

  • @helenlee9587
    @helenlee9587 2 місяці тому

    I bought a pixel 8a last week and thinking of returning as we live in a poor signal area in uk and it is connecting worse than my old Huawei PSmart phone. Any suggestions for helping with this phone or one that better copes in poor reception area

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  2 місяці тому +1

      Ahh, that's a shame. You could try going into your mobile data settings and setting the phone to prioritise 4G over 5G - I've found that it switches frequently between 5G and 4G which can sometimes affect the signal performance, whereas staying on 4G seems to make the connection more stable. I've also found that the speed advantages of 5G are only obvious in large cities, so if you're not in a city then you probably won't notice a difference in speed between the two! Hope this helps!

    • @helenlee9587
      @helenlee9587 2 місяці тому

      Thanks

  • @eklautasaquib
    @eklautasaquib Місяць тому +1

    I am getting it for 35k INR . I am using redmi note 9 pro max from almost 4.5 years
    I am so far from gadgets lately so i am doing my work. My phone still works but camera quality is not upto what we have in 2025 (it's a 2020 phone). I wanted to switch to S23 ultra but someone said it isn't a good idea. So hoping i would shift to a good phone. Plus i still use iphone SE(2017) model as my back up phone 😂😂

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  Місяць тому +1

      Hopefully the Pixel 8a does the job for you! 😁 Thanks for watching and commenting!

  • @abishop3875
    @abishop3875 5 місяців тому +1

    I need to see if the 8 is worth the extra cost! Google have some good discount deals. I’ll see which is the best value.

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  5 місяців тому +2

      Yeah, definitely a difficult decision! If you can swing the extra cash, I'd most likely recommend the 8, but you equally won't be disappointed with the 8a if you have a lower budget!

    • @StayLoose200
      @StayLoose200 5 місяців тому

      If your military, nurse, police, fire, etc. pixel 8a is 399. That's significantly cheaper and I don't know if it's worth it at that point for the 8.

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  5 місяців тому

      I think if you can get the 8a for under $400 then it's a great deal at that price to be honest!

  • @Chazi117
    @Chazi117 4 місяці тому +2

    I have a google pixel 7 and Im getting offered a 8a for 250 should i take it?

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  4 місяці тому

      Yeah, I think that's a great deal for the 8a!

  • @OhisManuel
    @OhisManuel 4 місяці тому

    Confused on whether to get this over the 7 pro.
    What do you advise?

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  4 місяці тому +2

      I would honestly recommend the Pixel 8a, simply because you get software updates until 2031 vs only getting software updates until October 2025 for the 7 Pro. So the Pixel 8a will be supported for far longer, and has a slightly more powerful processor, so should have better longevity than the 7 Pro. Hope this helps!

    • @OhisManuel
      @OhisManuel 4 місяці тому

      @@arranpbrown Thanks alot

  • @juanarango4917
    @juanarango4917 Місяць тому +1

    This phone looks promising, however I feel like this more a marketing product instead of a full product with the intention to make you buy the 8 or 8 pro version. I got a Vivo Y51 (from 2020), kinda outdated compared to this, however, even if the Pixel 8A has a better overall performance, it has worse battery (~4500 mA) compared to my VIVO (5000 mA), and the charging speed is the same (18W), that's just ridiculous in 2024 (almost 2025).

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  Місяць тому +1

      Fair points - I think quite a few people will have bought the 8a due to it being the cheapest way to get a current generation Pixel, plus the 7 years of updates is a big draw too. But I agree with your points about the battery life and the charging - they are certainly the biggest pain points of this phone in my opinion. Hopefully your Vivo is still working well for you! Cheers for the comment! 👌

  • @Oliver-v3y
    @Oliver-v3y 2 місяці тому +1

    Should i cop this for 320 bucks new? I have been looking for a new phone and the pixel 8a look the best.

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  2 місяці тому +1

      I think it's a great phone for $320! I think anything under $400 for it is a good deal.

  • @konstantingolpayegani3043
    @konstantingolpayegani3043 2 місяці тому

    Very nice review.
    I am wondering, should I choose Sony Xperia 5 V or Pixel 8a?

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  2 місяці тому

      I think the Sony is a nice phone, but I would still go for the Pixel 8a due to the 7 years of software and security updates as opposed to the 2 years of software updates and 3 years of security updates promised by Sony for 5V. Hope this helps!

  • @savsenpai4142
    @savsenpai4142 5 місяців тому

    Hello Arran, I have seen several of your reviews (I liked them all) and the truth is I have a question: What do you do with all the phones that you bring to the channel after their review? I'm asking because if you keep them all, could you give me one of the Pixel 8s you have? Please🙃😭

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  5 місяців тому +6

      Thanks for the kind comment! With the phones I review, I currently buy them all with my own money - so I either sell them on/trade them in or in the case of the Pixel 8, I've actually given that phone to my wife (as she needed a new phone anyway). I'm likely going to have to sell the 8a to reduce the cost of buying the next phone I review. I'm afraid I'm not earning enough for the channel just yet to do giveaways, but hopefully that will be something I can do in the future!

    • @savsenpai4142
      @savsenpai4142 5 місяців тому

      @@arranpbrown Thanks!🙌

  • @AkashKumar-ou1uw
    @AkashKumar-ou1uw 5 місяців тому +1

    love the video!!
    Can I BUY this for my mother ?
    she only wants a good camera

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  5 місяців тому

      Thanks Akash! 😁
      I think this is one of the best cameras on a phone in this price range to be honest. It produces super nice photos that don't require any editing! The only thing to be aware of is that it doesn't offer a telephoto lens, so if your mother often likes to zoom in to things with her camera, you might want to look at another phone (but you will struggle to find one for the same price with the quality of these cameras). I personally think the wide and ultrawide are far more useful than a telephoto, but that's just my opinion. Hope this helps! 🙂

    • @AkashKumar-ou1uw
      @AkashKumar-ou1uw 5 місяців тому

      @@arranpbrown thanks For sharing ur opinion.. i will definetly order this phone today itself.. much love to you and success to u on youtube. U doing grt job.

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  5 місяців тому

      @AkashKumar-ou1uw no worries - happy to help 😁 thank you! 🙌

    • @AndrewTSq
      @AndrewTSq 5 місяців тому

      just a note, there is no macro functionality at all in the camera. I need glasses, but I used my Samsung phone to take photos of small text on medication etc, but the Pixel 8A has not that functionality.

  • @anamikaverma8289
    @anamikaverma8289 5 місяців тому

    When pixle 9 review comming..?..waiting for your review to buy..😊😊

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  5 місяців тому

      It's coming! Working on it currently! Hoping to release it by next weekend!

    • @anamikaverma8289
      @anamikaverma8289 5 місяців тому

      Okk thanks..😊

  • @mrmagic4762
    @mrmagic4762 2 місяці тому

    Well, what's missing for me is the lack of customization, if you're like me. That's why I like to use different brands like Xiaomi, Samsung, OnePlus. #TechTalk #CustomizationMatters

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  2 місяці тому

      Fair enough! You could install a custom launcher though to allow you to customise the look and feel of the phone if you want, but if you prefer phones from other brands, then continue using them 😁 thanks for watching and for the comment!

  • @Mercury_Cosmos
    @Mercury_Cosmos 5 місяців тому

    I think this will be a great phone to get refurbished later down the line since it will be updated until 2031. I might get it when maybe the pixel 10 releases.

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  5 місяців тому

      Yeah, you could probably get it for an excellent price refurbished in another year's time. And like you said, it will still have many years of updates from that point 😁

  • @MiguelTreminio
    @MiguelTreminio 3 місяці тому

    Great video

  • @alinaimad
    @alinaimad 19 днів тому

    Which one to get, s23 fe or pixel 8a?

