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Google Pixel 3a and 3a XL

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    #32
    biebiebie
    Registered Users Posts: 1,942 ✭✭✭biebiebie


    marcbrophy wrote: »
    Nice price from VF.

    If there was an easy way to get my hands on a Dual SIM version, I'd snap it right up :)

    They're both dual SIM I thought?
    However one SIM needs to be an eSIM and afaik Comreg hasn't approved eSIMs in Ireland... yet.


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    #33
    rizzee
    Registered Users Posts: 3,789 ✭✭✭rizzee


    marcbrophy wrote: »
    They often go down to €39 new, so maybe €30/€35 might be your best price to people who would know their stuff :)

    Will see if I end up picking it up :) Would do for a present even!!

    Honor View 20 (460 euro), Samsung A70 (390 euro) and Mi 9 (449 euro) are also different options to consider, with their own pros and cons. I'm intrigued to see what the fuss is about Pixel devices though!!


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    #34
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    camera comparison

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ERUGUSkZkQ


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    #35
    rizzee
    Registered Users Posts: 3,789 ✭✭✭rizzee


    Pleasantly surprised with that!!

    Are there any stores in Dublin that would have a demo model?


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    #36
    marcbrophy
    Registered Users Posts: 6,428 ✭✭✭marcbrophy


    biebiebie wrote: »
    They're both dual SIM I thought?
    However one SIM needs to be an eSIM and afaik Comreg hasn't approved eSIMs in Ireland... yet.

    Like you say eSIM is useless in good auld Ireland :P

    I'd need two physical SIMs :)


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    #37
    micks_address
    Registered Users Posts: 8,449 ✭✭✭micks_address


    marcbrophy wrote: »
    Like you say eSIM is useless in good auld Ireland :P

    I'd need two physical SIMs :)

    in the US can you use esim for US phone number/data and ireland sim in traditional sim slot? ill be there for summer months


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    #38
    marcbrophy
    Registered Users Posts: 6,428 ✭✭✭marcbrophy


    micks_address wrote: »
    in the US can you use esim for US phone number/data and ireland sim in traditional sim slot? ill be there for summer months

    Thanks mick, it'll be handy for travel alright.
    But I'm not looking for dual SIM for that purpose, it'd be for personal and work numbers in the same handset :)

    Like right now, I have a personal Three number and a Vodafone number I use for work :)


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    #39
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    rizzee wrote: »
    Pleasantly surprised with that!!

    Are there any stores in Dublin that would have a demo model?

    not yet.

    just watch youtube videos in any case.

    demo models in shops are usually just dummy models in any case.


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    #40
    rizzee
    Registered Users Posts: 3,789 ✭✭✭rizzee


    Yeah I've been checking out a few all day. No notification LED unfortunately. Will keep an eye on thread over the next few days anyway.


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    #41
    marcbrophy
    Registered Users Posts: 6,428 ✭✭✭marcbrophy


    rizzee wrote: »
    Yeah I've been checking out a few all day. No notification LED unfortunately. Will keep an eye on thread over the next few days anyway.

    An always on display has kind of taken the place of LEDs in most phones.
    Unfortunate really, as I really liked LEDs on phones.

    The S10 has an app that uses the pixels around the camera cut out to notify.
    It's pretty cool, but not much use for other phones!


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    #42
    rizzee
    Registered Users Posts: 3,789 ✭✭✭rizzee


    marcbrophy wrote: »
    An always on display has kind of taken the place of LEDs in most phones.
    Unfortunate really, as I really liked LEDs on phones.

    The S10 has an app that uses the pixels around the camera cut out to notify.
    It's pretty cool, but not much use for other phones!

    Another phone I'm looking at is the Honor View 20, has a nice discreet one beside the microphone on top! not a deal breaker by any means, I've had iPhones in the past :D


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    #43
    wingnut
    Registered Users Posts: 1,937 ✭✭✭wingnut


    also deciding between an s9 and 3a. S9 can be got fairly cheap on bill pay (like Tesco were doing 249 for the phone on 30 an month for 18 months).

    Camera (video in particular) is a priority for me above all else. I am coming from an S7 and it has been fantastic in terms of camera. i often run external shotgun mics on the phone too. One issue I have had with the s7 is external wireless mics are hit and miss as sometimes the phone does not seem to detect them.

    I do like the idea of paying for the phone outright and being able to swap sim only deals as I am a commitment phobe.

