Pixel 3a Camera: Still a Mid-Range Champ?

The Pixel 3a’s camera is widely regarded as the best you could get on a mid-range phone at its 2019 launch, and it still holds up remarkably well today for still photography. You get the same main 12.2MP sensor and computational photography software as the flagship Pixel 3, producing sharp, natural-looking photos that often beat newer, more expensive rivals. While it lacks an ultrawide lens and its video capabilities are basic, the core camera experience remains a strong reason to consider this aging device.

Formula

The calculator above works out your running pace and speed from a finish time and distance. The formulas are simple:

• Pace (min/km) = Total time (minutes) ÷ Distance (km)
• Speed (km/h) = Distance (km) ÷ (Total time (minutes) ÷ 60)

Where:

• Total time is your finish time in minutes (e.g., 50 minutes).
• Distance is the race or run length in kilometers (e.g., 10 km).

If you prefer miles, convert distance to km first (1 mile = 1.60934 km) or use the pace in min/mile by dividing time by distance in miles.

Worked Example

Using the default values from the calculator: a 10 km run finished in 50 minutes.

1. Pace = 50 min ÷ 10 km = 5.00 min/km
2. Speed = 10 km ÷ (50 ÷ 60) = 10 ÷ 0.8333 = 12.00 km/h

So your average pace is exactly 5 minutes per kilometer, and your average speed is 12 km/h.

Why the Pixel 3a Camera Was Special

When Google launched the Pixel 3a in May 2019, it did something unusual: it took the flagship Pixel 3’s main camera sensor and software and put it in a phone costing half as much. The 12.2MP Sony IMX363 sensor with f/1.8 aperture and 1.4µm pixels was already a year old, but Google’s computational photography—especially Night Sight and HDR+—made it outperform many 2019 flagships with larger sensors.

The key was software, not hardware. Google’s HDR+ takes multiple underexposed frames and merges them to reduce noise and boost dynamic range. Night Sight does a similar burst but with longer effective exposure, aligning frames to avoid blur. This meant the Pixel 3a could take handheld night shots that looked better than phones with dedicated night modes from Samsung or Huawei at the time.

How It Compares to Modern Mid-Range Phones

Fast forward to 2024, and the Pixel 3a’s camera still competes well against budget phones like the Samsung Galaxy A54 or the Motorola Edge series. The main sensor produces natural colors, excellent detail in good light, and impressive low-light shots thanks to Night Sight. However, it falls behind in a few key areas:

• No ultrawide lens – Modern mid-rangers include a 0.5x ultrawide, which the Pixel 3a lacks entirely.
• No telephoto – The 3a has only 2x digital zoom, which is soft; modern phones offer 2x or 3x optical.
• Video quality – The 3a records 4K at 30fps but with no stabilization in 4K (only 1080p has EIS), and the quality is noticeably softer than newer phones.
• Processing speed – The older Snapdragon 670 takes a few seconds to process Night Sight shots, whereas newer phones do it instantly.

For still photos of people, pets, and everyday scenes, the Pixel 3a remains a solid choice, but if you want versatility (ultrawide, macro, better video), modern budget phones have caught up.

Common Problems and Limitations

The Pixel 3a is not without issues, and these affect the camera experience:

• Battery degradation – After a few years, the 3,000 mAh battery may drain quickly, causing the camera app to close or the phone to shut down during long shoots.
• Storage limits – The base model has only 64GB of storage, and with 4K video or many Night Sight photos, you’ll run out fast. There’s no microSD slot.
• Software updates – The Pixel 3a received its final Android update in 2022 (Android 12L), so you won’t get new camera features or security patches. This also means some modern apps may not work optimally.
• USB port issues – Some units develop loose USB-C ports, which can interrupt charging and make it hard to transfer photos.

If you’re buying a used Pixel 3a, check the battery health and make sure the camera app opens without lag.