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  18 днів тому +1

      There are a few key differences between the S23 FE and the 8a. The FE uses either the Exynos 2200 or the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, depending on which region you're in, but I don't think there will be a huge difference in performance between them or the Tensor G3. But I had the S22 in the past with an Exynos chip in it and the battery life on that phone was shocking, so if it's the Exynos variant in your country then I would honestly avoid it. The screen on the FE is 6.4 inches Vs the 6.1 inches on the 8a. I personally prefer a smaller phone so would go with the 8a, but that's personal preference, but both have an 120Hz refresh rate. You get the added bonus of a telephoto camera on the FE, but it's only 8 megapixels, so I reckon the quality of it won't be very good. I personally really like the results that come out of the 8a's camera, so if the camera is important to you and you're not bothered by the lack of a telephoto, then I would suggest going for the 8a. Like I mentioned in the video, the battery life is pretty average on the 8a, but having not had any experience with this on the FE, then I can't really comment on that. Charging speeds are faster on the FE, which was a key downside for me about the 8a. However, it's 18W on the 8a vs 25W on the FE, so there isn't a huge difference. Hope this helps you decide!

    • @alinaimad
      @alinaimad 17 днів тому

      @arranpbrown Thanks alot!! 🙏🏻✨

  • @manjunathmadabal
    @manjunathmadabal 5 місяців тому

    I want to shoot videos for youtube - which one do you suggest pixel or iphone or gopro

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  5 місяців тому +1

      I would recommend iPhone probably as they tend to be the best for video generally. I think the Pixel is still catching up on that regard (although it does produce good footage!). I would not recommend a GoPro unless you are filming a lot of action sports/action-based content as it has less flexibility than a phone for filming etc. plus you can edit videos on your phone if you need to, which is an added bonus! Hope this helps.

    • @manjunathmadabal
      @manjunathmadabal 5 місяців тому

      @@arranpbrown now i am confused about should i buy a new iphone 14 or a used 12 pro max

  • @farzaandhanani3000
    @farzaandhanani3000 Місяць тому

    Can you use quick tap with the case on?

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  Місяць тому

      I'm assuming you mean contactless payment with NFC with the phone - if you do mean that, then it works absolutely fine with the case on 😊

  • @Jgfffvjiugvv7877
    @Jgfffvjiugvv7877 Місяць тому

    Is there any heating issue in pixel 8a....and how many hour it last in an full charge...i m just planning to buy it

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  Місяць тому

      I haven't experienced any overheating, but the phone does get hot, so if you are in a hotter climate than Scotland, then you may have some issues. The battery lasts a day unless you are using the phone heavily, so streaming stuff constantly over mobile data or gaming for long periods of time will run the battery down much faster. Hope this helps!

    • @Jgfffvjiugvv7877
      @Jgfffvjiugvv7877 Місяць тому

      @arranpbrown Thank u for the reply....i m just an normal user like insta,whatsapp and UA-cam....bcz of your review i m go for it

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  Місяць тому

      No worries at all - I hope you enjoy the 8a. I definitely enjoyed using it when I was daily driving it! Cheers 😁

    • @Jgfffvjiugvv7877
      @Jgfffvjiugvv7877 Місяць тому

      @@arranpbrown 🥂

  • @fhsa7239
    @fhsa7239 5 місяців тому +1

    Great phone for businesses users, but i still hate this modem battery drain, really ruins the experience.

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  5 місяців тому

      I agree, they really need to fix the modem in the Pixel 9 series, but I'm not super hopeful to be honest!

  • @jjjilani9634
    @jjjilani9634 5 місяців тому +8

    This phone has annoying touch screen issues. It suddenly becomes unresponsive to touch and glitchy. You have to restart the phone to solve that problem. But the same happens the next day as well.

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  5 місяців тому +7

      Ahh, that sounds frustrating. I haven't experienced that at all. I think you might have a faulty phone by the sounds of it - could be a hardware issue! Might be worth seeing if you can get it fixed under warranty.

    • @JorgieFilo
      @JorgieFilo 5 місяців тому +2

      Never happened to me, sounds like yours has an issue, warranty it.

    • @erikpoephoofd
      @erikpoephoofd Місяць тому +1

      ​@@JorgieFilo Sounds like a software issue, otherwise reboot wouldn't help...

  • @wyterabitt2149
    @wyterabitt2149 5 місяців тому

    I don't think Google have said feature drops will be a part of the 7 years have they? It will get new Android versions, and as a result the Android improvements and general features this brings. But I am assuming that Pixel features will continue as they have done, being limited to the next phone with only the occasional feature coming down the line to different phones.
    It will be cool if I am wrong though.

