Believe it or not, it’s time for another new Pixel phone. If last year’s Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro weren’t for you, Google’s hoping to sell you on its latest ultra-affordable A-series device. At just $500, the Pixel 8a promises to deliver the same great Tensor G3-powered experience for $200 less than its current lineup, all while guaranteeing a smartphone experience capable of lasting the better part of a decade. Here’s everything you need to know about the brand-new Pixel 8a.
Google Pixel 8a
The wait is over — Google’s latest midrange phone is up for preorder now. For just $500, you can score a smartphone that is nearly as powerful as last year’s Pixel 8, all with the same level of guaranteed support for years to come.
Google Pixel 8a: Design, specs, and cameras
A curvier take on last year’s Pixel 8 design
Unsurprisingly, the Pixel 8a looks a lot like both of its closest predecessors: the Pixel 7a and the Pixel 8. It’s borrowing the materials from its A-series lineage, all while using the more rounded corners introduced on last year’s Google flagships. In fact, this phone appears even more curved than ever, with a rounded frame that looks more in line with Apple’s design chops than Google’s. The boxy design of the Pixel 7a is gone — perhaps bridging the gap between the Pixel 8 and this fall’s upcoming Pixel 9 series.
For the most part, there’s very little in the way of design surprises. Even the colors are familiar: Obsidian, Porcelain, and Bay all return from the Pixel 8, slightly modified for this new device. Aloe, meanwhile, takes over green duty from Mint, appearing far more saturated than what we’ve previously seen from Google this year. Otherwise, the relatively chunky bezels and slimmed-down aluminum camera bar are what we’ve come to expect from A-series devices, and this year’s nothing different.
Specifications
- SoC
- Google Tensor G3
Likewise, the specs are what you’d expect from a phone in the Pixel 8 family. It’s powered by the same Tensor G3 chip alongside 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of storage. It’s got both wired and wireless charging — neither of which are particularly fast, unfortunately — a 6.1-inch 1080p 120Hz display that sounds pretty similar to the Pixel 8’s Actua display on paper, and all of the usual connectivity options you’d expect from a modern smartphone. It’s even IP67 water and dust resistant, something you don’t always see in this price range.
If you think what’s under the hood is familiar, the camera takes that up a step. Both the wide and ultra-wide sensors on the Pixel 8a appear identical to last year’s phone, pairing a 64MP main camera with a 13MP 120-degree shooter for group shots. Google’s always working on improving its post-processing prowess, so don’t be too disappointed. Last year’s A-series device took great photos, and this one will too.
Google Pixel 8a: Software and updates
It’s all about AI, baby
The Pixel 8a ships running Android 14, and it’ll get updated to Android 15 right alongside other modern Pixels when it launches later this year. The usual round of AI features Google has rolled out over the last year — including Magic Editor and Circle to Search — are all included as well, though it doesn’t seem like the company had anything new up its sleeves for this particular rollout. Meanwhile, Gemini Nano will also be coming to the Pixel 8a for on-device AI tools, though like the Pixel 8, it’ll be limited behind developer access.
The big software change with the Pixel 8a is its update policy. Like the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro, Google intends to deliver seven years of OS, security, and Feature Drop upgrades to the Pixel 8a, with the device guaranteed support until 2031. That marks this device as the cheapest smartphone you can buy with such a long road ahead of it, as Samsung’s comparable A-series lineup remains limited to just four OS upgrades and five years of security patches.
Google Pixel 8a: Price and release date
Steady as she goes
Google delivered price hikes to the Pixel 7a, Pixel 8, and Pixel 8 Pro throughout 2023, but so far, the brand is holding steady in 2024. The Pixel 8a starts at the same $500 price point, offering much of an identical experience compared to the $700 Pixel 8 while keeping an extra two hundred bucks in your wallet. If you’re looking for the Pixel 8a in its first-ever 256GB configuration, you’ll be paying $560 for the additional storage. It’s really giving OnePlus a run for its money on the best budget phone you can buy in 2024.
Although we expected Google to debut the Pixel 8a on stage at I/O this year — just as it did with the Pixel 7a in 2023 — the company simply couldn’t wait. The Pixel 8a was unveiled on May 7th, 2024, with preorders going live immediately after its announcement. You’ll be able to find it on store shelves one week later, on May 14th, timed perfectly with this year’s I/O keynote.
Google’s best Pixel features, but cheaper
The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are some of the best Android phones Google has ever released, and we’re guessing it’s only the beginning. If Google can replicate that success with the Pixel 8a, it might be one of the best devices you can buy this year, all while saving you some cash in the process. Only time will tell, but with units up for preorder, our Pixel 8a review is coming very soon.
Google Pixel 8a
The Pixel 8a wants you to forget the Pixel 8 ever existed. With some crucial upgrades over its predecessor, including a brighter display, faster processor, and larger battery, Google’s latest mid-range smartphone is the perfect combo of speed and AI smarts. And with seven years of OS upgrades, it’s the longest lasting $500 smartphone you can find today.
