In the case of the Pixel 3a, it is basically the Return Of Nexus - remember the Nexus 5 and even Nexus 6? The Pixel 3a has been showing up with some jaw-dropping price tags - as low as (don't faint) $299 unlocked/no carrier. (That is a price I saw with my own eyeballs.) This is pricing I have not seen as of late without substantial compromises. While the 3a has compromises, they aren't the ones you would expect.. While it doesn't support wireless charging, it *does* support fingerprint unlocking (coming from the S7 - which also supports fingerprint unlocking, this is one feature it would have hurt to lose. While it lacks wireless charging(which the S7 Snapdragon supports), it is also a feature I do not use. It still supports USB charging - though it does trade in USB A for USB C (it does include the proper cabling, though) - therefore, it's a quibble. The features it lacks are ones I didn't use - and some of the features it has (the camera, for example) are - quite bluntly - overkill. Despite the $299 price, it is nearly too MUCH phone - which I'm not used to even thinking - let alone saying - for a phone at this price aimed squarely at the US.
Pixel 3a - Why Bite? And Epecially in The US?
- Thread starter PGHammer
- Start date
I ordered mine (at $399). I am betting that the $299 figure is if you are trading in a phone. I am not doing that. $399 is a good price point. I would have paid another $50 if they had decided to make the battery removable. I should be getting my phone tomorrow. Hopefully the rootz start soon!
Our family is getting two, basically for free, from T-Mobile, for my daughters, and I'll probably be getting an aXL for myself.
Excellent replacement for an ageing OG Pixel and a quirky as heck and frustrating S8., and the aXL will make an excellent backup device for me.
Excellent replacement for an ageing OG Pixel and a quirky as heck and frustrating S8., and the aXL will make an excellent backup device for me.
This phone makes a heck-of-a-lot of sense to me. First, average consumers will have access to a better camera than the iPhone at roughly half the price. For too long, I avoid recommending Android to eager iPhone users because most Android cameras suck on mainstream phones.
Second, I don't think wireless charging is deal breaker for most (and it's not for me). I'd much rather have quick charge than slow wireless charging.
Finally, the CPU is a Snapdragon 6xx, but I don't think the average user would notice one bit. Maybe here on XDA, we can quibble over the benefits of one CPU vs the next, but for average daily use, I don't think anyone will notice (except that the battery will last longer)
I think the price at $400 for possibly the best camera on the market with a nice big notch-free screen, USB-C, good battery life and timely Android updates could be a big reason this sells well (if they actually market it)
Second, I don't think wireless charging is deal breaker for most (and it's not for me). I'd much rather have quick charge than slow wireless charging.
Finally, the CPU is a Snapdragon 6xx, but I don't think the average user would notice one bit. Maybe here on XDA, we can quibble over the benefits of one CPU vs the next, but for average daily use, I don't think anyone will notice (except that the battery will last longer)
I think the price at $400 for possibly the best camera on the market with a nice big notch-free screen, USB-C, good battery life and timely Android updates could be a big reason this sells well (if they actually market it)
I think this is going to be my Moto G5+ replacement. I'm tiring of the subpar camera.
After regretting paying 700 for a S7 3 years ago, i'm just done paying that much for a phone. This is exactly what i'm looking for. For those that want better CPU/RAM/SD card slot, you can pay just a little more for a OnePlus 6T. I don't like that the 3a is limited to 64GB of storage with no SD, but in all honesty I don't see that as a real world issue as I rarely if ever find myself needing the extra storage I currently have.
I'm 100% confident root solutions will come quickly too.
After regretting paying 700 for a S7 3 years ago, i'm just done paying that much for a phone. This is exactly what i'm looking for. For those that want better CPU/RAM/SD card slot, you can pay just a little more for a OnePlus 6T. I don't like that the 3a is limited to 64GB of storage with no SD, but in all honesty I don't see that as a real world issue as I rarely if ever find myself needing the extra storage I currently have.
I'm 100% confident root solutions will come quickly too.
