PC World - USA (2019-07)

86 PCWorld JULY 2019

FEATURE SAMSUNG GALAXY A50 VS GOOGLE PIXEL 3A

Galaxy A50

Front camera: 25MP

Rear camera: 25MP,

f/1.7 + 5MP (depth) +

8MP (ultra-wide)

Pixel 3a/3a XL

Front camera: 8MP

Rear camera: 12.2MP,

f/1.8

To look at them,

you’d think the Galaxy

A50 runs circles around

the Pixel 3a, but

hardware has never been

the story of the Pixel. Google’s post-

processing work is among the best in the

business, so photos taken with the single-

camera Pixel are often better than those shot

with multi-camera high-end phones. The Pixel

also includes a few cool tricks, including

portrait color pop (which lets you isolate your

subject against a black-and-white

background) and the insanely cool Night

Sight low-light camera. The ultra-wide-angle

lens on the A50 is definitely a benefit, but if a

good camera is your biggest concern, the

Pixel 3a might be a better bet.

PRICE AND AVAILABILITY

The Google Pixel 3a is available now through

Google.com (go.pcworld.com/by3a) as well

as Verizon, T-Mobile, and Sprint stores. The

A50 is also available now and is a Verizon

exclusive for a limited time:

Galaxy A50:$350

Pixel 3a: $400

Pixel 3a XL: $479

BOTTOM LINE

For the price, you’ll be getting a great deal

with either of these phones, but the A50’s

$350 price tag really stands out. You’re

getting a triple camera, 6.4-inch screen, and

giant battery, as well as an expandable

storage slot. There’s just one huge caveat:

Google promises two years of Android

updates and three years of security updates,

while Samsung offers no such assurances. The

Pixel 3a brings an incredible camera system as

well. If you want a smaller screen, the Pixel’s

an easy recommendation, but otherwise the

A50’s price is hard to ignore.

The camera on the Pixel 3a is just as good as the one on the Pixel 3.