    Be interested to hear how people compare the video on the 3a to to the galaxy s9/10.


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    #44
    breeno
    Registered Users Posts: 741 ✭✭✭breeno


    Might be a bit soon but has anybody seen the 3a or XL on display anywhere in Dublin?


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    #45
    advertsfox
    Registered Users Posts: 2,699 ✭✭✭advertsfox


    breeno wrote: »
    Might be a bit soon but has anybody seen the 3a or XL on display anywhere in Dublin?
    Not directly (I checked them out in CW up in Newry, they are really nice) but Argos are selling them though.

    https://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/1182020.htm


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    #46
    micks_address
    Registered Users Posts: 8,449 ✭✭✭micks_address


    advertsfox wrote: »
    Not directly (I checked them out in CW up in Newry, they are really nice) but Argos are selling them though.

    https://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/1182020.htm

    Should be getting my 3a tomorrow in the US.. using it as my US phone while there for the summer


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    #47
    dougm1970
    Registered Users Posts: 1,118 ✭✭✭dougm1970


    3a xl looks great value....pixel 3 takes astonishingly great photos for a phone, may not have the zoom capabilities of a p30 pro, but to me the difference in quality of photos taken is big, and night mode photos may be brighter on the p30 pro but they look far better and more natural, to me anyway, on pixel 3.
    only thing with pixel 3a is could i live with just 64gb storage....thats the only thing.


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    #48
    OldMrBrennan83
    Closed Accounts Posts: 26,658 ✭✭✭✭OldMrBrennan83


    I've a 64GB 3XL and I regularly clear the crap with the Files app (photos/junk/memes/etc), so I've never even hit 32GB usage on it (using 26.13GB currently). That said, if I used MP3's it would probably be a different story.


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    #49
    dougm1970
    Registered Users Posts: 1,118 ✭✭✭dougm1970


    OldMrBrennan83 wrote: »
    I've a 64GB 3XL and I regularly clear the crap with the Files app (photos/junk/memes/etc), so I've never even hit 32GB usage on it (using 26.13GB currently). That said, if I used MP3's it would probably be a different story.

    yea...i have a ton of mp3 files and photos on mine....its 64gb with a 64gb card...and both about 50gb full. (samsung s8+ btw)


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    #50
    OldMrBrennan83
    Closed Accounts Posts: 26,658 ✭✭✭✭OldMrBrennan83


    They're on Vodafones site now under the bill pay section. The 3a is free on the three plans and the 3aXL is free on them all except the €40 a month where it's €150.


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    #51
    micks_address
    Registered Users Posts: 8,449 ✭✭✭micks_address


    Using mine on Google fi since yesterday. Pixel 3a. I have a 3xl as well. Have to say I'm liking the 3a. It's very light compared to the glass xl. Easier to hold if watching YouTube etc. Haven't had a chance to do major photo comparison but so far looks good. Experience is pretty snappy to. It's interesting I'm using esim with Google fi.. pretty convenient. The billing isn't bad either. It's 20 dollars a month then 10 dollars per gigabtye capped at 60 dollars.. they throttle data at after 14gb I think. They gave me 100 credit for buying 3a and I used a referral code to get 20 dollars more. Have a Google fabric case on the phone. I miss the wireless charging as have the Google stand but for basically 400 dollars I think the 3a is a very decent proposition. Consistently great pictures, fast enough user experience and good enough battery life.


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    #52
    wingnut
    Registered Users Posts: 1,937 ✭✭✭wingnut


    Never mind, resolved the virgin connection problem I was having by adding as new APN.


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    #53
    corwill
    Registered Users Posts: 3,799 ✭✭✭corwill


    Has anyone seen a display model of either in a Vodafone or other store anywhere in Dublin?

    In two minds* as to whether to go for the 3a for handiness and being cheaper versus the 3a XL for screen real estate and the battery. Seeing them in the flesh would resolve my indecision fairly sharpish.


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    #54
    breeno
    Registered Users Posts: 741 ✭✭✭breeno


    corwill wrote: »
    Has anyone seen a display model of either in a Vodafone or other store anywhere in Dublin?

    In two minds* as to whether to go for the 3a for handiness and being cheaper versus the 3a XL for screen real estate and the battery. Seeing them in the flesh would resolve my indecision fairly sharpish.

    I'd also love to know this as I'd like to use one before pulling the trigger!


