Does anybody have interest in these 3a Pixels?

[mustang7757]

That's my thoughts, could be wrong but really think that. Lol

Damn .. So you thinking that 670 ain't got the guns to run that 3 year distance... Is that what I'm picking up?

 

[B. Diddy]

You can change the quality at which Photos stores them in settings - there's no additional cost for the ability to have them backed up like that, but there's a limit to the amount of storage you get for free. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm mistaken, but if memory serves, anyone signing up for a Google account (free) - which is required for any android phone, or to use Google Photos - gets unlimited 'high resolution' storage that doesn't count against your free included Google Drive storage. Yes, you can pay for additional storage, but that could be done with any device.

This is correct.

 

[Mike Dee]

Losing unlimited Original Quality storage on the 3a makes sense to me. For a phone half the price of a flagship Pixel, it seems reasonable to encourage users to pay a couple of bucks a month to expand their Google Drive storage if they want to keep their original quality photos backed up in Google Photos. I still feel that the High Quality photos are virtually indistinguishable in terms of quality, though!

Another tradeoff that I haven't seen mentioned is that since the 3a doesn't have a Visual Core, all of the photo processing has to be done by the main CPU -- which means increased battery usage. So if you're on vacation and plan to take a ton of pictures with your 3a, make sure you bring a powerbank!

HDR+ is slower without Visual Core

 

[Morty2264]

If you've ever had water damage to a phone, I can certainly understand that perspective. The fact that it doesn't have an IP rating is likely tied in part to the associated cost it would add. A number of phones without any official rating have been shown on YouTube to be just fine after submersion in water - though with a 3.5mm headphone jack, the 3a might have a harder time.

At a low price point they had to leave a few things out, and I suspect they felt that while it's a nice thing to have their target audience wouldn't prefer it over what it would have had to replace to maintain the price. Given the success the OnePlus 6 had with no rating, I don't necessarily disagree, though it might be a deal breaker for some.

I haven't had water damage yet, but when I make an investment in a phone, it's now one of the key features I look for! You're right though: IP ratings would add additional cost to the smartphone's manufacture. I thought of OnePlus too when you mentioned that Google left some things out figuring that their target audience would rather have other features. And I think OnePlus is indeed one of those phones that can take a splash or two without having an official IP rating.

 

[MUK3SHJAT]

They are giving SD 670 processor at 3 time of the price in which Xiaomi, RealMe & Asus Giving...
They could have given SD 845 in phone which POCO is giving at less then 300$...
Google a3 looks total crap..

 

[B. Diddy]

But Xiaomi, RealMe, and ASUS phones don't have the stellar camera nor the guaranteed 3 years of updates. To me, that's well worth the price.

 

[Golurk]

pixel 2xl has better build, notification light, water resistance and is cheaper than 3a xl. How is the 3a xl an upgrade to the 2 xl?

In addition to what @scottoNJ said about the better processor, software updates and GPU, the display is also superior. Sure, it’s FHD instead of QHD but is pleasantly vibrant, easy to read and has good viewing angles...as many people know the 2 XL was plagued by a mediocre LG OLED display.

 

[Golurk]

They are giving SD 670 processor at 3 time of the price in which Xiaomi, RealMe & Asus Giving...
They could have given SD 845 in phone which POCO is giving at less then 300$...
Google a3 looks total crap..

B. Diddy is right. The Pixel 3a (XL) offers a vastly superior camera (premium if not last-gen flagship level), guaranteed and regular software updates and a clean version of Android that has no bloatware and the great integration with the Google suite of apps.

Plus there’s the snob factor XD

Google has more prestige than Xiaomi, Realme or Asus.

 

[Mike Dee]

In addition to what @scottoNJ said about the better processor, software updates and GPU, the display is also superior. Sure, it’s FHD instead of QHD but is pleasantly vibrant, easy to read and has good viewing angles...as many people know the 2 XL was plagued by a mediocre LG OLED display.

I had a 2XL and the display was great. It was plagued by a lot of media hysteria.

 

[mustang7757]

I have to say my 2xl display is good also

 

[Mike Dee]

I have to say my 2xl display is good also

Yup....there were a few QC issues initially so the odds of getting one with a high amount of "blue shift" were higher in the beginning. All overblown to the extent that any colorshift viewed had people bonkers. All AMOLED screens shift in color at angles. All LCD screens shift in brightness at angles.