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  5 місяців тому

      To be fair, you're probably right - the older Pixels won't get all of the features in every feature drop, but they should still continue to get some features that the hardware can support, which I still think is pretty cool! I think getting any sort of new features on a 3 or 4 year old+ phone is going to be pretty nice! Thanks for the comment though - it's a good point!

  • @Kdshorts21
    @Kdshorts21 5 місяців тому

    How long the battery will last from the morning if it’s 100% for just some social media scrolling, yt viedos , recording viedos and listening music

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  5 місяців тому +3

      That's pretty similar to my regular daily usage to be fair, and I take the phone off charge at 100% at 06:30 and usually put it back on charge about 22:30 when I'm heading to bed (so 14 hours of use). It usually depends mostly on how much you are using mobile data as the modem isn't great. If I've been using mobile data I'll usually end the day on 5-15% battery, but with the same usage mainly using WiFi, I'll usually end somewhere between 30-50%. I hope this helps!

  • @Kartoffelbrei-dw2lm
    @Kartoffelbrei-dw2lm 2 місяці тому

    Hey, I can't decide whether I should go for the Google Pixel 8 or 8a. Does anyone know which of them doesn't overheat easily and has the better battery?

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  2 місяці тому +1

      I'd definitely choose the 8 - I can't comment on overheating as neither my 8 or 8a has overheated, but the battery life on the 8 is slightly better than the 8a in my experience. Hope this helps!

  • @mysinsareyours
    @mysinsareyours 5 місяців тому

    do you find the refresh rate to have input lag? is this normal?

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  5 місяців тому

      I haven't encountered any input lag - it all seems pretty smooth for me!

  • @crpro5420
    @crpro5420 5 місяців тому

    Me too using since June

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  5 місяців тому

      Nice one - I hope you're enjoying it 😁

  • @jamescrossley7784
    @jamescrossley7784 2 місяці тому

    Good phone snappy fast battery life is good and the back is nice looks like glass but it's plastic. But doesn't collect finger prints. I like it

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  2 місяці тому

      Glad to hear you're enjoying it! I also love the plastic back - hate getting fingerprints on my phone 😅 thanks for the comment!

  • @jayed4934
    @jayed4934 Місяць тому

    Doesn't the phone get hot and have network issues? ?

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  Місяць тому

      It can get hot depending on what you're doing, but it's only if you're really pushing the phone. It's never overheated on me, but your experience may be different if you live in a hot climate!
      I had the occasional network issues when I was using it - the modem certainly isn't the best, but it was very rarely an issue for me when I was using it!

  • @DmanDaGr8
    @DmanDaGr8 5 днів тому +1

    No sir! 5G is what I'm paying for and 5G is what I'll be using, battery drain or not lol

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  4 дні тому +1

      Haha totally fair - it's your choice! 😁

  • @rafiqrahim5894
    @rafiqrahim5894 4 місяці тому

    Pixel 7pro or pixel 8a in terms of main camera Which one is better ? ( Except telephoto lens )

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  4 місяці тому +1

      I've never used the Pixel 7 Pro I'm afraid, but their specs are fairly comparable if you ignore the telephoto lens. However, you can't just look at the cameras in a vacuum, you've also got to consider the software updates too. The 8a is going to continue to be updated until 2031 whereas the 7 Pro only has another year or so of software updates. Google is going to continue to improve their image processing pipeline and that will likely improve the 8a camera results over time too, so you're probably better going with the 8a in my opinion.

    • @Gdgb-i6f
      @Gdgb-i6f 4 місяці тому

      Ok thanks @@arranpbrown

    • @rafiqrahim5894
      @rafiqrahim5894 4 місяці тому

      @@arranpbrown tq

  • @karinarussell1363
    @karinarussell1363 2 місяці тому

    I have a oppo phone, should i get a pixel 8/9 never used a pixel before

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  2 місяці тому

      If you want the best value, I'd actually recommend you go for the Pixel 8, provided you can get it for a good price (equivalent of $500 or less, i'd say). If you want the best Pixel out of the 8 or 9 then the 9 is going to be the one to go for as it's a more complete phone, but it is quite a bit more expensive! Hope this helps! 😁

  • @fahadquraishy1
    @fahadquraishy1 Місяць тому

    Does pixel 8a have cinematic blur video mode??

