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Anyone got a Pixel 8a yet?

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My pixel 7a has a dirty great crack across the screen and it's fingerprint sensor is not working so well so thinking about about moving to an 8. But may have missed the deadline.


 
Posted : 31/05/2024 11:25 pm
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Also doing 2.5% cashback if you go via topcashback.  When I looked earlier in the week there was a 8a specific deal at 5. Something %


 
Posted : 01/06/2024 12:29 am
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But may have missed the deadline.

Don't think so but be quick!


 
Posted : 01/06/2024 12:54 am
Caher and Caher reacted
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My pixel 7a has a dirty great crack across the screen and it’s fingerprint sensor is not working so well

You mean the screen protector, right?


 
Posted : 01/06/2024 1:07 am
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I don’t want to change phones more than once every 4 years, and I won’t spend more then £400 on one...Spending £800+ on a phone just seems utterly crazy to me, it’s not going to do anything for me that a £400 phone can’t.

I'm not disagreeing with you at all, but the difference between the two is going from 27p per day over 4 years to 55p a day over 4 years. Either way it's incredibly cheap for a supercomputer, Walkman, TV set, global map radio, radio receiver, torch and camera in your pocket!


 
Posted : 01/06/2024 1:39 am
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Also doing 2.5% cashback if you go via topcashback.

Gods damn it, I keep forgetting about TopCashBack.


 
Posted : 01/06/2024 1:46 am
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Either way it’s incredibly cheap for a supercomputer, Walkman, TV set, global map radio, radio receiver, torch and camera in your pocket!

... which can be had for a third of the price.

Honestly, I used to be all over flagship phones but I think their day has passed.  Time was, if you didn't get top-of-the-range then anything else was crap.  But the tech has caught up with software demands, I'm struggling to see how my Pixel 7a could be improved on.  It's a decent size (I've finally made my peace with handsets which aren't the size of the Nokia 8310) and it's perfectly responsive.  An £800 phone may well be better than a £300 phone, but is it +£500 better?  It seems somewhat unlikely.


 
Posted : 01/06/2024 1:55 am
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I’m struggling to see how my Pixel 7a could be improved on.

I'm with you but honestly:

the mediocre battery life and charging speed

The lack of hardware sound mode switch (ring/vibrate/silent without unlocking! 😱)

Slight but noticeable lag even when new.

Is it worth an extra 500? To me, no. But I think I last years one plus or samsung flagship would have been a better buy for me.


 
Posted : 01/06/2024 7:12 am
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You mean the screen protector, right?

Most of the screen protectors are utter crap and cause more issues than they solve.

The most noticeable better things about my wife's 7 pro and my 6a are the screen and the camera. The screen is nicer to read, its clearer and feels more like reading paper than a screen (though I think the rounded edges are pointless). The camera setup is just way better. I'd like an 8 pro for the camera however the 8a looks like it may have the screen improvement (I think the refresh rate may be the key there).

Think it's a difficult call between the 8 and 8a at the moment. There is still a trade in bonus for the 8 (not as large) and for the next 9 days the free watch or ear bud offer is still running. Add those together and the price is very much similar.

The lack of hardware sound mode switch (ring/vibrate/silent without unlocking! 😱)

Doesn't there volume button do that.


 
Posted : 01/06/2024 10:00 am
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It's arrived..... Looks great - way better than my old one.

I quite like the plastic back after the slippery Pixel 6.

Somewhat annoyed that I can get a new phone in less than 24 hours yet a new eSim takes 3 working days 😠

FFS Tesco Mobile, surely there's a way to send a QR code securely? 🤦🏻‍♂️


 
Posted : 01/06/2024 12:06 pm
Kuco and Kuco reacted
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"You mean the screen protector, right?"
i'll peel it off tomorrow and have a look, but pretty sure it's the screen as i dropped a Shimano M9100 XTR SPD onto it, no idea why.


 
Posted : 01/06/2024 12:08 pm
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Doesn’t there volume button do that.

No,  they only adjust media,  afaik (even if nothing is playing).

To bring up the silent/vibrate/ring option,  the phone must be unlocked, then you press volume up or down, then the speaker icon, then vibrate or silent.


 
Posted : 01/06/2024 2:23 pm
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Can't say as I've noticed a problem with either battery life or charging speed.  I'll get a couple of days out of a charge, give or take depending on use.  Charging speed depends on the charger, though if you have an alarm set and plug it in overnight it'll assume you're in bed and trickle-charge to complete at that time to preserve battery life.

To bring up the silent/vibrate/ring option,  the phone must be unlocked, then you press volume up or down, then the speaker icon, then vibrate or silent.

Not on mine.  The phone needs to have the screen on (so tap the power button to wake), it doesn't need to be unlocked.

I wouldn't want it to so anything with the screen sleeping, you'd be changing it with your arse every five minutes.


 
Posted : 01/06/2024 2:50 pm
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Cougar

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Can’t say as I’ve noticed a problem with either battery life or charging speed. I’ll get a couple of days out of a charge, give or take depending on use. Charging speed depends on the charger, though if you have an alarm set and plug it in overnight it’ll assume you’re in bed and trickle-charge to complete at that time to preserve battery life

Yeah the trickle charge is a good feature.

But the battery life is not even a day for me, nowhere near. Just wireless android auto on the way to work eats 15% - 20% (40 mins drive). Bit of browsing at lunch then android auto on the way home and it's dying before bed time. 🙁

Fast charging is something I dismissed myself but once you've been able to recharge the phone fully in 20 mins it's hard to go back.

I wouldn’t want it to so anything with the screen sleeping, you’d be changing it with your arse every five minutes.

Not an issue with the OnePlus slider. It's stiff enough that just doesn't happen. Again , I would probably dismiss it as a gimmick if I hadn't had it, but I really miss it. 😔

Maybe just a bit of buyers remorse 🙈


 
Posted : 01/06/2024 4:27 pm
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Just wireless android auto on the way to work eats 15% – 20% (40 mins drive).

Plug it in?  You have Android Auto but no USB port?

I've found that AA is a battery muncher, the phone's hot if you've done serious miles on it.


 
Posted : 01/06/2024 5:53 pm
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No, they only adjust media, afaik (even if nothing is playing).

Just checked my 6a and it does not need to be unlocked. Press volume button or power and screen comes on showing lock screen. Press volume and a volume slider appears. Above it is a circle. Touch that and the option for silent and vibrate is shown. Select. No unlock required.


 
Posted : 01/06/2024 6:32 pm
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