Technology

Google Pixel 8a Release Date, Price and Specs Rumors

Published

3 months ago

April 16, 2024

Google’s more affordable version of the Pixel has been a benchmark for mid-range phones in recent years.

Indeed, the 2023 Pixel 7a is still the best mid-range phone you can buy.

The successor will likely be announced at the upcoming Google event, but we already know a lot about the Pixel 8a.

When will the Google Pixel 8a be released?

Google has not yet confirmed when the Pixel 8a will launch. But the company has announced that its I/O developer conference will take place May 14, 2024.

Considering the Pixel 7a and Pixel 6a were announced at the equivalent events in 2023 and 2022 respectively, it seems highly likely we’ll see a new A-series model there. At the same time, keep in mind the official announcement of Android 15.

However, there may be a slight delay before it reaches customers. Here’s when the last few generations went on sale:

Previously, a report from Android Authority suggested that the Pixel A range could shift to semi-annual updates instead of the current annual rate.

Leaker Yogesh Brar even suggested that the Pixel A series was coming to an end and that we wouldn’t actually see a Pixel 8a. Although that doesn’t seem to be the case now.

Pixel a series seems to be coming to an end. With the specifications and price increases of the Pixel 7a, it is certain that there will not be an 8a.

Google will likely stick to vanilla and Pro models in addition to a foldable model in the future. Something similar could happen at Samsung

— Yogesh Brar (@heyitsyogesh) May 1, 2023

How much will the Google Pixel 8a cost?

The Pixel A phones are presented as an affordable alternative to the flagships and are firmly in the mid-range segment. This is unlikely to change on the Pixel 8a, although there may be some small price increases compared to previous generations:

Pixel 7a – $499/£449
Pixel 6a – $449/£399
Pixel 5a – $449 (no UK release)
Pixel 4a 5G – £499/$499
Pixel 4a – $349/£349

However, as good as the Pixel A handsets are, there is plenty of competition in Europe from the likes of Xiaomi, Motorola and Oppo. Google doesn’t want to increase the price of the Pixel 8a too much to ensure it still remains competitive.

What specs and features will the Google Pixel 8a have?

With a possible launch not far away, there are plenty of rumors about what to expect with the Pixel 8a.

Design

Images leaked in September 2023 Abishek Yadav on X (formerly Twitter) suggest that the Pixel 8a’s design will incorporate elements from both the Pixel 7a and Pixel 8.

That means rounded corners, the aluminum camera bar with visor, and a blue color option that resembles the sky blue color of the Pixel 7a. Of course, we can expect other color choices, although it’s still too early to predict what they might be.

In October 2023, renders from OnLeaks (published by Smartprix) reveal the Pixel 8a in Rose/Pink color with some minor design changes. The images suggest that the device will be slimmer and more compact than the Pixel 8. The screen will likely be 6.1 inches, with the overall dimensions of the phone at 152.1 x 72.6 x 8.9mm.

On the back panel, that camera visor houses two camera sensors, while on the front you’ll find a flat-screen design with a punch-hole camera cutout at the top of the screen. The device also has relatively thin bezels on the sides and a small chin on the bottom.

However, we may not see the Pixel 8a in Pink/Pink. According to Android Headlines, the phone will arrive in Obsidian, Mint, Porcelain, and Bay finishes, complete with a matte textured back. This is very likely, as we’ve already seen the Mint color on the Pixel 6a and the Pixel 8 Pro introduced the Bay finish.

A leaked image of a box, posted by Chun Bhai on his X feed (formerly Twitter) backs up these leaks, revealing the Pixel 8a in the black color option with rounded edges.

First, GSMArena reported that an unnamed tipster spotted a Google Fi Wireless ad featuring a phone similar to the Pixel 8a, which is distinguished by the absence of a microphone hole between the cameras and the LED, unlike the Pixel 8.

Another phone in the background, possibly the Bay model, lacks the Pixel 8 Pro’s glossy frame. You can also tell it’s probably the Pixel 8a, as the camera bar isn’t one piece with the frame like the Pixel 8. However, you should take it with a grain of salt, just in case.

