The Google Pixel 8a is the value headliner in 2024. While it started from humble roots, phones like the Google Pixel 8a are now powerhouse devices tucked into unassuming price tags. Compared to everything else in the sub-$500 range, there's simply nothing like a Pixel A-series phone.
This year marks a rather impressive update that doesn't come at the expense of a raised price tag — not in the U.S., anyway — including a Google Tensor G3 processor, a new 120Hz Actua AMOLED display capable of 2,000 nits of peak brightness, a slight battery size increase, and all the AI features people have come to love from Google Pixel phones.
In other words, unless you need a telephoto camera or a manual camera mode, there's not much of a reason to spend more money on the more expensive Pixel 8 or Pixel 8 Pro. Google is even offering a model with 256GB of storage for folks needing a bit more wiggle room, meaning most of the minor negative points of the Pixel 7a got fixed with this year's release.
Not convinced yet? Our Google Pixel 8a review will let you know if it's worth it, but if you just want to learn about the phone, keep scrolling to find out everything you need to know about the Google Pixel 8a.
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Google Pixel 8a: Price and availability
The Google Pixel 8a was announced in early May 2024 and ships in four lovely colorways: Obsidian, Porcelain, Bay (blue), and Aloe (green).
The Pixel 8a is available in two storage sizes: 128GB of storage $499, and 256GB for $599. The best Google Pixel 8a deals will get you the phone for cheaper — or even free — especially if you have an old phone to trade in.
These are all the countries where the Google Pixel 8a is sold:
- U.S.
- Canada
- Austria
- Belgium
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- France
- Germany
- Italy
- Ireland
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- UK
- Australia
- India
- Japan
- Singapore
- Taiwan
Google Pixel 8a: Design and displays
The Google Pixel 8a received some comforting design changes this year, sporting significantly rounder corners and a matte composite back texture for a more premium look and feel. The rounder corners make it more comfortable to hold than the more squared Pixel 7a, while the matte back means this phone won't be a fingerprint magnet like the Pixel 6a and 7a were.
The phone features a 100% recycled aluminum housing and camera bar, and that matte aluminum frame winds its way all the way around the phone. Plus, the matte plastic back is also made of 76% recycled plastic and the packaging is 100% plastic-free.
The phone shares a significant resemblance to the Pixel 8 but is 2mm taller and 2mm wider than that phone.
Around the front, the Google Pixel 8a received a notable display upgrade this year, bumping the refresh rate up to 120Hz. That's an impressive improvement over the 90Hz display on the Pixel 7a.
The Actua AMOLED display on the Pixel 8a sports up to 2,000 nits of peak brightness and 1,400 nits in HDR content. The display features Gorilla Glass 3 over the top, which should provide decent drop and scratch protection.
The downside is that Google downgraded the PWM rate, from 360Hz on the Pixel 7a to 240Hz on the Pixel 8a. That means this is not a good phone for PWM-sensitive folks.
Google Pixel 8a: Cameras
The Google Pixel 8a uses the same cameras as the Pixel 7a, including a main 64MP sensor and a 13MP ultrawide angle sensor on the back. The front-facing camera is 13MP, as well.
While it might seem like a bummer not to get upgraded camera hardware, Google is including a ton of new AI features that it launched with the more expensive Pixel 8 series, including Best Take, Magic Editor, and Real Tone for Video. As the Pixel 7a debuted major camera hardware upgrades, it makes sense for Google to keep the same sensors to keep costs low.
However, the Pixel 8a doesn't include all the features of the Pixel 8 Pro. There's no manual camera mode and no support for Video Boost. If those are must-have features, you'll have to spend a bit more money on a Pixel 8 Pro.
We put the phone head-to-head with the Pixel 8 Pro and Honor 200 Pro to see if it can outclass those more expensive devices. In some cases, it matches the camera quality of those phones and falls short in other areas. Still, this is the best and most reliable camera you'll find in the $500 (or less) price range, Pixel 7a notwithstanding.
Google Pixel 8a: Specs and performance
The Pixel 8a packs in a Google Tensor G3 processor, the same as the more expensive Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. Tensor G3 is a more efficient processor than the Tensor G2 before it, delivering similar daily performance without the overheating issues present in many Tensor G2-powered phones.
The real improvement in Tensor G3 is its AI processing power, something Google spent a lot of time talking about during the Pixel 8 series launch. Because of that, Google was able to bring over many of the best Pixel 8 AI features, including Best Take, Magic Editor, Audio Magic Eraser, and more.
Other great features like Circle to Search, Pixel Call Assist, and Live translate are also included in the Pixel 8a experience.
Google's Guided Frame is also seeing a notable improvement by allowing the feature to work on the rear camera, further helping users with vision impairment issues.
The Pixel 8a includes 8GB of RAM and 128GB or 256GB of internal storage but no support for removable microSD card storage. The included Titan M2 security chip has become a mainstay of Pixel security, and Google is also upgrading the Pixel 8a with seven years of Pixel updates.
Google specifically highlights that the Pixel 8a has the same privacy and security features as the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. Like all Pixel phones, the Pixel 8a comes with the free Pixel VPN.
While the wired charging speed is the same 18W as previous Pixel A-series phones, the wireless charging speed of the Pixel 8a has seen a small bump to 7.5W Qi charging.
All in all, it's a respectable upgrade for what was already our favorite cheap Android phone.
