Google’s annual budget phone refresh is here, this time making the Pixel 8 just a little more affordable. Today the company announced the Pixel 8a, which has almost all of the features included in the standard Pixel 8, but at a discount.
As with past Pixel a-series phones, the Pixel 8a can be considered an almost pound-for-pound replacement for the 8. It’s got the same Tensor G3 processor as the Pixel 8/8 Pro, a similar 6.1-inch 120Hz “Actua” display (vs. 6.2 inches on the regular Pixel 8), and a camera system that’s a few megapixels better, though it may suffer from weaker sensors. The 8a is also getting Google Gemini Nano support via a post-launch feature drop—something Google originally said the Pixel 8 couldn’t handle before releasing it for that phone anyway.
It also shares the two additional color options that were introduced with the 8. Buyers can snag an aloe (lime green) or bay (light blue) phone rather than limiting themselves to porcelain (white) or obsidian (black).
Like Google’s mainline phones, the Pixel 8a comes with seven years of security, OS, and feature drop updates. On that note, you’re not losing out on any Pixel-exclusive features, save those that are reserved for the Pro. The Pixel 8a has many AI features out of the box, including best take, magic editor, audio magic eraser, call assist, live translate, circle to search, and more.
The biggest sacrifice in the lower-priced model is a slight reduction in durability, and even that’s relatively negligible. The Pixel 7a is rated IP67, which means it can handle water and dust exposure up to about 3.3 feet of depth for up to 30 minutes. The 8 and 8 Pro are IP68 rated, which means they can be submerged slightly deeper for slightly longer.
Otherwise, the Pixel 8a largely represents a lateral move and a price cut. The camera is the biggest change from the regular Pixel 8, as the new device shares the camera setup from the Pixel 7a, which is actually slightly better on paper. The 8a’s camera is 64MP main wide/12MP ultrawide on the rear and 13MP on the front. By comparison, the regular Pixel 8 is 50MP main wide/12MP ultrawide on the rear and 10.5MP on the front. However, due to improved light sensing and pixel size, the Pixel 8’s camera may be a better choice for some. Certain qualities, like color temperature, are up to the eye of the beholder.
The Pixel 8a starts at $499 for the 128GB version, while the regular Pixel 8 starts at $699 for the same. For the first time, the Pixel 8a can be upgraded to 256GB of storage, which will run you $559.
The Pixel 8a is a budget refresh of the Pixel 8 line. Check out the original Pixel 8 phones below:
