Christine Romero-Chan / Digital Trends
Right earlier than Google I/O 2024, Google confirmed off the most recent Pixel gadget, the Google Pixel 8a. This is the most recent providing from the Pixel A-series, which is a extra budget-friendly Pixel for many who don’t want all of the bells and whistles of the flagship Pixel 8 or 8 Pro.
The Pixel 8a contains a new design with extra rounded corners and a matte-finish again. It packs Google’s newest silicon, the Tensor G3, however the digicam {hardware} stays unchanged from its predecessor, the Pixel 7a.
One of the issues I personally like about Pixel telephones is the digicam and the ensuing pictures; it’s onerous to take a nasty photograph with a Pixel! But my main cellphone is my iPhone 15 Pro, and I used to be curious as to how Google’s newest $500 cellphone stacked up towards Apple’s $1,000 flagship. So, I did what any wise particular person would do — an in-depth digicam comparability between the 2.
Google Pixel 8a vs. iPhone 15 Pro: digicam specs
Christine Romero-Chan / Digital Trends
Before we take a look at the pictures, we have to look at the digicam {hardware}. How does a $500 cellphone evaluate to at least one that’s $1,000?
With the Google Pixel 8a, we’ve a twin digicam setup on the rear: a 64-megapixel primary digicam with an f/1.9 aperture and a 13MP ultrawide lens with a 120-degree discipline of view (FOV) and an f/2.2 aperture. there’s additionally a 13MP selfie digicam with an f/2.2 aperture on the entrance.
The iPhone 15 Pro has a triple rear digicam system: a 48MP primary digicam with an f/1.8 aperture and a 12MP ultrawide digicam with a 120-degree discipline of view (FOV) and f/2.2 aperture, plus a 12MP telephoto digicam with as much as 3x optical zoom. For selfies, we’ve a 12MP entrance going through digicam with an f/1.9 aperture.
Since the Pixel 8a doesn’t have a telephoto lens, we gained’t be evaluating zoomed-in pictures right here, because it wouldn’t be honest. But the whole lot else is honest sport, so let’s get to it.
Google Pixel 8a vs. iPhone 15 Pro: primary digicam
For most individuals, myself included, the principle digicam is probably going the one you’re going to make use of probably the most. After all, it defaults to the principle digicam while you open up the digicam app, and also you sometimes simply snap your photograph and stick with it together with your day. While the megapixels are necessary, there’s extra to it than simply the quantity.
1.
Google Pixel 8a
2.
iPhone 15 Pro
Let’s begin with this Pixar Fest 2024 show on Main Street in Disneyland. Though each photos are comparable, the iPhone 15 Pro model appears to have extra distinction, making some components of the show, particularly shadows, seem darker than they need to be. The Pixel 8a picture is brighter and extra vibrant with the show’s colours, however some particulars are softer, just like the yellow flowers upfront and sure characters, just like the Turning Red trio. Both pictures are good, however the iPhone 15 Pro handles the smaller particulars only a bit higher.
1.
Google Pixel 8a
2.
iPhone 15 Pro
It appears just like the TARDIS from Doctor Who has landed in Downtown Disney! Unfortunately, I didn’t see any signal of the Doctor apart from his TARDIS. Both photos listed here are very comparable, however while you take a better look, the feel on the wooden’s floor is crisper and sharper within the iPhone 15 Pro model, whereas it seems softer within the Pixel 8a pic. But the Pixel 8a did a greater job of background particulars, such because the tree on the fitting and the folks within the background, in comparison with the iPhone.
1.
Google Pixel 8a
2.
iPhone 15 Pro
Here’s a batch of yellow foxgloves within the planters on Buena Vista Street in Disney California Adventure Park. The iPhone 15 Pro model seems to have a hotter tone and is rather more vibrant general. It additionally has a a lot stronger bokeh impact occurring within the background. With the Pixel 8a model, you might have a much less pronounced background bokeh, and the vegetation seem darker, with extra lush greens and extra practical colours. These are each good photos, so it simply comes right down to which one you like.
1.
Google Pixel 8a
2.
iPhone 15 Pro
This is a photograph of the unbelievable Millennium Falcon sugar sculpture in Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel throughout the Season of the Force occasion. The iPhone 15 Pro model appears unbelievable, with the entire small particulars crisp and clear, from the rock formations within the again to the tiny components lining the aspect of the Millennium Falcon. On the opposite hand, the Pixel 8a picture didn’t accomplish that nicely, as all of these finer particulars seem softer and a bit extra blurry than within the picture snapped by its iPhone counterpart.
1.