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  Місяць тому

      No it doesn't unfortunately - that's only available on the 8, 8 Pro, 9 and 9 Pros!

  • @erls5206
    @erls5206 5 місяців тому +1

    I will probably skip Pixels for now. The reviews have been 50/50 and the fact that we do not have access to a service center in my country makes them more expensive and not very reassuring. 😢

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  5 місяців тому +1

      That sounds like a sensible idea to be fair - always good to make sure you have a way of fixing the phone if something happens to it! It sucks that the Pixels aren't natively available in more countries 😔

  • @kamalesh4833
    @kamalesh4833 Місяць тому +2

    Any 8a users, i want a genuine review...is there any heating issue?

    • @MoneyGrab
      @MoneyGrab Місяць тому +1

      No, i have been using it for like 4 days. only gets a little warm after intensive tasks

    • @nizmo90
      @nizmo90 Місяць тому +2

      I’ve been using it for couple of days as my door dash phone so gps and screen is on all time . For my usage there’s no heating issues .

    • @siddharth5876
      @siddharth5876 Місяць тому

      Please tell me it's worth buying. I just ordered it😅

    • @MoneyGrab
      @MoneyGrab Місяць тому +1

      @@siddharth5876 I think it is

    • @blaisepereira4154
      @blaisepereira4154 26 днів тому

      ​@@siddharth5876 Trust me you'll love it it's so smooth

  • @acaf7604
    @acaf7604 4 місяці тому

    should i go for samsung s23 fe or pixel 8a i am from india and in india there is an offer right now and they are gonna sell samsung s23 fe for 349 dollars approximately and yeah they have exynos 2200 chipset and pixel 8a probably cost the same what is your opinion ? (does pixel 8a still have the heating problem i heard they will fix it i am not sure )

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  4 місяці тому +2

      There are a few main differences. The size of the phones, with the Pixel 8a having a 6.1" screen and the S23 FE having a 6.4" screen. The S23 FE uses an older chip when compared to the Tensor G3, so it's likely that the G3 is slightly more powerful and power efficient. And the cameras are very likely to be superior on the Pixel 8a than the S23 FE, although you get the extra 8MP telephoto on the Samsung (however, I've heard this isn't very good). Finally, I prefer the Pixel OS experience to Samsung's OneUI, so I would personally go for the Pixel 8a mainly because of that. Hope this helps!

    • @acaf7604
      @acaf7604 4 місяці тому

      @@arranpbrown thank you for this advice i am definitely getting pixel 8a then : )

    • @Dr.Mzungu
      @Dr.Mzungu 4 місяці тому

      Flipkart offering S23 for 37k for 256gb. That's seriously cheap $451 tax included unlocked.

    • @Dr.Mzungu
      @Dr.Mzungu 4 місяці тому +1

      ​@@arranpbrownI would avoid FE and get S23. That's better then 8a.

    • @acaf7604
      @acaf7604 4 місяці тому

      @@arranpbrown well apparently pixel 8 is 350 dollars and pixel 8a is 467 dollars in this offer time in india

  • @brifreekorps
    @brifreekorps 2 місяці тому

    Just ordered 256gb 8a from EE for £269 sim free - hopefully it's the best choice at that price?

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  2 місяці тому +1

      Yeah, I would say that's an excellent price for this phone and probably the best choice at that price! I hope you enjoy it! 😁

  • @JorgieFilo
    @JorgieFilo 5 місяців тому

    8 pro user, 8a is my side phone. ❤

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  5 місяців тому

      Nice - hope you're liking it! What do you actually use your second phone for? I personally find that one phone is more than enough 😅

    • @mashutaki
      @mashutaki 3 місяці тому

      Do you experience stutter while scrolling on your 8a?

  • @182Rule
    @182Rule 3 місяці тому

    I have an 6a but when i travel back home to Greece, 5g is not supported and no wifi calling either so I end up missing a lot of calls. But the biggest draw back is the slow charging. Is the only reason I am not getting a new pixel.

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  3 місяці тому

      Yeah, that is unfortunate - WiFi calling is a super important feature for me too, so I would definitely miss it if it wasn't supported in my country too! What phone are you going to get instead?

    • @182Rule
      @182Rule 3 місяці тому

      @@arranpbrown Most probably I am going for a OnePlus 12R but I am open to suggestions ☺️

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  3 місяці тому

      @182Rule I've heard good things about the 12R to be fair! Only issues is the huge size of it, but if you like big phones, then that's all good!

  • @jimmyntee
    @jimmyntee 3 місяці тому +1

    Cheaping out on charging speed is a big downer

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  3 місяці тому +1

      Yeah, fair point - it can be quite annoying how slow the 8a is to charge to be fair!

  • @stevenbowen23
    @stevenbowen23 5 місяців тому

    What is better the 8a or redmi note 13 peo?

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  5 місяців тому +2

      There are quite a few differences between the two. I've never used the Redmi, so I can't comment on the actual user experience I'm afraid. The Redmi obviously has a larger 6.7" screen, so if you like bigger screens, go for that. I can almost guarantee the cameras on the Pixel 8a will produce better results then the Redmi, as I think it has a phenomenal camera setup. The battery is larger on the Redmi and the charging speed is far faster, so if that's important to you, then get the Redmi. The last major difference is the operating system. I've never used the MIUI from Redmi, so again, I can't really comment on it, but I love the OS on Pixel and the extra added features it provides. It feels clean and uncluttered, which I love. I would personally still go for the 8a, but you may have different preferences. Also, the Redmi is significantly cheaper at £339 (currently on sale at £269), so that's a big factor too.
      Hope this helps.

    • @stevenbowen23
      @stevenbowen23 5 місяців тому

      @@arranpbrown I agree I would have gone pixel 8a over the two also. I've gone Honor 200 over the pixel though.

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  5 місяців тому +1

      No worries, hopefully the Honor suits your needs! Cheers.

  • @ÆßV
    @ÆßV 5 місяців тому +2

    Does the Pixel 8 have a brighter, punchier *display?* How much better is the Pixel 8's *camera* compared to the 8a in percentage?
    Cheers !

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  5 місяців тому +2

      The displays are basically the same, with the Pixel 8a just have a very slightly smaller screen. For brightness and colours they are not different at all. I can't really give a percentage because that's super subjective haha. They both produce really good and really similar results because it's less about the camera hardware and more about the software processing, which is the same on each phone! Hope this helps!

    • @ÆßV
      @ÆßV 5 місяців тому +1

      @@arranpbrown Well, in my initial testing, the Pixel 8 had a brighter screen and the camera captured more details especially in the low-light. I sold the 8a after a week of testing, so I had to ask if there is any improvement.
      Cheers!

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  5 місяців тому +1

      No worries - I didn't notice any difference in the brightness or contrast etc of the screen, or I would have mentioned it in the review! And fair enough about the low-light etc. I think you have to be really analysing the camera closely to notice any sort of difference as the camera performance wasn't significantly different for me! I don't think the difference is enough to be a major difference between the two phones, but that was just what I found from my testing! Cheers 😊

    • @ÆßV
      @ÆßV 5 місяців тому +2

      @@arranpbrown Yes bud, I do port gcams so I do test them. The bigger sensor on the Pixel 8 does pull in more light and details especially in low-light. Pixel 8a tries to make up for it with higher contrast and warm tones. The Lens coating is also superior on Pixel 8. The difference in detail is more visible in video's.
      About the panel, both are using different panels (hardware) and thus will have different calibration.
      But you're right, most users may not notice it as Google's imaging and colour pipeline is quite mature. Thanks for the quick replies bud 🙌

    • @mashutaki
      @mashutaki 3 місяці тому

      @@arranpbrown Do you notice the color shift on the display of the pixel 8a?

