So, the Google Pixel 8a costs $500, huh? Looking at the poll from last week, most people think that this is too expensive for a mid-ranger. And indeed it is, considering that the flagship Pixel 8 has been quite close to this price many times in the past.
But not now, though. The Pixel 9 series is still a few months out, but the Pixel 8 is rather pricey right now and some colorways are almost out of stock. And the 8a is getting some deals.
For example, Amazon is offering a $100 gift card with the purchase of a Google Pixel 8a. This can be spend on a case, a charger, headphones or anything else you might need (we will look at headphones in a moment). And remember, this year there is a 256GB option for those who find it hard to fit in 128GB.
But don’t rush to buy the Pixel just yet. The Samsung Galaxy A35 is $40 less than it was last week, making it cheaper than the Pixel 8a, even if we subtract the gift card from its price. The Pixel will get longer software support (7 years, vs. 4 OS updates and 5 years of patches for the Galaxy).
The Galaxy A35 has a larger display – 6.6” vs. 6.1” – which can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on who you ask. The larger battery (5,000mAh vs. 4,492mAh) is definitely a good thing, but there is no wireless charging (the Pixel does 7.5W). Note that the Galaxy has a microSD slot.
And if you’re spending $500, why not a get a Samsung Galaxy S23 FE? That’s still at the same prices as last week, meaning $500 for the 8/128GB model and $560 for the 8/256GB one. Coincidentally, the same prices for the same memory options as the Pixel, not including the gift card. So, the S23 FE ends up more expensive.
While the Tensor G3 doesn’t have the best reputation, it actually edges out the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 inside the Samsung. You do get an 8MP 3x tele camera with the Galaxy vs. in-sensor zoom with the Pixel and Samsung DeX. Android 15 might bring a desktop environment, but it won’t be as mature as DeX. The S23 FE is on the same update schedule a the A35, but it’s already a year old, giving the Pixel an even bigger advantage.
The OnePlus 12R is $70 cheaper than it was last week. There is only one memory option, but it embarrasses both Samsung and Google with 16GB of RAM. Storage is 256GB, non-expandable. The 12R boasts a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (which leaves the Tensor G3 behind) and an LTPO display, which no other phone here has. Its water resistance rating is weaker at IP64, but it shouldn’t matter that much in practice. The battery is bigger than the rest at 5,500mAh and while it only does wired charging, it does it at 80W.
If you do decide to go with the Pixel 8a instead of one of these, what would you spend the $100 gift card on? How about add $40 and get the Pixel Buds Pro. These work with the live translation AI that Google is actively developing.
Alternatively, or if you are an Apple user, you can pick up the Beats Studio Buds. These are pretty old at this point, but are down to just $100 and they come with 2 years of AppleCare+ for Headphones, giving you peace of mind. They have ANC and up to 8 hours of listening time for the buds (24 hours total with the case).
The Beats Fit Pro are pricier, but they are designed for sport – this means rubber wings on the buds for a more secure fit while you exercise and an IPX4 splash resistance rating, so you don’t have to worry about rain or sweat. They are powered by the Apple H1 chip and last 6 hours on their own (24 hours total with the case).
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