Google Pixel 8a
2.
iPhone 15 Pro
I believe this photograph captures a little bit of the fantastic thing about residing in Southern California. Palm bushes, blue skies, and a sundown within the distance. The iPhone 15 Pro did an awesome job of capturing the brilliant blue sky with some cloud cowl and the yellow solar within the distance. The palm bushes and grass are very darkish, so you may’t see numerous element because of the distinction, however that’s the sort of look I’m going for when the main target is the sundown. On the Pixel 8a, the colours are somewhat extra uninteresting within the sky and the solar peeking behind the clouds is certainly blown out. It does have much less distinction with the intention to see the grass with the glow of the sundown, although.
1.
Google Pixel 8a
2.
iPhone 15 Pro
There’s an area park in my city with this enjoyable airplane mannequin that my daughter loves visiting, and it’s enjoyable to take pictures of. Again, the iPhone has extra distinction occurring with a hotter tone. The colours are extra vivid and shiny, and the finer particulars are crisper and sharper. You may even make out the person particulars within the wooden chips and the feel on the wing of the aircraft. The Pixel 8a picture appears a bit extra uninteresting and lifeless, and it has softer particulars in comparison with the iPhone picture.
1.
Google Pixel 8a
2.
iPhone 15 Pro
Lastly, right here’s a shot of the Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland. I like the general vibrancy of the Pixel 8a picture, but it surely additionally loses a little bit of element with the textures on the fort partitions and even the steeples up prime. The water fountain additionally appears a bit blurry and you’ll’t see make out the small print on the rocks. The iPhone picture seems sharper and has the entire finer particulars, however the colours are somewhat harsher than I’d like.
Winner: iPhone 15 Pro
Google Pixel 8a vs. iPhone 15 Pro: ultrawide digicam
The ultrawide lens on smartphones is nice while you need to seize extra of a scene than what you sometimes get with the principle digicam. But the issue is that you simply often have fewer megapixels than the principle digicam, which implies a lack of element. Both the iPhone 15 Pro and Pixel 8a have comparable ultrawide lenses, with only a 1MP distinction between them.
1.
Google Pixel 8a
2.
iPhone 15 Pro
One of my favourite views in Disney California Adventure is simply searching on the waterfront from Pixar Pier. Both the iPhone 15 Pro and Pixel 8a produce comparable outcomes. However, the iPhone picture has a bit extra noise and grain within the water, and it seems darker than the Pixel 8a’s. In the Pixel 8a model, you might have brighter colours and barely extra element, due to the 13MP lens as a substitute of the 12MP of the iPhone. But the Pixel 8a didn’t deal with the solar too nicely, because it seems blown out and has a visual lens flare impact, which isn’t a problem within the iPhone picture.
1.
Google Pixel 8a
2.
iPhone 15 Pro
The flowers have bloomed within the rose backyard on the native park, and it’s certainly one of my favourite issues to see. In these ultrawide pictures, each the Pixel 8a and iPhone 15 Pro carried out equally. But I really feel just like the Pixel 8a is a bit higher by way of colours and element, particularly with the greenery on the fitting aspect of the primary archway. The iPhone picture isn’t dangerous, although, and it does present textures within the rock planters a bit higher, however the distinction is fairly negligible.
Winner: Draw
Google Pixel 8a vs. iPhone 15 Pro: selfies and portraits
Though my most used digicam is the principle one, I additionally take numerous selfies and portraits. Portraits are an particularly simple strategy to give an additional skilled contact to a photograph of an individual.
1.
Google Pixel 8a
2.
iPhone 15 Pro
Here’s a portrait of my husband, who’s my No. 1 portrait topic once I’m testing cameras. Both photos are comparable, however the pores and skin tone appears extra correct with the iPhone 15 Pro model. I additionally consider that the tree within the background has a greater, extra vibrant coloration that contrasts properly and permits his hair to be extra seen. His shirt can be a greater coloration within the iPhone picture, whereas it appears a bit washed-out within the Pixel 8a model, and he seems extra pale there, too.
1.
Google Pixel 8a
2.
iPhone 15 Pro
My different nice portrait topic is my daughter, who likes to have her pictures taken. Once once more, the iPhone will get the pores and skin tone extra precisely, because the Pixel 8a makes her look extra pale than she truly is. The iPhone captures the rosiness in her cheeks, which you don’t actually see within the Pixel 8a picture. The Pixel 8a does have her extra in focus, nevertheless, whereas the iPhone has softer edges across the hood of her jacket. But there’s some distortion across the edges of her hair within the Pixel 8a picture, whereas the iPhone has a softer bokeh impact that seamlessly blends in. Both photos right here have their strengths and weaknesses.
1.
