Geek Oasis - Issue 01 Unit 28 Afes D.-Task 2-Interactive PDF | Page 9

major selling point for the Pixel 3a is that
“ its The
camera’s performance is equal to that of the
more expensive devices in the Pixel family ”
has an instant shutter and supports the
same camera features as the more ex-
pensive Pixel 3.
However, Bohn took issue with the Pixel
3a’s limited backup storage capacity.
NOT WATERPROOF
“On the Pixel 3, you get free unlimited
backups of the original resolution pho-
tos you’ve taken with the phone,” Bohn
wrote. “The Pixel 3a is limited to free
‘high quality’ backups, and it makes
you pay for more storage if you upload
too many original quality photos, just
like any other phone. I suppose that’s
one way to help get to that $399 price,
but I think it’s a cheap move.”
Wired’s Van Camp decried the device’s
lack of wireless charging capability and
MicroSD slot, the lack of waterproofing,
and the mid-range processor as “tired.”
The lack of waterproofing “is one build
quality trade-off that I wish Google
hadn’t made,” Bohn wrote. “Everything
else about this phone -- including the
price -- makes you feel like it can be
a knock-around device that you don’t
have to worry about.”
Waterproofing and wireless charging
are offered by “most flagship phones
and even some of their lower-end ver-
sions,” said Ramon Llamas, research
director at IDC.
“However, I don’t think these are deal
breakers,” he told TechNewsWorld. “My
sense is that these would have driven
up the price, and there seems to be a
certain price band where Google wants
to stay.”
A HIGH END PHONE AT A LOW END
PRICE
“I like the direction Google is taking
with the 3a,” Llamas said. “While it re-
moves some of the features and func-
tionalities of its cousins, it still retains
the key ones and includes some of
the new ones too. It almost feels like
a high-end phone masquerading at a
mid-range price.”
Compared to other inexpensive smartz-
phones, the Pixel 3a “comes out slight-
ly ahead with its feature set,” he ob-
served.
A PHONE FOR NOOBS?
The Pixel 3a is for users “whose needs
are much simpler and are also still cu-
rious about emerging technologies,”
IDC’s Llamas said.
The Pixel 3a is good, budget fr iendly
phone” that will help Google Pixel de-
vices to penetrate the mass market,
suggested Linda Sui, research director
at Strategy Analytics.
Google makes much of its Titan M se-
curity processor, but “considering the
phone targets the mainstream market,
security is not a key selling point,” she
told TechNewsWorld.
On the other hand, inclusion of the Ti-
tan M processor “underscores how the
3a can be an enterprise smartphone
too,” Llamas observed.
MAKING UP FOR SLOW SALES
Sales of Google’s Pixel phones have
been slower than expected, in an over-
all sluggish market. Smartphone sales
fell in Q4, 2018, for the fifth consec-
utive quarter. Overall, 2018 was the
worst year ever for smartphone ship-
ments, according to IDC.
Google may be seeking to reverse
the situation with the Pixel 3a, IHS’
Schneemann told TechNewsWorld.
“Now that the premium market segment
for smartphones is under pressure, it
makes sense for Google to try to ad-
dress the mid-range,” he said. “Shows
that Google is thinking about driving
unit volume -- something that wasn’t so
clear before.”
There’s no question that Google is seek-
ing to drive sales. A Google-trained ex-
pert will hand deliver a new Pixel 3a to
buyers in eligible ZIP codes for free,
and help the buyer set up the device.
“That’s an interesting marketing ploy,”
Llamas said, “one that we haven’t seen
since Palm and its white-glove service
to new Palm smartphone owners more
than a decade ago.”
However, “I don’t know where a person
would need such assistance,” he added,
because the Pixel 3a “is easy to set up.”
The only major carrier that is not of-
fering the Pixel 3a is AT&T, but nego-
tiations apparently are still under way.
The phone’s widespread availability
could lead to increased sales, Schnee-
mann suggested.
“Distribution across multiple carriers is
the key here, and the price will help out
too,” he said.
“The higher prices and limited distri-
bution channel were the two main bot-
tlenecks for previous Pixel phones,”
Strategy Analytics’ Sui said. (The Pixel
is available only from Verizon.) “Goo-
gle is heading towards the right track
by addressing these issues with the
Pixel 3a.”
RICHARD ADHIKARI
MAY 9TH, 2019
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