Pixel 3a

Released May 2019

Google's compact 2019 Pixel 3a combines a 5.6-inch OLED, a stabilised rear camera and a headphone jack with 64 GB storage.

Screen: 5.6″
Display: OLED
Chip: Qualcomm Snapdragon 670
Memory: 4 GB
Storage: 64 GB
Main camera: 12.2 MP
Zoom: –
Battery: 3,000 mAh
Weight: 147 g

Compact

What reviewers say

Both reviews praised the compact design, camera quality and battery endurance. Both found performance less assured than higher-end Pixels and outdoor visibility limited. Notebookcheck liked the speakers and haptics; TechRadar found the speakers tinny and noted slow photo processing.

From notebookcheck.net, techradar.com, techradar.com, techradar.com and techradar.com

Specifications

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Display

Screen size: 5.6″
Resolution: 2220 × 1080
Sharpness: 441 pixels per inch
Panel: OLED
Display type: Full-screen OLED; 18.5:9 aspect ratio
Pixel density: 441 ppi
Always-on display: Always-on display; Now Playing
Screen protection: Asahi Dragontrail Glass identified by Notebookcheck
Display features: 100,000:1 contrast ratio; true black; 24-bit colour; 16 million colours; D67 white point

Performance

Chip: Qualcomm Snapdragon 670
Memory: 4 GB
Storage: 64 GB
CPU: 64-bit octa-core CPU; 2.0 GHz + 1.7 GHz; Titan M security module
GPU: Google's historical hardware sheet lists Adreno 615; Notebookcheck identifies Adreno 616
Storage type: 4 GB LPDDR4x RAM; eMMC storage identified by Notebookcheck; no microSD slot

Cameras

Main camera: 12.2 MP
Ultra wide camera: None
Telephoto camera: None
Optical zoom: None
Front camera: 8 MP
Main camera: Dual-pixel phase-detection autofocus; f/1.8; 1.4 μm pixels; 76° field of view; optical and electronic image stabilisation
Front camera: f/2.0; 1.12 μm pixels; fixed focus; 84° field of view
Video recording: Rear 4K at 30 fps; 1080p at 30/60/120 fps; 720p at 30/60/240 fps
Front video: 1080p, 720p or 480p at 30 fps
Camera features: HDR+; Portrait Mode; Super Res Zoom; Night Sight; time lapse

Battery and charging

Battery: 3,000 mAh
Wired charging: Up to 18 W
Wireless charging: None
Battery life detail: Maker claims up to 30 hours with a mixed-use profile and always-on display off; actual endurance varies
Wired charging: Up to 18 W using supplied USB-PD 2.0 adaptor; maker claims up to seven hours of mixed use from 15 minutes of charging; actual results vary

Design

Type: Standard
Weight: 147 g
Thickness: 8.2 mm
Height × width: 151.3 × 70.1 mm
Materials: Polycarbonate unibody
Colours: Just Black, Clearly White and Purple-ish; availability varies by market
Buttons: Power button and volume controls; Active Edge squeeze gesture
Biometrics: Pixel Imprint rear fingerprint sensor
Sensors: Proximity and ambient light; accelerometer; gyrometer; magnetometer; barometer; Android Sensor Hub; haptics
Speakers: Stereo speakers
Microphones: Two microphones with noise suppression

Software

Operating system: Android
Software at launch: Android 9 Pie
Software updates: No longer receives Android version or security updates according to Google's current support policy; original promise was three years
AI features: Google Assistant with Active Edge; Call Screen initially available in English in the US and Canada; Google Maps AR walking preview required Street View coverage, a good data connection and good lighting
In the box: 18 W USB-C power adaptor and Quick Switch adaptor confirmed in Google's launch announcement

Connectivity

Mobile network: Europe including UK supports LTE Cat 11 download up to 600 Mbps and Cat 5 upload up to 75 Mbps; three-carrier aggregation; 2x2 MIMO; no 5G
SIM: One nano-SIM and eSIM in selected markets, including the UK; operator dependent
Wi-Fi: Dual-band 2.4/5 GHz 802.11a/b/g/n/ac; 2x2 MIMO
Bluetooth: Bluetooth 5.0 + LE; aptX and aptX HD
NFC: NFC; Google Cast; FeliCa on Japanese models
USB: USB-C 2.0; 3.5 mm headphone jack
Positioning: GPS and GLONASS; BeiDou and Galileo outside the US and Puerto Rico

Storage options

Storage
64 GB

Pros and cons

Pros

Compact 147 g design
Stabilised main camera with Night Sight
Headphone jack and stereo speakers

Cons

No 5G, wireless charging or published IP rating
No ultra wide or optical telephoto camera
Only 64 GB storage with no microSD slot

Closest rivals

Model	Screen	Display	Chip	Memory	Storage	Main camera	Zoom	Battery	Weight	Released
SamsungGalaxy A8 (2018)	5.6″	OLED	Exynos 7885	4 GB	32 GB	16 MP	–	3,000 mAh	172 g	Jan 2018
SamsungGalaxy A40	5.9″	OLED	Exynos 7904	4 GB	64 GB	16 MP	–	3,100 mAh	140 g	Apr 2019
MotorolaMoto G6	5.7″	LCD	Qualcomm Snapdragon 450	3 GB – 4 GB	32 GB – 64 GB	12 MP	–	3,000 mAh	167 g	2018

Newer model: Pixel 4a.

Sources

Photo: Google official exact-model launch photograph; complete supplied canvas retained.

AR Walking Navigation on Maps.gif: Google — official exact-model launch photograph, pixel3a-launch

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