Surprisingly good. The Pixel 3a ties in with the virtues of the Google Nexus devices of the past: It is compact, offers good performance and it is affordable. But there is one important difference between the Google Pixel 3a and the old Nexus smartphones. Find out what it is in our review.

attractive OLED panel, fast Wi-Fi, very good speakers, good vibration motor, cameras

display brightness, weak SoC for this price range, small battery, plastic case

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;

The Pixel 3a doesn’t quite bring back the pure bargain-basement pricing structure of the brand’s once-fabled Nexus series. However, it does lower the barrier of entry for anyone wanting a fantastic camera on a smartphone. The Google Pixel 3a might yet be the perfect antidote to the £1,000 smartphone – and an answer to Google’s dwindling smartphone sales.

There's a headphone jack!; Flagship-quality camera; Fantastic display; Great size;

No Qi charging or water resistance; Can feel slow in certain activities; Screen is a little dim;

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;