The Google Pixel 3a is less than half the price of most flagship smartphones , and yet it doesn't look or feel cheap. That's because Google delivers the features most users really care about, including a vivid 5.6-inch OLED display, a fantastic camera and all of the company's clever software, for...

Flagship-caliber camera; Google software and support; Solid build; OLED display; Low price; Excellent battery life; Supports all carriers

No water resistance; Performance is good; not great; Display could be brighter; No wireless charging

Google is trying its hand at something new. Its signature phone, the Pixel, is jumping into the midrange market with the Pixel 3A and 3A XL. At $399 and $479 (£399 and £469 in the UK, and AU$649 and AU$799 in Australia), the handsets are essentially reworked Pixel 3 ( $813 at Walmart ) phones.

The Pixel 3A is cheaper than the original Pixel 3 but packs the same grade-A camera that shoots great in lowlight; It can also record time-lapse videos and has a headphone jack

The phone isn't water resistant and doesn't have wireless charging; Local storage is capped at 64GB, and Pixel 3A owners have unlimited uploads to Google Photos at a compressed high quality resolution, not original

Despite an exceptional camera and a handful of useful software tricks, the Pixel 4 (and its sibling the 4 XL) didn't blow us away when it launched in October 2019. That's because the phone had an average battery life that rivals easily outlasted, it had limited storage and other phones had excellent cameras with their own impressive low-light modes (like the iPhone 11 and OnePlus 7T at the time).

If you want the latest software from Google and the ability to capture excellent photos, the Pixel 3A has the best camera for its price.

The Pixel 3A is cheaper than the original Pixel 3 but packs the same grade-A camera that shoots great in low light; It can also record time-lapse videos and has a headphone jack.

The phone isn't water resistant and doesn't have wireless charging; Local storage is capped at 64GB, and Pixel 3A owners have unlimited uploads to Google Photos at a compressed high-quality resolution, not original.

With the Pixel 3a , Google is this year also entering in the highly competitive middle class. But what losses do you have to accept in comparison to the more expensive Pixel 3 Fewer than expected, as our test of the latest Pixel smartphone shows.

Handy format; Stereo speakers; Top camera; Solid battery life

No wireless charging; Restricted storage space; Old-fashioned design

The Google Pixel 3a doesn't feel like the affordable cousin of a high-end phone – it feels more like a powerful and impressive mid-range handset in its own right, with great specs and useful features inherited from the Pixel 3 that you won't find in many other similarly-priced devices.

Brings back the headphone jack; Affordable price point; Has Active Edge

Feels a little slower than the Pixel 3; No wireless charging; Plastic body doesn't feel 'premium

We like that Google has opted to build a more affordable version of its pure Android smartphones, and even used some smart artificial intelligence (AI) to ensure the camera and performance is pretty much the same as the pricier models (save for some behind-the-scenes slower processing times).

Clean and smooth software experience; Great point-and-shoot camera; Fast charging is useful

Quite expensive given its specs/features; Plastic build feels a bit cheap; No wireless charging

Google Pixel 3a is the latest entry into the Pixel smartphone series and a very different proposition from the Californian company. Until now, Pixel has always been a direct response to the iPhone – a premium smartphone powered by high-end internals with tightly integrated hardware and software.

Phenomenal Pixel 3 Camera; 3.5mm Headphone Port; Fast-Charging / Fast-Charger In The Box; 3 Years Of Android OS Updates Guaranteed; Unlimited Google Photos Storage

No Ultra-Wide Group Selfie Mode From Pixel 3; No Water Or Dust Resistance; Wireless Charging Has Been Ditched; Not As Powerful As Some Phones At This Price

I was hoping to see a smaller Google phone, not simply a cheaper version. The 3a isn't that much smaller than my Pixel XL, and its taller height is unnecessary. Although I don't mind the plastic body, there isn't much weight savings, though the intent here is economy.

I am going to break an unwritten rule of tech reviews and tell you the ending right at the top: if you want to buy a new smartphone that costs between $300 and $500, you should buy a Pixel 3A or Pixel 3A XL.

Low price; Excellent camera; Clean Google version of Android; Low price; Excellent camera; Clean Google version of Android

Slow processor; No wireless charging; Not water resistant; Slow processor; No wireless charging; Not water resistant

Hardware hopefuls aren't going to be blown away by the Pixel 3a - it's even less adventurous than the Pixel 3 (or the XL version, at least), a step backwards to bezels instead of notches. But if that's what it takes to get Google's purest form of Android for under £400, it sounds like a fair trade to us. Camera image quality has arguably never been better at this price, but let's be honest, Android Pie is really the star here. It's the purest form of Google's OS yet. There's a hint of Google's old Nexus programme here: well-rounded hardware that might not be the best-looking, or have the most features, but is genuinely affordable and has software that's practically on par with iOS for consistent experience and ease of use. Sure, the phone world has largely moved on to skinny screens and multi-lens cameras. You don't get any of that here. The vanilla Pixel 3 has also been out long enough now that there's not a massive gulf in price between the two, so the 3a isn't an outright bargain. And if a shortened spec sheet and simplistic design aren't your thing? There's always the Samsung Galaxy S10 - just be prepared to pay for it.

Fantastic camera image quality in all conditions; Stock Android with guaranteed updates; Brilliant all-round mid-ranger;

Budget rivals have ditched display bezels; Single camera not as flexible as multi-lens competition; Plastic build not for everyone;