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My Droid Turbo is definitely showing it's age but Felipe's ROMs and kernel have kept it going. I'll miss wireless charging but gain a great camera. Other options include a Mix 3 which seems appealing save for MMS issues with Verizon, OnePlus 7 if I can limp along until then or hope for another Pixel 3 discount. Replacement displays and other hardware should be much less expensive for the 3a down the road than the other options.
Good news, someone on reddit just confirmed that the bootloader can be unlocked the same way as all previous Pixel phones. Let the games begin!
Why? A great camera is my #1 priority, and #2 is rootable/ROMable because I keep my phones for more than 2 years and want updates. I'm not going to pay Pixel 3 type of prices.
---------- Post added at 10:20 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:14 AM ----------
BTW, just saw the $299 price, it's on BestBuy if you activate the phone "today" on Sprint. $350 if you activate on Verizon or AT&T. Anyone saw trade-in deals?
---------- Post added at 10:20 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:14 AM ----------
BTW, just saw the $299 price, it's on BestBuy if you activate the phone "today" on Sprint. $350 if you activate on Verizon or AT&T. Anyone saw trade-in deals?
I don't lend any legitimacy to prices through carriers other than Google itself. I know with Sprint, you are paying a price to LEASE the phone and then have to pay to own it at the end of that lease (usually 2 years). I would rather pay my $399 and own it outright without having to pay anything else later.
The unlocked version at Best Buy is not discounted, however, they're offering a $100 BB gift card with purchase, so I just pulled the trigger on the XL and I'll be picking it up today. I'd rather have $100 at BB than $100 at Google Play Store, which Google is offering as well.
I looked at the Google store and it looks like I will effectively be getting it for $299 since I will get a $100 fi credit after I activate the phone. Can't beat that!
Woohoo, got mine... the direct-connect data sync is pretty sweet. It's still updating my apps but this is the easiest phone transition i've ever done. Decided I won't bother with unlocking the bootloader until i'm ready to root (which I imagine won't be too long)
My daughter was begging for a new phone for her 15th birthday. She's been on iphone forever - hand me downs from her mom. I hate supporting iphones. We looked at the specs on this compared to the xr, and she agreed this one looked good - so we bought one yesterday at Best Buy. I didn't even know it came with a $100 best buy gift card, but I wanted to see it in person before buying (otherwise I'd have ordered from Google), and I'm glad I did.
I have a oneplus 6t; I'm curious to see how this phone compares. I'm so proud my kid wanted to switch to android.
I have a oneplus 6t; I'm curious to see how this phone compares. I'm so proud my kid wanted to switch to android.
The $299USD Hitches
The $299USD hitch is that you activate ASAP with AT&T, Verizon, or Sprint. No transfer or trade-in required. I inquired because I would be coming from Tracfone/T-Mobile - I would be whacked with the $399 (full bill) price tag (Pixel 3a in Just Black)). Still cheaper than even a Galaxy S9 or Note 9 by $200USD - an S10e by $350USD - in Prism Black in either case. Just about half the price of a Note 9 - and *less* than half the price of the floor S10e. And unlike the S10e, the Q beta is an option from the jump.
We're on the fence right now between a 6T or the 3a XL to replace a Nexus 6P--which, with it's second battery, is still working but approaching 4 yrs (purchased first week). Two months ago I bought a MOTO Z3Play to replace my Nexus 5X which had mobo replaced twice. Now (because of the possibility of wifi calling on AT&T prepaid), I wish I'd remembered this phone was coming out. Z3P doesn't have anywhere near the radio I thought MOTO would give me.
Please report back re the 6t vs 3a once you get a chance to get a feel for it. TIA.
(Proud of your kid, too! I keep an iphone SE for wifi calling as our reception on every carrier is often zero in our house.)
Not just those carriers. If you are a FI customer, google will credit you back $100 after you activate. So I am basically getting it for $299 as well.
Getting so good feedback with the 3A's. Hope it's gonna be mostly positive. Crossing my fingers.
I've got a 6T also, had the 3XL when it released but the combo of horrid notch and 1k price point sent me back to OnePlus. This price makes it all more palatable and I did like the software and camera so I'm going it another go. My tracking shows Saturday, I'll try and post after I've had a chance to flog it enough to get a feel for what's on offer.
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