You probably don't remember this now, but there was a rumor a while back that Google might decide against releasing a Pixel 8a mid-ranger next year depending on the popularity (or lack thereof) of this year's Pixel 7a.
Although a final decision in one direction or the other is unlikely to have been made yet, the latest signs are certainly promising, suggesting that someone, somewhere is in possession of an early working Pixel 8a prototype.
Codenamed "Akita", this was apparently put through the Geekbench 5 paces earlier today, delivering single and multi-core performance scores largely in line with what you'd expect from a pre-production phone running unfinished and unoptimized Android 14 software.
These are slightly lower than what the Pixel 7a, Pixel 7, and Pixel 7 Pro are routinely capable of, but of course, that's likely to change as the Pixel 8a inches closer to a release presumably set for next spring.
Until May 2024, we're left dreaming with our eyes open as to how Google could further improve one of the best budget 5G phones around. For the time being, all we can gather from this preliminary benchmark listing is that the Pixel 8a will retain its predecessor's 8GB RAM count, which makes perfect sense, while most likely packing some sort of an underclocked Tensor G3 processor.
Big G's next-gen chipset is not official yet, mind you, but it was spotted inside a presumed Pixel 8 prototype in a vastly different configuration with four CPU cores clocked at 2.15 GHz, another four at 2.45 GHz, and a ninth one at a whopping 3.02 GHz.
The SoC under the Pixel 8a's hood, meanwhile, seems to come with four 1.7 GHz CPU cores, another four clocked at 2.37 GHz, and the last one at "just" 2.91 GHz, which sounds a little less impressive.
Before you become too worried about the raw power of this next-gen Android mid-ranger, though, it's crucial to keep in mind that the details mentioned above are far from etched in stone right now. In addition to being subject to change until Google kicks off its Pixel 8a production, they could also be inaccurate or completely phony to begin with, as Geekbench data is almost too easy to manipulate.
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Adrian, a mobile technology enthusiast since the Nokia 3310 era, has been a dynamic presence in the tech journalism field, contributing to Android Authority, Digital Trends, and Pocketnow before joining PhoneArena in 2018. His expertise spans across various platforms, with a particular fondness for the diversity of the Android ecosystem. Despite the challenges of balancing full-time parenthood with his work, Adrian's passion for tech trends, running, and movies keeps him energized. His commitment to mid-range smartphones has led to an eclectic collection of devices, saved from personal bankruptcy by his preference for 'adequate' over 'overpriced'.
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