 

[mustang7757]

Yup....there were a few QC issues initially so the odds of getting one with a high amount of "blue shift" were higher in the beginning. All overblown to the extent that any colorshift viewed had people bonkers. All AMOLED screens shift in color at angles. All LCD screens shift in brightness at angles.

True , as much as I dont like lg oleds panels this one is pretty good.

 

[dbulick]

True , as much as I dont like lg oleds panels this one is pretty good.

Which is hilarious because LG is a world leader in OLED TVs.

 

[mustang7757]

Which is hilarious because LG is a world leader in OLED TVs.

They get TV right but not phones , I dont know lol

 

[B. Diddy]

Coming soon, the LG G9 MAX, the first 55" UHD OLED phone!

 

[Mike Dee]

Coming soon, the LG G9 MAX, the first 55" UHD OLED phone!

You forgot to mention roll-up screen

 

[B. Diddy]

And Dr. Strange hand-waving gestures.

 

[mustang7757]

And Dr. Strange hand-waving gestures.

That just did me in

 

[I Can Be Your Hero]

Yup....there were a few QC issues initially so the odds of getting one with a high amount of "blue shift" were higher in the beginning. All overblown to the extent that any colorshift viewed had people bonkers. All AMOLED screens shift in color at angles. All LCD screens shift in brightness at angles.

The complaints weren't overblown at all and they weren't just about colour shift. There was the grain, image retention, black smear etc. It was the worst screen of any flagship phone in 2017. Any other LCD/AMOLED screen was substantially better in every respect, and yet Google charged a high end price for the 2XL with it's plastic feel, bad screen and myriad of QC issues is offensive. Pixel 3 has even more QC issues and bugs embarrassingly. Plus the slowdown has stained the Pixel brand and 'pure Google' experience which used to be a positive. Now they're just things you tolerate to get to use the camera. And even there competitors have caught up/surpassed Google.

Now with the Pixel 3a series, this actually kinda looks like Pixel phones that might be worth the price. A good camera, decent screen etc at a cheaper price. I don't see any reason to buy the 3/3XL - probably because they were really mid-ranged phones charged at full price, so now the 3a phones make much more sense for the price. The tradeoffs in hardware seem fair to hit that $400 US price. The ram is now reasonable for a mid-range phone. And if you're getting the same camera experience, I personally wouldn't spend more and 'upgrade' to the regular Pixel 3/3XL. Better off saving the money imo.

I'll keep an eye out on the Pixel 4a/4a XL. Might be decent value Pixels with hopefully the same cameras as the Pixel 4/4XL.

 

[Mike Dee]

The complaints weren't overblown at all and they weren't just about colour shift. There was the grain, image retention, black smear etc. It was the worst screen of any flagship phone in 2017. Any other LCD/AMOLED screen was substantially better in every respect, and yet Google charged a high end price for the 2XL with it's plastic feel, bad screen and myriad of QC issues is offensive. Pixel 3 has even more QC issues and bugs embarrassingly. Plus the slowdown has stained the Pixel brand and 'pure Google' experience which used to be a positive. Now they're just things you tolerate to get to use the camera. And even there competitors have caught up/surpassed Google.

Now with the Pixel 3a series, this actually kinda looks like Pixel phones that might be worth the price. A good camera, decent screen etc at a cheaper price. I don't see any reason to buy the 3/3XL - probably because they were really mid-ranged phones charged at full price, so now the 3a phones make much more sense for the price. The tradeoffs in hardware seem fair to hit that $400 US price. The ram is now reasonable for a mid-range phone. And if you're getting the same camera experience, I personally wouldn't spend more and 'upgrade' to the regular Pixel 3/3XL. Better off saving the money imo.

I'll keep an eye out on the Pixel 4a/4a XL. Might be decent value Pixels with hopefully the same cameras as the Pixel 4/4XL.

They were overblown. You had a bad experience as well as did some others. You complained from day one with the 2, sold it, then bought it again. Complained some more, than bought the 3 and complained forever. The majority of Pixel 2 and 3 owners here on these forums did not have your issues and forums usually pick up a lot of negativity.