  • @adodoyoyo
    @adodoyoyo 5 місяців тому +1

    I was thinking of Pixel 8a but I went for Samsung S23

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  5 місяців тому +1

      Honestly, I think the S23 is still a really good option in 2024 as it uses the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 which had a good mix of power and efficiency! I hope you're enjoying it 😁

  • @RajGOPAL-x8i
    @RajGOPAL-x8i 4 місяці тому

    Pixel 8a green and white one unlocked is currently $309 on amazon Us. Don't know how the hell it dropped that low and also checked for if it is renewed or not but brand new. Absolute bargain

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  4 місяці тому

      Yeah, definitely a bargain at that price! 😁

    • @metallives529
      @metallives529 4 місяці тому

      499.00 each color on amazon 5 days later. Not 309.00

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  4 місяці тому

      The prices change all the time to be fair, so I'm sure it will be back down in price again fairly soon!

    • @RajGOPAL-x8i
      @RajGOPAL-x8i 4 місяці тому

      @@metallives529 It's 375 now

  • @marcwael8433
    @marcwael8433 2 місяці тому +2

    I am confused to buy iphone 13 new or pixel 8a new also i want phone live with me about 5-6 years without any issue whta do you recommend i trust your opinion + great reviews 👍 and honest person

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  2 місяці тому +3

      I would honestly go for the Pixel 8a, because of the 120Hz screen over the 60Hz of the iPhone, I think in most markets it's still somehow cheaper than the iPhone, but mainly because the iPhone is 3 years old now, so won't be supported with software and security updates nearly as long as the Pixel 8a. The Pixel 8a is getting supported all the way up until 2031, so it should last you the 5-6 years you're hoping for! Hope this helps and thanks for the kind comment! 😁

  • @shreyanmullick4102
    @shreyanmullick4102 3 місяці тому

    If I play games on pix 8 like chess or jetpack joyride, will it hang?

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  3 місяці тому +2

      I've not tried either of those games, although I can't imagine there will be any issue playing chess on this. The phone will likely get warm, but it also depends on the climate you're in. I've had the phone get pretty warm, but haven't experienced any actual overheating warnings or issues with lag, but then again, I've not done a huge amount of gaming on it and I've only been playing Call of Duty Warzone Mobile, so your experience will likely vary!

    • @shreyanmullick4102
      @shreyanmullick4102 3 місяці тому +1

      @@arranpbrown thanks Arran! I think pix 8 is a decent phone for me as a research scholar. I would also be running software like LaTeX, python, etc and microsoft apps.. and ig pix 8 will manage them decently...

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  3 місяці тому +2

      No worries! Yes, I imagine it would be fine for those workflows, however it depends on the complexity of your projects etc. - if you're running pretty heavy projects then the extra RAM of the Pixel 8 Pro may be a better fit if you are happy with the larger screen and higher price of that phone!

    • @shreyanmullick4102
      @shreyanmullick4102 3 місяці тому +1

      ​@@arranpbrownThanks Arran for the suggestion! Sadly the pix 8 pro is double the price of pix 8 almost here in India. I will have to stick with this one. But I wouldn't be working on some heavy tasking so ig 8 will be fine with me for now... I hope tensor g 3 manages the performance for 7 yrs (due to the update it promises). Thanks 👍🏻

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  3 місяці тому +1

      @shreyanmullick4102 ahh okay, that sucks that it's so much more expensive! It may also be worth considering something like the OnePlus 12R, as it has a much faster processor and more RAM, but also a load of other really nice specs! The main things I think you'd miss out on is some of really nice Pixel exclusive software features, the 7 years of updates (the 12R is only supported for 3 years), and the really nice quality cameras on the Pixel, but if those things aren't a huge issue for you, then that might be the way to go instead. Good luck deciding either way 😁

  • @SteveLoughlin7
    @SteveLoughlin7 Місяць тому

    Thanks for pronouncing aluminum correctly says your American viewer

  • @AT-ux9zm
    @AT-ux9zm 4 місяці тому

    Namaste sir
    I m grt fan of pixel phones. But the issue we r facing here in India is heating. Pixel phone heats very quickly. Its very difficult to hold it. U can't shoot the video because of heating. Also they don't have service support. iPhone is grabbing the market because of this. I don't know how pixel 9 will perform here in India.

    • @arranpbrown
      @arranpbrown  4 місяці тому

      Yeah, that is a pain - the phone does heat up when you are filming video for an extended period of time and I imagine it will get hotter in warmer climates, so that is something to consider I guess!