Google Pixel 8a
2.
iPhone 15 Pro
No journey to Disney California Adventure is full with no photograph alongside the Pixar Pier waterfront. In the iPhone 15 Pro selfie, you might have sharper particulars, particularly with the background surroundings — you may see the railing of the Incredicoaster loop clearer than within the Pixel 8a picture. However, I really feel just like the Pixel 8a did a greater job right here with the vibrancy within the colours, and it bought my pores and skin tone higher. But the sky is a bit washed-out. Again, professionals and cons for every picture.
1.
Google Pixel 8a
2.
iPhone 15 Pro
I took this selfie whereas on the park with my household. I choose the iPhone photograph right here, as my pores and skin tone is best represented. The Pixel 8a made me look a bit redder because of the daylight hitting my face. However, the Pixel 8a appeared to get the opposite colours extra exact, with the brilliant pastel shades in my shirt, in addition to the background with the blue sky and inexperienced within the bushes, trying extra practical. The wooden chips appear extra true to life by way of coloration with the iPhone picture, although.
1.
Google Pixel 8a
2.
iPhone 15 Pro
This is a selfie of me within the rose backyard at my native park. Both photos are comparable in dealing with my pores and skin tone and the colour of my shirt. But for the background, the colour of the bushes is a little more vibrant within the iPhone picture, whereas it’s a tad darker within the Pixel 8a model. Overall, it’s fairly shut for this one.
Winner: iPhone 15 Pro
Google Pixel 8a vs. iPhone 15 Pro: lowlight pictures
Remember a cut-off date when smartphone cameras had been simply absolute crap at taking pictures in dimly lit environments or at evening? Boy, have instances modified. Our smartphones now are able to taking some fairly good photos in lowlight situations thanks to nighttime modes and bigger sensors that seize extra gentle. Though I’m hardly out late nowadays (the fun of being older), Night Mode and Night Sight on iPhones and Pixels, respectively, are super-handy to have.
1.
Google Pixel 8a
2.
iPhone 15 Pro
The first picture right here is of a tree in entrance of my home at round 9 p.m. It’s darkish out, and the one gentle supply is the streetlights. It’s fairly clear that the iPhone 15 Pro did a greater job right here with Night Mode in comparison with Night Sight on the Pixel 8a. The particulars on the tree trunk and leaves are rather more clear and crisp. The Pixel 8a has a lot softer particulars, and you’ll’t even make out the bunches of leaves on the prime just like the iPhone can.
1.
Google Pixel 8a
2.
iPhone 15 Pro
I managed to catch this stunning sundown whereas heading again to the automobile after an extended day at Disneyland with the household. This one I consider is a matter of desire. The iPhone 15 Pro did a greater job at capturing the brightness of the orange glow and the solar itself, because the Pixel 8a has a softer hue and a little bit of a yellow aura across the solar. The distinction of the whole lot else within the lot can be higher within the iPhone model because it’s darker, whereas you may see Minnie on the primary lamppost signal. Both photos are good, however I choose the iPhone one only for capturing the colours higher.
1.
Google Pixel 8a
2.
iPhone 15 Pro
Lastly, that is a picture of the highest of a tree with the moon peeking via the branches within the center. The iPhone 15 Pro picture is rather more clear with the small print of the tree branches and leaves, and you’ll clearly see the moon within the center because it’s not blown out. The Pixel 8a has delicate and muddled particulars all over the place, and nothing is admittedly clear. Even the moon doesn’t actually present up, because it’s only a blown-out white spot within the center that doesn’t even appear to be a circle. There’s additionally a sort of vignette factor occurring with the Pixel 8a picture, as the sides are darker than the remainder of the picture.
Winner: iPhone 15 Pro
Google Pixel 8a vs. iPhone 15 Pro: verdict
Christine Romero-Chan / Digital Trends
The outcomes right here aren’t all that stunning. After all, we’re evaluating a flagship cellphone with a midrange choice. But nonetheless, Pixel gadgets are recognized for taking fairly good pictures, which is why we wished to see how the Pixel 8a would evaluate to one of the vital costly iPhones you should buy in 2024.
We aren’t saying that the Pixel 8a is horrible — it’s not! For a $500 cellphone, it truly does take some fairly good pictures. It’s simply not fairly nearly as good as a cellphone that prices twice as a lot. The Pixel 8a notably struggles by way of lowlight pictures, even with its Night Sight mode. I do know that individuals wish to criticize Apple’s iPhones for his or her digicam high quality, however as this take a look at proves, the iPhone 15 Pro stays an unbelievable digicam cellphone. It’s additionally onerous to disclaim some helpful options like Auto Portrait mode.
If something, this digicam comparability is an effective reminder you could get stable digicam experiences at plenty of totally different value ranges in 2024. A $500 Pixel might not defeat a $1,000 iPhone, but it surely’s additionally not an entire blowout — and that’s fairly spectacular.
Editors’ Recommendations