Google has kicked off Google I/O 2019, and as part of its keynote, the company announced two phones that were heavily rumored and leaked over the last couple of weeks, the Google Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL.
We’ve seen tons of leaks when it comes to those two devices, and the vast majority of those were confirmed today. The Google Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL are Google’s very first mid-range phones that carry the “Pixel” branding.
These two phones are extremely similar to the Google Pixel 3 in terms of the design, though they are made out of polycarbonate for the most part, not metal like the Pixel 3. The Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL look the same, though the Pixel 3a XL is a bit larger, thanks to a larger display.
Polycarbonate replaces metal
The Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL are still the company’s flagship smartphones, and considering that the Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL are considerably more affordable, they’re made out of polycarbonate, not metal, that’s not exactly surprising.
Just like the Pixel 3, the two phones have rather noticeable bezels above and below the display, and a single camera on the back. A capacitive fingerprint scanner can be spotted on the back of these two phones, along with a small glass / plastic (we’re still not sure) plate in the upper portion of the phone’s back side. That place looks the same as on the Pixel 3, but it’s possible that plastic replaced glass in this case.
Unlike its more expensive siblings, the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL, the Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL do include a headphone jack. That port can be found on the bottom of the two phones, along with a Type-C USB port for charging.
Mid-range build, mid-range specs
Both the Google Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL are fueled by the same processor, Google opted for the Snapdragon 670 64-bit octa-core processor from Qualcomm. This is not the company’s best mid-range offering, but it’s quite powerful, and not far behind the Snapdragon 7XX series.
Both of these devices include 4GB of RAM on the inside, and come with 64GB of storage. Android 9 Pie comes pre-installed on both phones, and needless to say, this is stock Android we’re looking at here.
The Google Pixel 3a features a 5.6-inch fullHD+ OLED display, while the Pixel 3a XL sports a 6-inch fullHD+ OLED panel. The Pixel 3a sports a 3,000mAh battery on the inside, while its larger sibling comes with a 3,700mAh battery.
A 12.2-megapixel camera (f/1.8 aperture, 1.4um pixel size) is included on the back of both devices, and is one of the main selling points for the Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL, as that is the same sensor that is available on the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL.
A single 8-megapixel camera can be found on the front side of the two phones. These cameras should be able to provide great images with help from Google’s software, just like its more expensive siblings, but we’ll have to review them in order to be sure they’re on the same level.
Both phones also come with stereo speakers, which is a welcomed addition considering these are mid-range devices. In order to call upon the Google Assistant, all you have to do is squeeze the edges on either of these two phones, same as on the Pixel 3 phones.
Budget is the name of the game, and such is Pixel 3a (XL)’s price tag
Pricing for the Pixel 3a series starts at $399, that will get you the 64GB storage variant of the Pixel 3a. The Pixel 3a XL, on the other hand, will set you back $479. Both devices come in three color variants, Just Black, Clearly White, and Purple-ish.
The Google Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL will be available starting today in the US, and a number of other markets, including: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Singapore, Spain, Taiwan, and the UK. In the US, the two phones will be available directly from Google, and from T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, and US Cellular.
The two phones will probably hit a number of retailers as well, though Google did not bring that up during the keynote.
Buy the Google Pixel 3a (XL) (Google Store)
Google Pixel 3a (XL) AH pictures:
Google I/O Pixel 3a (XL) pictures:
Google Pixel 3a renders:
Google Pixel 3a XL renders:
