A digital camera is likely one of the essential causes individuals select to purchase a flagship cellphone over their midrange counterparts. Nonetheless, Samsung and Google proved in recent times which you can get an ideal digital camera with out spending a fortune. The Samsung Galaxy S24 FE and the Google Pixel 8a are two of the greatest finances Android telephones available on the market, however the former prices $150 greater than the latter.
Is it value spending extra only for the digital camera efficiency? That is what I aimed to seek out out over the course of the final two weeks and some hundred photographs. The outcomes would possibly shock you, as a result of the combat between these two is not as clear-cut as you would possibly suppose.
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How the {hardware} stacks up
Let’s briefly assessment the {hardware} variations between the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE and the Google Pixel 8a. The Galaxy S24 FE has a 50MP, f/1.8 essential digital camera that joins a 12MP, f/2.2 ultra-wide and a 3x telephoto lens. In the meantime, the Pixel 8a comes with a 64MP, f/1.89 essential shooter and a 13MP f/2.2 vast lens.
Within the teams of photographs under, the primary picture in every collection was shot on a Samsung Galaxy S24 FE, and the second was captured on a Google Pixel 8a, except in any other case acknowledged.
It is a tie in daytime seize
The Galaxy S24 FE produces brighter photos, however the Pixel 8a is extra detailed
After properly over every week of snapping photographs with each telephones, I’ve observed that the Galaxy S24 FE is inclined to provide a brighter picture. In some instances, that is fascinating, like within the final set of photographs. The marina stroll is vibrant and clearly seen within the Galaxy S24 FE’s shot, whereas it is dim and tough to see within the Pixel 8a’s model. In the event you choose a brighter picture above all else, you will like this Samsung cellphone.
Nonetheless, the Pixel 8a’s photographs change into extra detailed and shade correct as a result of Google is not afraid to provide a barely darker picture. An ideal instance of that is within the first set of photographs, the place the Pixel 8a provides you actually vibrant inexperienced and blue hues, regardless of having a darker picture than the Galaxy S24 FE. It is as much as you to resolve what to worth extra, however I have a tendency to love the pop of shade you get from Google’s digital camera.
The Galaxy S24 FE wins in macro efficiency
There may be one quirk that may wreck it, nonetheless
Macro pictures is designed to create photos that pop and look bigger than life, often utilizing devoted {hardware} or capturing modes and virtually at all times including bokeh to separate topics from their environment. Oddly sufficient, the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE lacks a devoted macro lens and an official macro capturing mode, however it carried out excellently in my checks, efficiently figuring out flowers and crops and including gentle background blur.
In comparison with the Google Pixel 8a, photographs captured with the Galaxy S24 FE had been brighter, extra colourful, and vibrant; often, I’d criticize this type of shade profile for being unrealistic.
On this particular occasion, these photographs had been captured on a tropical island in direct daylight, and I feel the Galaxy S24 FE truly does a greater job at preserving all the sunshine and shade. The Google Pixel 8a would possibly add a little bit of desaturation in processing, making an attempt to create a extra lifelike picture, and as you’ll be able to see within the first pair of photos, it simply finally ends up making the purple flower’s shade really feel flat.
Lastly, for the reason that Galaxy S24 FE does not have a real macro mode, I bumped into an odd bug. After capturing a macro picture, the digital camera would refuse to refocus correctly for a large shot. On a number of events, I needed to fully restart the digital camera app to repair it. This might be a dealbreaker for some, even when the picture high quality is best.
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Completely different telephones for various individuals
Zoom high quality may be a motive to purchase the Galaxy S24 FE
The additional telephoto lens makes an enormous distinction in attain and efficiency
There is a motive I say I by no means wish to purchase a cellphone with out a telephoto digital camera once more, and it is as a result of telephoto lenses provide a significant enhance in zoom high quality. The Galaxy S24 FE has a 3x telephoto, which pales compared to the Galaxy S24 Extremely, iPhone 16 Professional, and Pixel 9 Professional. Nonetheless, having a devoted telephoto signifies that the Galaxy S24 FE will crush telephones with out one, just like the Pixel 9, iPhone 16, and sure, the Pixel 8a.
With out a telephoto, the Google Pixel 8a makes use of sensor crop to ship optical-quality zoom at 2x. Something additional forces the digital camera to make use of “Tremendous Res Zoom,” and that is merely digital zoom with software program that tries to spice up the standard.
As you’ll be able to see within the picture samples above, the Galaxy S24 FE’s 3x optical zoom beats the Pixel 8a’s 2x zoom in attain and high quality. I took photographs of manta rays with every cellphone, and admittedly, the Pixel 8a could not get shut sufficient. The ensuing picture appears like a rock, whereas the Galaxy S24 FE clearly depicts a manta ray.
The Google Pixel 8a takes the nighttime crown
Once you zoom in, the element of Pixel photographs are unmatched
In the event you shortly scroll via the above photographs, you would possibly suppose the Galaxy S24 FE produces higher low-light photographs. The smartphone’s photographs are brighter general, and infrequently have higher shade at night time. The issue is that it lacks the small print of the Google Pixel 8a.
Check out the primary collection of photographs, significantly on the “On line casino Royale” on the photographed boat, illuminated in blue. The Galaxy S24 FE blows out that portion of the picture to the purpose that it is almost illegible. In the meantime, the Pixel 8a depicts it with a surprising quantity of readability regardless of the encircling darkness.
In virtually each low-light picture I took with the Galaxy S24 FE, there wasn’t as a lot element because the Pixel 8a. That is why, in the event you care about night time pictures, you must go together with Google’s midranger.
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I choose the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE’s digital camera
It is a shut name, although
This showdown between the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE and the Google Pixel 8a is likely one of the closest digital camera checks I’ve ever carried out. If you wish to use your cellphone for primary point-and-shoot pictures, the Pixel 8a is your digital camera. It produces glorious colours and element throughout the day, and retains a lot of that element at night time.
Nonetheless, I am going towards the grain and declaring that I choose the Galaxy S24 FE’s digital camera. The daytime efficiency is shut sufficient to the Pixel 8a, and the telephoto zoom efficiency blows Google’s midranger out of the water.
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Samsung Galaxy S24 FE
Samsung’s Galaxy S24 FE appears to deliver the expertise of its flagship 2024 lineup to a extra reasonably priced smartphone. With a 6.7-inch show, a triple digital camera lineup, and all of the AI options you could possibly ever hope for, that is successfully the Galaxy S24+ for two-thirds the value.
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Google Pixel 8a
The Pixel 8a desires you to neglect the Pixel 8 ever existed. With some essential upgrades over its predecessor, together with a brighter show, quicker processor, and bigger battery, Google’s newest mid-range smartphone is the right combo of velocity and AI smarts. And with seven years of OS upgrades, it is the most lasting $500 smartphone you’ll find at the moment.
