❤ Google Pixel 8a
Google Pixel 8a is now available in many markets, be it via the official Google Store or third-party retailers. It looks a lot like the OG Pixel 8; it offers a streamlined feature set and is priced a bit lower. But is it the one you should get? Let’s find out.
The Google Pixel 8a is the next installment in the Pixel ‘a’ series, which many consider to be standing for ‘affordable’. The logic is sound – the design has been simplified, the cameras – less complicated, the connectivity – less premium. And finally – it is cheaper than the Pixel 8 even if not by a large margin.
The Pixel 8a has a similar design, but its front glass is an older Gorilla Glass 3 and the rear part is entirely made of plastic, the camera housing included. It is IP67-rated for dust and water resistance, and it is available in familiar colorways – Obsidian, Porcelain, Bay, Aloe.
The Pixel 8a employs a bit smaller 6.1-inch OLED screen of extended 1080p resolution and 120Hz refresh rate. It has the same Tensor G3 chip as the Pixel 8 and offers the same memory configuration of 8GB RAM + 128GB UFS storage.
Of course, the camera is what everyone thinks when hearing a Pixel and it will be one of the most discussed aspects about the Pixel 8a. Here we also have a dual-camera setup like on the Pixel 8, but with different sensors – a 64MP OIS primary and a 13MP FF ultrawide. The front camera is also a 13MP, with the same ultrawide lens as on the Pixel 8.
Finally, the Pixel 8a is powered by a 4,492mAh battery capable of up to 30W or so fast wired and up to 7.5W of wireless charging.
Google Pixel 8a specs at a glance:
| NETWORK | Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 42, 66 – G6GPR (International) | |
| 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 41, 48, 66, 71 – G8HHN (USA), GKV4X (NA) | ||
| 5G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 76, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 – G6GPR (International) | |
| 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 41, 48, 66, 70, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 – GKV4X (NA) | ||
| 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave – G8HHN (USA) | ||
| Speed | HSPA, LTE (CA), 5G |
| LAUNCH | Announced | 2024, May 07 |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Available. Released 2024, May 14 |
| BODY | Dimensions | 152.1 x 72.7 x 8.9 mm (5.99 x 2.86 x 0.35 in) |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 188 g (6.63 oz) | |
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, plastic back | |
| SIM | Nano-SIM and eSIM | |
| IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) |
| DISPLAY | Type | OLED, HDR, 120Hz, 2000 nits (peak) |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 6.1 inches, 90.3 cm2 (~81.6% screen-to-body ratio) | |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~430 ppi density) | |
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | |
| Always-on display |
| PLATFORM | OS | Android 14 |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Google Tensor G3 (4 nm) | |
| CPU | Nona-core (1×3.0 GHz Cortex-X3 & 4×2.45 GHz Cortex-A715 & 4×2.15 GHz Cortex-A510) | |
| GPU | Immortalis-G715s MC10 |
| MEMORY | Card slot | No |
|---|---|---|
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | |
| UFS 3.1 |
| MAIN CAMERA | Dual | 64 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73″, 0.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 13 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Ultra HDR, panorama, Best Take | |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, OIS |
| SELFIE CAMERA | Single | 13 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1.12µm |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Auto-HDR, panorama | |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| SOUND | Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers |
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No |
| COMMS | WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual/tri-band (market/region dependent) |
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE | |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS, NavIC | |
| NFC | Yes | |
| Radio | No | |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.2 |
| FEATURES | Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
|---|
| BATTERY | Type | Li-Po 4492 mAh, non-removable |
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 18W wired, PD3.0 7.5W wireless |
| MISC | Colors | Obsidian, Porcelain, Bay, Aloe |
|---|---|---|
| Models | GKV4X, G6GPR, G8HHN, G576D | |
| Price | $ 499.00 / € 539.00 / £ 449.00 |
| TESTS | Performance | AnTuTu: 1193520 (v10) GeekBench: 4384 (v6) 3DMark Wild life: 8478 (offscreen 1440p) |
|---|---|---|
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | |
| Loudspeaker | -26.5 LUFS (Good) | |
| Battery (new) |
Disclaimer. We can not guarantee that the information on this page is 100% correct.
Google Pixel 8a seems like a solid little flagship, one of the very few on the market, and also one that doesn’t cost a thousand dollars/euros. The slow 18W wired charging is a glaring omission on the spec sheet, though.
Unboxing the Pixel 8a
Google was one of the first makers to limit the retail box contents. The Pixel 8a package includes a USB-C cable and a USB-A-to-C adapter.
And that’s it. Still, it’s two accessories more than what Sony would give you in the Xperia retail box so we guess we should not complain.
The competition
The Google Pixel 8a is an excellent compact smartphone – it has a great design, a great OLED screen, a powerful chipset, good battery life and a superb camera experience. It’s the launch price that seems to be standing in its way of greatness, though it has begun to drop shortly after its premiere, which is a good sign.
The Pixel 8a launched at €549, so the “a” doesn’t seem to stand for affordable this time around. Especially considering that the Pixel 8’s price has dropped to €525 at third party sellers, making it the better choice of the two for its more premium design, slimmer bezels, better cameras (in specific use cases), and noticeably faster charging.
The Galaxy S24 is about €90 more expensive, but it will offer a more dynamic display with higher brightness, a much faster and more modern processor, more versatile camera experience, and faster charging.
Xiaomi 14 and iPhone 15 are popular compact alternatives, though they are about €200 more than the Pixel 8a, immediately making them the less attractive options. Sure, the Xiaomi 14 will give a much better screen and a much more powerful CPU and camera kit, but these come at a hefty premium.
Google Pixel 8 • Samsung Galaxy S24 • Xiaomi 14 • Apple iPhone 15
The verdict
The Google Pixel 8a turned out to be an incredibly capable compact smartphone – a rare breed. It aced our screen, battery, and speaker tests, it offers an easily likable and unique design, its performance is alright, and its camera is worthy of the Pixel name.
There are a couple of things to consider – like the thick bezels, the slow charging, and the heavy performance throttling under load.
We would still have liked to recommend the Pixel 8a, but unfortunately, at third-party retailers, its price is ridiculously close to that of the Pixel 8, which is the better phone by all accounts. The price has begun to go down already, so once it settles around the €420 mark and the “a” once again stands for affordable – it’s safe to say the Pixel 8a would be well worth considering.
Pros
- Sturdy Pixel design, likable, IP67, compact.
- Great OLED, bright, color-accurate, smooth.
- Good battery life.
- Very good speakers.
- Decent performance.
- Excellent photo and video quality across all cameras.
- Clean Android 14, 7 years of software support.
Cons
- Expensive at launch.
- The thick bezels suggest it’s a budget device.
- Very slow charging.
- No charger in the box.
- Chipset exhibits heavy throttling under load.
