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Not everyone is aiming for a flagship smartphone, of course. If you’re on a limited budget, or simply don’t want to splash out a ton of cash on a phone, there are quite a few good mid-rangers available out in the market. In this article, we’ll compare two such phones that are quite different, though both are quite affordable. We’ll be comparing the Google Pixel 8a vs Sony Xperia 10 VI.
Granted, the Pixel 8a is a more expensive phone here, and also they have different market availability. Still, these two are worth comparing, that’s for sure. We’ll first list their specifications, following which we’ll take a look at their designs, displays, performance, battery life, cameras, and audio performance. Let’s get to it, shall we?
Specs
Google Pixel 8a vs Sony Xperia 10 VI, respectively
– Screen size:
6.1-inch OLED display (flat, 120Hz, HDR, 2,000 nits)
6.1-inch OLED display (flat, 60Hz)
– Display resolution:
2400 x 1080
2520 x 1080
– SoC:
Google Tensor G3
Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1
– RAM:
8GB (LPDDR5)
8GB
– Storage:
128GB/256GB (UFS 3.1)
128GB (UFS)
– Rear cameras:
64MP (wide, f/1.9 aperture, 0.8um pixel size, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS), 13MP (ultrawide, f/2.2 aperture, 120-degree FoV, 1.12um pixel size)
48MP (wide, f/1.8 aperture, 26mm lens, 0.8um pixel size, PDAF, OIS), 8MP (ultrawide, f/2.2 aperture, 120-degree FOV, 16mm lens, 1.12um pixel size)
– Front cameras:
13MP (f/2.2 aperture, 1.12um pixel size)
8MP (f/2.0 aperture, 1.12um pixel size)
– Battery:
4,492mAh
5,000mAh
– Charging:
18W wired, 7.5W wireless (charger not included)
21W wired (charger & cable not included)
– Dimensions:
152.1 x 72.7 x 8.9mm
155 x 68 x 8.3mm
– Weight:
188 grams
164 grams
– Connectivity:
5G, LTE, NFC, Wi-Fi, USB Type-C, Bluetooth 5.3/5.2
– Security:
In-display fingerprint scanner (optical) & facial scanning
Side-facing fingerprint scanner
– OS:
Android 14
Android 14
– Price:
$499+
€399
– Buy:
Pixel 8a (Best Buy)
Sony Xperia 10 VI
Google Pixel 8a vs Sony Xperia 10 VI: Design
The Google Pixel 8a looks considerably different than the Sony Xperia 10 VI. Google handset’s corners are more rounded, while it also has a display camera hole unlike the Xperia 10 VI. Sony opted for thicker top and bottom bezels instead of including a punch hole on the display. Both phones have flat displays, and both have physical buttons on the right-hand side. The power/lock button on the Pixel 8a sits above the volume up and down buttons, though, while it’s the other way around on the Xperia 10 VI.
The Sony Xperia 10 VI is a bit taller even though it has the same display size. It has a higher display aspect ratio. For the same reason, it’s considerably narrower, and it’s also slightly thinner. Sony’s handset does weigh considerably less in comparison. It weighs 164 grams compared to 188 grams of the Pixel 8a. It comes with a plastic frame and a plastic back, so that’s certainly a part of the reason why. The Pixel 8a has a frame made out of metal, in addition to a plastic back. Its camera visor is also covered by metal.
Speaking of which, the two phones have considerably different backplates. The Pixel 8a includes a camera visor on the back, which connects to the left and right side of the frame and spans across the back of the phone. There is a pill-shaped cutout there for the two cameras. The Xperia 10 VI has a much smaller camera island. It’s located in the top-left corner of the phone’s back, by the way. There are two cameras there, and they’re vertically aligned.
Both devices have frames that are slightly curved all around. The in-hand feel with these two phones is considerably different too. You’ll also feel the weight difference, that’s for sure. Both devices are also water and dust-resistant. The Pixel 8a comes with an IP67 certification, while the Xperia 10 VI offers an IP68 certification.
Google Pixel 8a vs Sony Xperia 10 VI: Display
The Pixel 8a features a 6.1-inch fullHD+ (2400 x 1080) OLED display. That display is flat, and it supports HDR content. It also has a 120Hz refresh rate, and its brightness goes up to 2,000 nits at its peak. The display aspect ratio here is 20:9, while the screen-to-body ratio is at around 81%. We’re looking at a PPI of 430 on the Pixel 8a, while the Gorilla Glass 3 protects the Pixel 8a’s panel.
The Sony Xperia 10 VI, on the other hand, also has a 6.1-inch panel. It’s also an OLED display, and it can project up to 1 billion colors. It supports HDR10 content too. This smartphone’s display does not offer a high refresh rate. Its refresh rate is 60Hz. The display aspect ratio here is 21:9, while the screen-to-body ratio is at around 82%. The PPI on the Xperia 10 VI’s display is 449. The Gorilla Glass Victus covers the Xperia 10 VI’s display.
Both of these smartphones have good displays, but the Pixel 8a wins this comparison. While both displays are vivid, have good touch response, and have good viewing angles, the Pixel 8a not only comes with a brighter display but a display that supports a high refresh rate. The Xperia 10 VI does have one advantage in comparison, however. It has a better display protection than the Pixel 8a. The Gorilla Glass 3 on the Pixel 8a is prone to microscratches, so you may want to use a screen protector.
Google Pixel 8a vs Sony Xperia 10 VI: Performance
The Google Pixel 8a is fueled by the Google Tensor G3 processor. That is Google’s 4nm chip. The phone is also equipped with 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM, and UFS 3.1 flash storage. The Xperia 10 VI, on the other hand, is fueled by the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 processor, which is also a 4nm chip. Sony’s handset is also equipped with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of UFS storage (we’re not sure what RAM and storage units are used). The chip inside the Google Pixel 8a is more powerful, in case you were wondering.
Generally, both smartphones offer good performance. Even more demanding users will be happy with the performance of both devices from day to day. They launch apps really fast, can multitask really well, are great for web browsing, multimedia consumption, and various other tasks. There’s really no need to worry. There are faster phones out there, for sure, but you won’t get proper lag or anything on either of these two phones.
Do note that these are mid-range phones, however, and neither is made for gaming. Their processors can be used for games, sure, but you may want to stay away from the most demanding games (graphically). They can play the vast majority of games with ease, though, and handle those tasks really well. Both smartphones do get warm, but not too hot, or anything like that.
Google Pixel 8a vs Sony Xperia 10 VI: Battery
The Google Pixel 8a includes a 4,492mAh battery on the inside. The Xperia 10 VI, on the other hand, has a 5,000mAh unit. One of the main selling points for the Xperia 10 VI is its battery life. The phone doesn’t do as well as its predecessor, but that’s expected considering the chip change. With that being said, the Xperia 10 VI still offers great battery life, and it still beats the Pixel 8a… easily.
Considering that the Pixel 8a doesn’t have bad battery life, that’s quite a feat. We were able to get over 6 hours of screen-on-time on the Pixel 8a, as long as we didn’t actively try to kill its battery life. The Xperia 10 VI can go well above that. Do note that your mileage may vary, of course. There are a lot of factors included in battery drain, so you could end up having a completely different experience should you choose to get one of the two phones.
Neither of the two phones charges all that fast, to be quite honest. The Pixel 8a is limited to 18W wired and 7.5W wireless charging. The Xperia 10 Vi offers the same charging as the two of its predecessors, it’s limited to 21W wired charging. Neither of these two phones comes with a charger in the box, and the Xperia 10 VI doesn’t even include a charging cable, so keep that in mind.
Google Pixel 8a vs Sony Xperia 10 VI: Cameras
Both of these phones have two cameras on the back. The Google Pixel 8a comes with a 64-megapixel main camera, and a 13-megapixel ultrawide unit (120-degree FoV). The Sony Xperia 10 VI, on the flip side, includes a 48-megapixel main camera, and an 8-megapixel ultrawide unit (120-degree FoV). The main camera on the Pixel 8a has a larger sensor, in case you’re wondering.
Straight off the bat, the Pixel 8a camera easily wins here. The images it provides look contrasty, and processed, but great, as you’d expect out of a Pixel. It does a great job with HDR photography, and it’s generally very reliable. The Xperia 10 VI images during the day do end up looking a bit too dark, especially the shadows. They also look too contrasty, and the colors end up looking too saturated. The sharpening is also a bit too aggressive. Photos from the ultrawide cameras are a bit too soft and not all that great in general. The Pixel 8a’s ultrawide camera easily wins in that comparison too.
In low light, the photos the Xperia 10 VI provides are a bit too contrasty still. They don’t look bad, though, as you may expect when looking at daytime shots. The shadows do end up looking too dark at all times, basically. The Pixel 8a does a noticeably better job in low light, as it balances shots a lot better. The camera performance is not the Xperia 10 VI’s strong suit, that’s for sure.
Audio
Both of these phones include a set of stereo speakers. While the sound output is good from both, it’s not the best we’ve heard, not at all. Both sets of speakers could also be a bit louder, if we’re being honest.
The Xperia 10 VI does come with an audio jack if that’s what you need from a smartphone. That’s something the Pixel 8a does not include, but you can always use its Type-C port for the same purpose… though you’ll need a dongle.