What you get in these smartphones are all the benefits of that flagship camera in a below-average handset for a mid-tier price.
Google launched the Pixel 3a and 3aXL at yesterday’s I/O keynote. The Pixel 3a and 3aXL are budget Pixel handsets that debuted have the company’s first affordable handset. But unlike the budget Galaxy S10e and iPhone XR, the Pixel 3a handsets are mid-range handsets that have significant differences when compared to the Pixel 3 and 3XL.
The Pixel 3a comes in at $399 (Approx. Rs 28,000) while the Pixel 3a XL is priced at $479 (Approx Rs 33,500), a huge price difference as compared to the $750 launch price of both the iPhone XR and Galaxy S10e. If you’re wondering how Google managed to offer flagship-worthy hardware in a mid-tier package; well it didn’t. The search giant has made multiple compromises in performance, build quality and design.
In fact, if you take a look at the Pixel 3a and 3a XL, the spec sheet for both these handsets are not impressive. At this price point, there are a ton of handsets that just look so much better on paper. Phones like the Poco F1, Redmi Note 7 Pro, Realme 3 Pro, Mi 9 Lite and Honor View20 all carry far better specs and price to performance figures than the Pixel 3a and 3a XL.
And, while you’re getting excellent software and a crisp FHD+ OLED panel, it doesn’t really make up for Pixel’s mediocre spec sheet. The one plus point of the Pixel 3a smartphones is its ‘camera’. What you get is all the benefits of that flagship camera in a below-average handset for a mid-tier price. The Pixel 3a and 3a XL feature Google’s winning camera lens and software combination to deliver amazing results, making it an ideal pick for consumers looking for Pixel-worthy camera performance at a budget.
However, Indian audiences aren’t looking at $399 and $479 handsets. The addition of import duties and GST could see the price of the handsets in the country go up to roughly Rs 40,000 and Rs 45,000 for the 3a and 3a XL respectively. These prices would put the budget Pixel handsets in OnePlus 7 and Galaxy S10e territory, and then there’s the fact that you can get a Pixel 3 phone for around Rs 52,000.
If the Pixel 3a and 3a XL are to make any headway in price-competitive Asian markets, Google will have to take another look at price structure.
