Google Pixel 8a battery outlasts Pixel 8, but falls behind Galaxy S24 & iPhone 15 in test

Google’s new mid-range Pixel 8a smartphone offers impressive battery life compared to its flagship sibling, but still lags behind some top competitors, according to test results from GSMArena.

The Pixel 8a is powered by a 4,492mAh battery, slightly smaller than the 4,575mAh cell in the standard Pixel 8. Despite the marginally lower capacity, the 8a managed to outperform the Pixel 8 in the publication’s battery test, scoring an Active Use time of 11 hours and 25 minutes versus 11 hours and 17 minutes for the Pixel 8.

This longer endurance is likely due to the Pixel 8a’s slightly smaller 6.1-inch display compared to the 6.2-inch panel on the Pixel 8. Both phones are powered by the same processor, Google’s in-house Tensor G3 chip.

In the specific test metrics, the Pixel 8a delivered 23 hours of call time, over 10 hours of web browsing, more than 13 hours of video streaming, and over 7 hours of gaming endurance. Respectable results for a compact, mid-range device.

However, the 8a falls behind some other similar sized phones in the battery rundown test. Samsung’s Galaxy S24 with its 4,000mAh battery lasted 12 hours and 6 minutes, while Apple’s iPhone 15 and its 3,349mAh cell kept going for an impressive 13 hours and 20 minutes, in their respective tests by the publication.

Xiaomi’s flagship 14 series led the pack with nearly 14 hours of active use from its 4,610mAh battery. So while the Pixel 8a offers great longevity for its class, it can’t quite match the stamina of 2024’s top premium Android phones and iPhones.

GSMArena’s battery testing simulates real-world usage by automating popular tasks like browsing, video streaming, gaming and calling. This makes the battery life test results a bit more realistic. That said, it’s clear Google needs to work on optimizing its Tensor SoCs. Hopefully, its partnership with TSMC for the Tensor G5 and beyond will fix this major problem.