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    #55
    ibFoxer
    Registered Users Posts: 2,455 ✭✭✭ibFoxer


    corwill wrote: »
    Has anyone seen a display model of either in a Vodafone or other store anywhere in Dublin?

    In two minds* as to whether to go for the 3a for handiness and being cheaper versus the 3a XL for screen real estate and the battery. Seeing them in the flesh would resolve my indecision fairly sharpish.

    Only in the airport, but i found it to be fine.


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    #56
    corwill
    Registered Users Posts: 3,799 ✭✭✭corwill


    I went for the 3A XL, happy enough with the size. Needed a phone straight away, having totalled my OnePlus 5, so I paid the extra tenner to get it from Argos rather than from Google.

    Lovely device, can't point to single thing about it that I don't like. I haven't even had a chance to properly try out the camera yet. Silky smooth performance, hard to believe it's 'mid-range' SOC in there. The display is gorgeous, sound quality through bluetooth headphones and speakers very good. A couple of people I've spoken with have complimented call quality versus my old phone. Battery life is excellent, I'm on 6 hours 23 minutes screen on time since my last charge, with 32% remaining, and that's with a couple of hours of listening to podcasts with bluetooth buds today. Delighted with it.


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    #57
    micks_address
    Registered Users Posts: 8,449 ✭✭✭micks_address


    corwill wrote: »
    I went for the 3A XL, happy enough with the size. Needed a phone straight away, having totalled my OnePlus 5, so I paid the extra tenner to get it from Argos rather than from Google.

    Lovely device, can't point to single thing about it that I don't like. I haven't even had a chance to properly try out the camera yet. Silky smooth performance, hard to believe it's 'mid-range' SOC in there. The display is gorgeous, sound quality through bluetooth headphones and speakers very good. A couple of people I've spoken with have complimented call quality versus my old phone. Battery life is excellent, I'm on 6 hours 23 minutes screen on time since my last charge, with 32% remaining, and that's with a couple of hours of listening to podcasts with bluetooth buds today. Delighted with it.

    Really does make a mockery of the idea of flagship specs


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    #58
    corwill
    Registered Users Posts: 3,799 ✭✭✭corwill


    corwill wrote: »
    I went for the 3A XL, happy enough with the size. Needed a phone straight away, having totalled my OnePlus 5, so I paid the extra tenner to get it from Argos rather than from Google.

    Lovely device, can't point to single thing about it that I don't like...

    Okay, a couple of minor quibbles!

    So far, I'm finding that USB C Power Delivery isn't as fast as either OnePlus' Dash/Warp Charge or Qualcomm Quick charge. Also, less potential spare chargers to choose from on Amazon that I can see.

    I'd prefer old school back/home/ recent app buttons to the current implementation of gestures, but I understand that Q might be giving us that option, as well as new gestures modelled on what a couple of other manufacturers have been doing on their skins.

    Only performance stutter I've noticed is on Hitman Sniper, which I imagine is down to the mid-range GPU. Still playable on 'Medium' quality, just not as pretty. Given the price, I think they could have stretched to a Snap 710 on at least the 3A XL.

    But yeah, minor, minor stuff.


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    #59
    GustavoFring
    Registered Users Posts: 3,043 ✭✭✭GustavoFring


    If you opt into Q beta the beta 4 is out and supports the 3a - you'll get a choice of navigation gestures. None are as good as the one plus gestures but otherwise it's running very well on my 3XL.


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    #60
    corwill
    Registered Users Posts: 3,799 ✭✭✭corwill


    GustavoFring wrote: »
    If you opt into Q beta the beta 4 is out and supports the 3a - you'll get a choice of navigation gestures. None are as good as the one plus gestures but otherwise it's running very well on my 3XL.

    Was thinking of that, but I see reports of the latest beta causing issues, and coverage always insists it's not ready for daily driving.

    I have the hang of Pie gestures for now, it's not really an issue, just a taste/preference thing, really. Was just pointing out such minor quibbles as I could think of in the interests of balance.


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    #61
    OldMrBrennan83
    Closed Accounts Posts: 26,658 ✭✭✭✭OldMrBrennan83


    I used Beta 3 on my Pixel 3XL with no issues and the gestures were a great addition, couldn't go back after using them. I've stuck Beta 4 on a Pixel 2 since yesterday but haven't seen any issues either.


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