IT PRO | Alan Martin

No, it's not as powerful as the flagships of last year, but ... the best-in-class camera and smooth, bloat-free installation of Android, first in line for updates.

Expert Reviews | Jonathan Bray

However, those are the only differences between the handsets. You get the same camera, chipset and software, all for a price that, .... makes it the bargain of the year. Like the 3a XL but even better value, it's our current favourite phone of 2019

TechAeris | Jason Bouwmeester

If you're in the market for a new smartphone, you should definitely check out the Pixel 3a XL or the slightly smaller Pixel 3a and save yourself more than a few dollars. There's no doubt it is deserving of a Top Pick of 2019 Award here at Techaeris.

Neowin | Rich Woods

The Google Pixel 3a XL is an awesome device, and I'll absolutely be recommending it to friends that don't want to spend a thousand dollars or close to it on a phone.

PC Mag | Steven Winkelman

If you like a big screen, Google's Pixel 3a XL is the absolute the best phablet you can buy ... it's also a compelling alternative to high-end flagships that cost nearly twice as much.

phoneArena | John Velasco

... they show to all of us that you don't need to spend a fortune to get a great phone experience. They excel in all the important areas like taking photos, offering long battery life, and fluid responses navigating around the software.

NotebookCheck | Mike Wobker, Daniel Schmidt, Andrea Grüblinger

Overall, the Pixel 3a XL is an exceptional midrange smartphone that has a better camera and battery life than its competitors. The device is well designed too, and most of its weak points are a matter of taste.

TheEffect.Net | John Reilly

Android now has a new mid-range smartphone king. The Pixel 3a and 3a XL are incredibly well priced handsets given what you're actually getting for your money. Google's decision to cut corners on everything but the camera was the best one they've made in a while. If you like to capture impressive smartphone photos and videos but don't want to spend... the Pixel 3a or 3a XL are your obvious answers.

The Inquirer | Roland Moore-Colyer

Rather than see these phones as Pixel-Lite models, we'd say they are more like a new generation of Nexus phones, showcasing the potential of Android without breaking the bank, only this time with Google's hand firmly on the hardware design tiller.

Android Central | Daniel Bader

These phones have maintained most of what makes the Pixel 3 series among the most enjoyable phones to use...I miss wireless charging, and the lack of waterproofing is a bit of a bummer, but otherwise the biggest compliment I can give...is that it using it on a day-to-day basis is practically indistinguishable from the Pixel 3

Tom's Guide | Philip Michaels

The Pixel 3a XL features a camera that's nearly as good as the best-in-class Pixel 3 XL, and it lasts longer on a charge.

Wired | Jeffrey Van Camp

They aren't the most stylish, but they can snap one helluva night shot.

Engadget | Chris Velazco

... anyone who hates the idea of paying too much for a phone simply has to pay attention to this phone. Google took just about everything that made the other Pixels worth owning, fixed a lot of lingering issues, and made the whole thing accessible to even more people.

Firstpost | Sheldon Pinto

The Pixel 3a XL is far from perfect, it looks a bit boring, and is not as powerful as the competition, but then there's that camera. Try it out once and you will get hooked!

Android Authority | Dhruv Bhutani

For the most part, the Pixel 3a XL makes the right compromises to hit a more affordable price point. This is the same Pixel experience you get on the full-fat Pixel 3 right down to the image quality. An affordable phone, however, this is not...fierce competition makes the Pixel 3a XL hard to justify unless an excellent camera is your primary motivation to buy a premium smartphone.

Tech.co | Tom Fogden

To get a phone with a knockout camera, speedy performance, premium looks, and a decent screen, you used to have to spend close to $1,000. But with the Google Pixel 3a XL, that's no longer the case.

ZDNet | Jason Cipriani

There are tradeoffs when it comes to the display and speed, but when it comes to battery life and the camera, the Pixel 3A XL shines.

CNET | Lynn La

The Pixel 3A XL has the best camera for its price and a generously-sized screen. But if having a fast processor and more memory is a priority, get the OnePlus 6T instead.

The Mobile Indian | Rohan Pal

If you are one of those who want a pure Android experience along with some good camera performance, then Pixel 3a XL is best suited for you.

T3 | Aaron Brown

Google Pixel 3a XL is impossible bargain. Granted, there are some compromises – the screen isn't as good, and it's unwieldy compared to rivals with all-screen designs.

Trusted Reviews | Alex Walker-Todd

The Google Pixel 3a XL makes for a great big-screened Pixel 3 alternative, without the price tag. It nails the software and camera experiences so important to capture the feel of the full-fat Pixel 3 series, in spite of its more affordable nature.

NDTV Gadgets | Aditya Shenoy

If you are interested in the Pixel 3a XL or Pixel 3a, you'll get a great experience.

What Hi-Fi?

A serious smartphone for Android purists on a budget...For just over half the price of the Pixel 3 XL (and other flagship smartphones) you get many of its features: an OLED display, a first-rate camera and a seamless Android experience, plus the 3.5mm headphone jack and a decent battery life. If only Google could improve the Pixel sound, we'd have a flawless mid-market marvel.

TechRadar | James Peckham

Its design may not be head-turning, but the Google Pixel 3a XL packs a punch internally and has a great camera for the price. It's some of the best of Google in a phone, at a lower price tag than previous Pixel handsets. You won't get the best processing power or lots of storage, but when you're paying a lot less that shouldn't be so much of an issue.

Stuff | Andrew Williams

It's no flat-out bargain... But when the general performance, camera quality and battery life are as good as this, it does seem you get the high-end Pixel essentials for a lot less cash. Just like Google promised.

Pocket-lint | Chris Hall

There's plenty of appeal in the PIxel 3a XL, not least being able to get a great Pixel camera for a lot less money. But compared to rivals at this price point, it's still a hard sell.

Mashable | Raymond Wong

Don't let the cheaper pricing fool you: Google's Pixel 3a and 3a XL still have terrific cameras...the features that matter the most, such as the Pixel 3's outstanding camera, clean Android 9 Pie, and long battery life, are all present and accounted for...some tradeoffs, like the less powerful Qualcomm chipset, a plastic construction, and the lack of wireless charging and water-resistance. But I don't think those are dealbreakers for people who'd rather save a few hundred bucks and gain a headphone jack (yes, you won't need a dongle to listen to music on these phones).

The Guardian | Samuel Gibbs

... buy one for the camera and software, and I'm sure you will be very pleased for several years. Just don't go in thinking it's dirt cheap or the best thing ever.

The Verge | Dieter Bohn

This is the kind of phone Google should be making: something really good and really affordable.

TechPP (Technology Personalized) | Nimish Dubey

It is not as if the Pixel 3a XL is a bad device. It isn't. It just is a little out of place in the current market scenario.

The Indian Express | Shruti Dhapola

Pixel 3a XL's big problem is the price ... yes, the camera is excellent, but that alone cannot justify the price tag.

The Economic Times | Hitesh Raj Bhagat

It's not a bad phone - just a little out of place in a hypercompetitive market.

91mobiles | Deepak Dhingra

...a bit of a tough sell, especially in a market ...where we have tons of other options. At that pricing, these phones encroach upon the so-called flagship killer segment, where we currently have the likes of the OnePlus 6T and the LG G7 Plus ThinQ.... And with no other frills like a display notch, gradient finish, pop-up camera, etc to boast of, the Pixel 3a and 3a XL hold more nerd value than mass value.

AnandTech | Andrei Frumusanu

I don't think the Pixel 3a phones are competitive. The phone's sole advantage here lie in the software experience that is sometimes more streamlined than what most Asian OEMs besides Samsung are able to offer.