Launched in 2019, Google’s Pixel A series established an upper benchmark in the mid-range smartphone category. Even today, a year down the line in 2023, the Pixel 7a retains relevance as a top pick. We’ve covered every previous Pixel, so see our full overview of all the Pixels ever made.
What’s New with the Pixel 8a?
The Google Pixel 8a was officially released on May 7, 2024, and it went on sale on May 14, 2024. For information on where to buy, consider checking our guide on where to buy the Pixel 8a.
Previous Releases
- Pixel 7a – May 2023
- Pixel 6a – July 2022
- Pixel 5a – August 2021
- Pixel 4a 5G – November 2020
- Pixel 4a – August 2020
Pricing
At launch, the Pixel 8a is priced at £499/$499 – £50 more than the Pixel 7a in the UK, though it has retained its predecessor’s US price. There is also a 256GB model, though its price has not been specified.
How Much Did Previous Pixels Cost?
- Pixel 7a – £449/$499
- Pixel 6a – £399/$449
- Pixel 5a – $449 (no UK release)
- Pixel 4a 5G – £499/$499
- Pixel 4a – £349/$349
What specs and features does the Google Pixel 8a have?
It has a 6.1-inch display, which is marginally smaller than the Pixel 8’s 6.2-inch display. The Pixel 8a is a little larger, at 152 x 74 mm in length and width, though at 192 g, it stays compact and light. Save for the fact that its back was made of plastic and not glass, it has a rating for IP67, which means it can stand up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes.
The rear camera module, as usual, comes with the characteristic visor-like design. The 128GB model comes in shades of Aloe, Bay, Porcelain, and Obsidian, while the 256GB model comes in Obsidian only. The Pixel 8a is also the most durable and eco-friendly A series phone made by Google so far; it has 24% post-consumer recycled materials.
Display
It has a 6.1-inch 1080 x 2400 OLED display with a refresh rate of 120Hz; it can go as high as 2000 nits of peak brightness for decent visibility under outdoor conditions. The screen also houses an optical fingerprint sensor, and there is face unlock supported by the selfie camera.
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Performance
Powered by the same Google Tensor G3 chipset found on the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro, the Pixel 8a is quite potent. It’s available with 8GB RAM and either 128GB or 256GB of storage, but it doesn’t feature Micro-SD expansion and dual-SIM support.
Battery
It has a battery capacity of 4492mAh, giving more than 24 hours of use on one charge or up to 72 hours in Extreme Battery Saver mode. Meanwhile, it only supports 18W charging, achievable with Google’s 30W wall charger. Qi wireless charging is supported but at a slower rate.
Cameras
It shares the exact same cameras as the Pixel 7a: a 64MP primary camera, a 13MP ultrawide lens, and a 13MP selfie camera. It’s also tacked on some new AI features from the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro, with Magic Editor for editing photos and Best Take for nailing group shots. Google is dead serious about having the best camera at its price class with the Pixel 8a.
Software
Out of the box, the Pixel 8a runs Android 14, and an Android 15 update probably isn’t too far away. It also sees seven years of OS and software updates, extending that support all the way to 2031. At this moment, that makes it the cheapest phone with such a long update commitment.
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