The Google Pixel 8a is not the price-sensitive mid-range offering that its ancestors used to be. Retailing at $499 (approximately MYR 2,357), it rises to the upper echelons of the mid-range segment and relies on an arsenal of upgrades to back it up.
But the Pixel 8a surely makes Google’s Gen-AI-based smart user experience more accessible and, with a tempting spec sheet, has the potential to steer people away from the Apple iPhone 15.
While the iPhone 15 still has a significantly higher price compared to the Pixel 8a, its premium set of features helps Apple‘s most affordable iPhone stand up to Android competition. The iOS ecosystem is a major determining factor and iPhones have proven themselves when it comes to reliability. However, Google is also moving forward in this area by promising up to seven years of operating system updates and class-leading cameras, trying to attract a younger audience focused on sustainability.
So, if you were planning to get an iPhone 15 but weren’t impressed with Apple’s offering, can the Pixel 8a be your next pocket assistant? Our comparison between Google Pixel 8a and Apple iPhone 15 should help clear your head.
Google Pixel 8a vs Apple iPhone 15: Do their specs tell the whole story?
Design and build
The Pixel 8a belongs to the beautiful Pixel 8 family and so Google has given it the same pebble-shaped aesthetic that we love on the smartphone. Any layman would have a hard time differentiating between the Pixel 8a and the Pixel 8 unless they do a close inspection. Since the price is affordable, Google has given the Pixel 8a a plastic back panel and a flatter metal camera bar. The bezels around the screen are slightly thicker than the Pixel 8, but overall the phone looks original.
On the contrary, the iPhone 15 goes for a sophisticated and premium look. The extra dollars you pay give you the luxury of matte rear glass, well-contoured aluminum edges, and a lightweight profile. The dynamic island on the front gives the iPhone a modern touch, but overall, you get similar vibes to the 2021 iPhone 13. The compact 6.1-inch dimensions make it quite comfortable to hold.
While the Pixel 8a looks original, the iPhone 15 impresses with its superior build quality.
Winner: Tie
Show
While both the Pixel 8a and iPhone 15 feature 6.1-inch OLED display panels that reach peak brightness levels of 2,000 nits, the experience they impart is dramatically different. The Pixel 8a’s OLED panel has a maximum refresh rate of 120Hz and supports Always On functionality. The iPhone 15’s OLED panel is restricted to 60Hz, but the color accuracy is a notch higher than the Pixel 8a’s display.
When it comes to biometric verification, the Pixel 8a relies on an optical in-display fingerprint scanner beneath its Gorilla Glass 3 layer. The iPhone 15 uses a more durable Ceramic Shield glass made by Corning and offers a reliable Face ID scanner.
So, even though the Pixel 8a offers a 120Hz refresh rate, it’s the iPhone 15 that offers an overall superior viewing experience with its color-accurate OLED panel.
Winner: iPhone 15
Performance
With the Pixel 8a, you get Google’s flagship Tensor G3 chipset taken from the Pixel 8 Pro. On paper, this chip should offer top-notch performance, especially when it comes to AI-based processing. The Pixel 8a boots Android 14 out of the box, and Google promises up to seven years of OS updates that will continue to add new features over the years.
Android 14 on the Pixel 8a offers several generative AI features and offers a well-designed user interface with customization options. For a mid-range phone, this seems like a great deal.
However, the Tensor G3 is based on an outdated Samsung Exynos architecture and is no match for the Apple A16 Bionic chip, which we originally saw in the 2022 iPhone 14 Pro Max. Despite being an older generation, the iPhone’s A16 Bionic 15 is capable of handling all mobile-centric video games and demanding applications with ease. Along with the latest version of iOS 17, you are assured of a premium user experience here.
Apple doesn’t reveal its software update policy, but based on its history, you can expect an iPhone to receive up to five years of iOS updates. iOS 17 has a high level of customization and offers a more secure, privacy-oriented experience and access to a versatile but closed ecosystem.
The winner, therefore, is undoubtedly the iPhone 15, taking into account the superior hardware and the polished user experience with iOS.
Winner: iPhone 15
Cameras
The Google Pixel 8a has a dual camera system on the back, comprising a 64-megapixel sensor with f/1.9 aperture and 26mm wide lens, a 1/1.73″ sensor with a pixel size of 0.8 µm, and OIS for stability. This is accompanied by a 13-megapixel secondary sensor with an f/2.2 aperture lens that offers a 120-degree field of view and a pixel size of 1.12 µm. The front camera has a 13-megapixel sensor with a 20 mm ultra-wide-angle lens with f/2.2 aperture and fixed focus.
On the contrary, the iPhone 15 features a superior 48-megapixel image sensor with a 26mm wide-angle lens with f/1.6 aperture, a 1/1.56″ sensor with 1.0µm pixel size, and OIS with sensor shift. This is accompanied by a 12-megapixel ultra-wide sensor with a 13mm lens with f/2.4 aperture and a 120-degree field of view. The front camera has a 12-megapixel sensor with a 23mm wide-angle lens with f/1.9 aperture, phase detection autofocus, and 3D depth mapping.
Between these two, the iPhone 15 is the clear winner on paper.
Winner: iPhone 15
Battery
The Pixel 8a relies on a 4,492 mAh capacity battery and despite using Google’s 30W wired charger, it can only accept 18W charging speeds. You also get support for 7.5 Qi-standard wireless charging. W on the Pixel 8a.
The iPhone 15 features a much smaller capacity 3,349 mAh battery and is compatible with Apple’s 20W wired charger. It also supports 15W Qi2 wireless charging and MagSafe.
In the real world, both phones should last a full day on a fully charged battery. Since the iPhone 15 has a lower-capacity battery, it takes just over an hour to fully recharge it.
Winner: iPhone 15
Price in Malaysia
Despite an overall increase in price compared to its predecessor, the Google Pixel 8a is even more affordable with a starting price of $499 (approx. MYR 2,357) for the base variant with 128GB of storage. The Pixel 8a is available in Bay (blue), Obsidian (black), and Porcelain (white) colors. Some regions also get an additional Aloe (green) color scheme.
The iPhone 15, on the other hand, starts at MYR 4,399 for the base variant with 128GB of storage. You can get the iPhone 15 in blue, pink, yellow, green, and black color combinations.
Winner: Google Pixel 8a
Google Pixel 8a vs Apple iPhone 15: our verdict
Winner: Apple iPhone 15
The Pixel 8a and iPhone 15 appear similar in many ways, and yet closer inspection reveals many differences between these two. With a more affordable price, the Google Pixel 8a is still a better bet for value-conscious buyers. Not only is it easy on the pocket, but the Pixel 8a is packed with generative AI features, a pair of promising cameras, seven years of OS update promise, and a feature-rich Android experience.
On the other hand, the iPhone 15 is a mainstay of the premium smartphone segment. With superior build quality, a lightning-fast (in this context) chipset, proven cameras, great battery life, and a thriving support ecosystem, the iPhone 15 offers a complete package. Apple doesn’t promise seven years of updates, but iPhones of the past have proven reliable.
So, the iPhone 15 wins in this comparison and remains a superior option against Google’s latest Pixel offering.
Keynote USA News
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