Pixel 3a Camera Review: Single Camera Magic, Now Affordable!

During the Google I/O 2019 keynote in Mountain View, the company finally put an end to all the mystery and confusion surrounding the mid-range Pixel 3a smartphone. The Pixel 3a has finally arrived, and yes, the leaks were all true. Google is packing its flagship cameras in a more affordable offering, giving you the benefits and features we’ve seen before only at a higher price point.

With a mid-range chipset not as powerful as the Snapdragon 800 series chipsets, there has been a lot of talk about how the cameras on the Pixel 3a will perform and whether they can continue the legacy. Reveal the Pixel 3 series. We’re here to take a look at whether Google’s claims to offer a flagship-quality camera experience at an affordable price are true:

Pixel 3a Camera Features

Before we take a look at some camera samples, let’s get the Pixel 3a’s specs out of the way. this Pixel 3a has a 12.2MP (f/1.8) rear camera and the same Sony IMX363 sensor that came with the flagship Pixel 3. there is one 8 MP (f/2.0) selfie cameraWith 84 degree field of view and EIS.

Google didn’t skip any camera features with the Pixel 3a, using computational photography algorithms to give users everything from the Photobooth to the over-hyped Night Sight feature.

If we talk about my short experience with the camera application, this is the same interface and features that not only Pixel users, but also GCam mod users are familiar with. It runs smoothly on Pixel 3a with zero shutter lag and performance issues. And what’s even more impressive is that the phone processes pictures taken on the Pixel 3 within the expected time.

Google may have taken price-cutting measures for design and internal features, but it hasn’t made any compromises on the camera experience. I absolutely admire Google’s focus on the same thing, so without further ado, let’s take a look at some camera examples:

note: We’ve resized the camera samples attached below to not overwhelm the website and affect your viewing experience, but you can browse full resolution samples using this. Google Drive link.

Pixel 3a: Daylight Examples

Well, let me start by telling you that, once I got the Pixel 3a in my hands, all I wanted to do was check its camera and see how it compares to the only device it’s derived from. Pixel 3. I did just that, and you’ll see Pixel 3a camera samples alongside the Pixel 3 samples I captured below.

Let me not prolong this and say that Images clicked from Pixel 3a look almost identical to Pixel 3. The image quality of the examples below is so close that you probably won’t be able to distinguish the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3a images. Daylight samples are well detailed and sharp, with good color fidelity and high dynamic range.

Check out some of the camera samples we’ve captured over the last two days here:

Pixel 3a: Low Light Examples

Camera performance in daylight conditions is also enhanced in low-light conditions. As you can see in the attached camera examples below, the Pixel 3a and Pixel 3 are neck-to-neck, but there are a few pictures where I think the Pixel 3 is better than the mid-range smartphone.

The Pixel 3 handles highlights and shadows in low light better than the Pixel 3a’s camera, though it’s not half bad to get the same camera experience for half the price. Check out examples captured by Sharun here:

Pixel 3a: Night Sight Examples

While the Huawei P30 Pro now has the Night Sight beat in the low-light department, we appreciate Google rolling out this much-praised feature on the Pixel 3a. For those who don’t know Night Vision, it allows users to take pictures in dimly lit environments by shooting bursts of 5-6 seconds.

Night Sight was first introduced with the flagship Pixel 3 smartphone, and the Pixel 3a offers exactly the same experience as you can see in the examples attached below. Photos taken with Night Vision are clearer, more detailed and of course brightly lit than their counterparts.

Pixel 3a: Selfies and Portraits

Even the selfies and portraits taken with the Pixel 3a are great and I love how the photos turn out. Pixel 3a offers the same flagship camera experience that Google promised, with very sharp, detailed and realistic colors.

Portraits, on the other hand, have excellent edge detection, which you can check for yourself in Sharun’s top photo, but the background blur looks too strong for my liking. It helps to distinguish the subject from the environment, which is great. If you’re waiting to browse the camera samples, go ahead:

If you’re looking for more selfie and portrait camera examples, don’t worry, I’ve got you covered:

Pixel 3a: Video Recording

Finally, if we talk about the video recording capabilities of the Pixel 3a, they are on par with its flagship sibling. The rear camera supports up to 4K video recording at 30 frames per second with OIS and EIS in reserve. In the video example attached below, you can see for yourself that the image is pretty stable and the Pixel 3a is also focusing quickly.

Color reproduction is also pretty great, including selfie videos that support 1080p recording at 30 FPS with EIS. Rupesh can be seen in the example attached below; this indicates that the recording is stable and the sound recorded from the built-in microphone is also great.

SEE ALSO – Pixel 3a First Impressions: A Cute Smartphone with a Surprising Price Tag

Pixel 3a Camera Review: Nothing More Than Pixel Experience

Google relies heavily on the camera prowess of the mid-range Pixel 3a, basically giving you a flagship-class experience at an affordable price. Pricing is more affordable internationally compared to the Indian market, but users who have always wanted a Pixel device with the best cameras and stock experience now have the perfect smartphone.

If you are looking for the best camera experience in the under 40,000 segment, the Pixel 3a will be the perfect choice for you. What are your thoughts on the Pixel 3a’s camera experience? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.