How to Get the Most Out of the Pixel 3a Camera

If you own a Pixel 3a or plan to buy one, here are practical tips to improve your photos:

1. Use Night Sight for any low-light scene – Even in moderate indoor lighting, Night Sight produces cleaner, brighter shots than the standard mode.
2. Enable HDR+ Enhanced – In the camera settings, turn on HDR+ Enhanced for static scenes to get better dynamic range, but be prepared for a 2-3 second processing time.
3. Shoot in 1080p for stable video – 4K lacks stabilization, so unless you have a gimbal, stick to 1080p at 30fps.
4. Use the Google Photos free storage trick – The Pixel 3a has unlimited original-quality photo backup for free (a perk that later Pixels don’t have). This is a huge advantage if you take many photos.
5. Install a GCam mod – If you want astrophotography mode (which the 3a got but later lost in updates), you can sideload a modified Google Camera APK from the XDA forums, but be aware of potential bugs.

Alternatives to the Pixel 3a in 2024

If you’re looking for a budget phone with a great camera today, consider these options (prices vary by region):

• Google Pixel 6a or 7a – These are the direct successors, with better sensors, ultrawide lenses, and longer software support. The 7a has a 64MP main camera and 13MP ultrawide.
• Samsung Galaxy A54 – Offers a versatile triple camera (main, ultrawide, macro) and excellent video stabilization, but still photos have a more processed look.
• Nothing Phone (2) – Has a 50MP main camera with good low-light performance, plus a 50MP ultrawide, and a clean Android experience.
• iPhone SE (2022) – If you prefer iOS, the SE has a single 12MP camera that takes great photos, but lacks night mode.

For pure still photography, the Pixel 6a or 7a are the closest modern equivalents to the Pixel 3a’s point-and-shoot magic.

Cost and Value

As of 2024, a used Pixel 3a sells for around $50–$100, depending on condition. That’s incredibly cheap for a phone that can take photos comparable to a $300–$400 mid-ranger. However, the lack of software updates and aging battery mean you should factor in the cost of a replacement battery (about $50 if done professionally) and the risk of app incompatibility.

If you find a Pixel 3a in good condition for under $75, it’s a great budget camera phone for kids, seniors, or as a backup. But if you’re willing to spend $200–$300, a newer Pixel 6a or 7a will give you a better overall experience with years of updates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Pixel 3a camera better than the Pixel 4a?
No, the Pixel 4a has the same main camera sensor and adds a slightly faster processor, so it processes images quicker and has a better screen. The 4a also has a larger battery. The 3a’s only advantage is its slightly larger size and headphone jack (the 4a also has one).

Does the Pixel 3a have a wide-angle camera?
No, it only has a single rear camera (12.2MP standard angle). There is no ultrawide or telephoto lens. You can use the front 8MP camera for wide selfies, but the rear is fixed at a 77° field of view.

Can the Pixel 3a take astrophotography photos?
Yes, but only if you install a modified Google Camera APK (like GCam 7.x or 8.x) that enables the astrophotography mode. The official camera app on the 3a does not have this feature. With a tripod and Night Sight, you can take 4-minute exposures of the Milky Way, but image quality is limited by the sensor’s small size.

Is the Pixel 3a good for video?
It’s passable but not great. It records 4K at 30fps with no stabilization, so footage is shaky. 1080p at 30fps has electronic stabilization that works okay for static shots. The microphone is decent for voice, but audio quality in noisy environments is mediocre.

Will the Pixel 3a get Android 13 or 14?
No. The Pixel 3a received its last major update (Android 12L) in March 2022. Google promised three years of OS updates from launch, which ended in May 2022. It will not receive Android 13 or 14 officially.

Is the Pixel 3a camera good for low-light?
Yes, thanks to Night Sight. It can capture handheld shots in near-darkness that look surprisingly clean, though not as sharp as a modern flagship. The main limitations are a slight purple tint in extreme low light and a longer processing time.

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in t | Finish time | min | 50 | 0
in d | Distance | km | 10 | 0 | 100000
out pace | Average pace | min/km | t / d | 2
out speed | Average speed | km/h | d / (t / 60) | 2