And leaker Evan Blass has found what looks like the Pixel 8a on the website of operator UScellular:

So it’s Saturday morning around 1am at Google headquarters. How long will it take before the right person notices this and contacts someone at the carrier, who then presumably has to ping a third person to the vendor responsible for posting (and removing) these tutorials? pic.twitter.com/4neK48wGUZ

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) April 13, 2024

Display

The Pixel 7a introduced a 90Hz display, addressing a major complaint about its predecessor, the Pixel 6a. According to a source within Google (via Android Authority), Google is taking the Pixel 8a a step further by upgrading it to a 120Hz OLED panel with a peak HDR brightness of 1,400 nits, matching the specs of the more expensive Pixel 8 .

The display probably comes from BOE and Samsung. Additionally, the screen’s corner radius has been increased to better match the design of the Pixel 8 series.

Dominic Preston / Foundry

Performance

Considering that the Pixel 6a and Pixel 7a received processors after their flagship counterparts, we would expect the Pixel 8a to get the Tensor G3 chip found in the Pixel 8 and the Pixel 8 Pro.

According to the Android Authority report mentioned above, the newly installed chipset in the Pixel 8a offers significant improvements, especially in the CPU department. Google has replaced the older Cortex-X1 and Cortex-A55 cores with newer, faster, and more power-efficient 2022 cores, moving from a 2+2+4 configuration to a 1+4+4 configuration, which results in a significantly faster chip.

Additionally, the Tensor G3 brings several improvements over its predecessor, including a newer Mali-G715 GPU, a Samsung Modem 5300, AV1 encoding support up to 4K/60fps, an upgraded TPU, and a new DSP for image processing tasks.

Dominic Preston / Foundry

However, unlike the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, the Pixel 8a uses a slightly different version of the G3, with IPoP (Integrated Package on Package) instead of FOPLP (Fan-Out Panel Level Packaging). Although IPoP can be thicker and hotter, it is also more cost-effective, which explains the choice.

Despite these differences, the performance difference between the chips should be minimal, with the Pixel 8a still enjoying a significant upgrade in processing power.

We also expect the 8GB/128GB configuration to remain standard on the Pixel 8a. Leaked Geekbench benchmarks of the “Google Akita” (which Android Authority believes is the internal codename for the Pixel 8a) appear to support this.

Cameras

Cameras are always a big deal with Pixel phones, including the A series. The current configuration in the Pixel 7a includes a 64Mp main, 13Mp ultrawide and 13Mp selfie cameras.

Last year was also a significant upgrade, as the Pixel 7a replaced an aging 12Mp Sony IMX363 sensor with a more contemporary 64Mp Sony IMX787 setup.

According to a source cited by Android Authority, this year’s Pixel 8a will retain the same camera configuration, albeit with possible processing improvements thanks to the Tensor G3 processor, which offers incremental improvements in image quality.

Dominic Preston / Foundry

Charge battery

According to a report from MySmartPrice, there is a certification for an upcoming, unknown Pixel model.

It has a battery capacity of 4942 mAh, which would be a significant increase compared to both the Pixel 7a (4385 mAh) and the regular Pixel 8 (4575 mAh).

However, this could instead be a certification for the upcoming Pixel Fold 2.

Elsewhere, 18W wired and 7.5W wireless charging are expected to remain the same as in the Pixel 7a. However, they are not particularly fast.

Software

If it arrives before the end of summer, the Pixel 8a will almost certainly run Android 14. But if it comes later, it will probably be the upcoming Android 15.

While Google has been offering both OS and security updates for the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro for seven years, there’s no guarantee they’ll be available on the cheaper phone. But you can expect at least three years of operating system and five years of security updates from the Pixel 7a, which is still respectable.

Dominic Preston / Foundry

Connectivity

The Pixel 8 series introduced DisplayPort output support, a feature eagerly awaited by power users. While it wasn’t used at launch, Google recently made it possible in a limited form via a beta version of Android 14 QPR3.

This commitment is further evidenced by the inclusion of DisplayPort output support in the Pixel 8a, as revealed by Android Authority’s report. While not as extensive as some may wish, such as a Samsung DeX-like desktop mode, this move signals Google’s commitment to improving the feature’s usefulness over time.

That’s all we have for now, but we’ll update this article with more details as they become available. To see what the Pixel 8a will face, be sure to check out our roundup of the best mid-range phones.