The Pixel 8 series is now slowly maturing like an old wine, and now it's time to move to the other part of the tick-tock cycle that the company uses for its smartphone releases. The midranger. There's some serious buzz about this upcoming launch that could really shake things up for Google in the smartphone world—yes, we're talking about the Pixel 8a.
You know how the A-series Pixel devices always bring great bang for your buck? Well, judging by the cool stuff we got with the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, it looks like the Pixel 8a, set to drop sometime in May, 2024, will keep that tradition alive.
The Pixel 8a is expected to pick up some nifty features from its bigger siblings, like the third-gen Tensor G3 chipset and a whopping seven-year software support cycle getting all the major OS updates right until 2031. That's some seriously good proposition in the midrange smartphone market, especially if the rumored price of $500-550 turns out to be correct.
The Pixel 8a has the potential to become one of the best budget phones of next year, so we're pretty excited about it. In this article, we'll try to neatly and systematically arrange all the news, leaks, and rumors about the upcoming Pixel 8a phone.
The release date of the Pixel 8a is still shrouded in mystery. Google likes to tease its new devices during annual events such as the I/O conference in May, and the A-series normally breaks cover around that time. Actually, the company already announced the exact date of the I/O event, and it's May 14, so there's a good chance we might get a Pixel 8a official announcement on that date.
Most industry insiders corroborate this prediction, and given the historical records of previous Pixel A-series releases, we don't have any reason not to believe this prediction. Below, you'll find a table showing all the announcement and release dates for the Pixel A-series, since its inception with the Pixel 3a back in 2019.
Device family
Announcement
Market release
Google Pixel 3a
May 7, 2019
May 15, 2019
Google Pixel 4a
August 3, 2020
August 20, 2020
Google Pixel 5a
August 17, 2021
August 26, 2021
Google Pixel 6a
May 11, 2022
July 28, 2022
Google Pixel 7a
May 10, 2023
May 10, 2023
Google Pixel 8a*
May 14, 2024*
May 14, 2024*
*probable dates
Pixel 8a price
$499-$549 (rumored price)
Another big unknown at the moment is the possible price of the Pixel 8a. It's far too early, even for leaks and rumors, but we can once again extrapolate the expected Pixel 8a price from the information we have about Pixel A-series prices over the years. If Google decides to keep prices steady, we expect the Pixel 8a to start at around $499 once again, but judging by the price hike we saw with the Pixel 8 series, we could be looking at a $549 price tag as well.
The latest specs leak from tipster Yogesh Brar, details not only the possible specs of the Pixel 8a, but a price range. The expected price of the Pixel 8a, according to Brar, lies in the $499-$549 bracket.
iPhone model
Starting price
Pixel 3a
$399
Pixel 4a
$349
Pixel 5a
$449
Pixel 6a
$449
Pixel 7a
$499
Pixel 8a*
$499-549*
*anticipated price
Pixel 8a name
According to the latest leaks, the Pixel 8a bears the codename "Akita." Google has a long history of codenaming its Pixel phones, so we're inclined to deem this rumor plausible. As for the name of the phone at launch, we don't expect major surprises, no XL model on the horizon, just the regular Pixel 8a.
Pixel 8a camera
64MP wide (rumored)
13MP Ultrawide (rumored)
13MP front camera (rumored)
We expect the Pixel 8a to sport the same dual-camera configurations as its predecessor. Don't fret, though, because Google has always baked in great computational photography algorithms in its Pixel phones, and the latest proof is blind camera comparison, in which the Pixel 8 Pro obliterated the S23 Ultra and the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Now, we don't expect the same powerful hardware on the Pixel 8a, but the 64MP Quad-Bayer sensor from the 7a is a solid foundation to play with and apply the aforementioned algorithms. The specs leak we mentioned early in this article also lists the possible camera configuration of the Pixel 8a, stating that the phone will come with a 64MP main shooter, a 13MP ultrawide camera, and a 13 megapixel front selfie camera.
We have a reason to believe these camera specs, and this reason is simple. The predecessor of the Pixel 8a featured exactly the same camera hardware, and we can see Google using AI (why not Gemini Nano) to optimize the camera capabilities of the Pixel 8a (although, Google pulled the handbrake on Gemini Nano coming to the Pixel 8, but who knows).
Pixel 8a storage
128GB base
256GB
In terms of RAM and storage, we don't know much at the moment, but after Google bumped the RAM of the A-series to 8GB, we don't expect another increase anytime soon. So, it's safe to assume that the Pixel 8a will sport 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage as a base option. Nothing too surprising here, we expect a 256GB storage variant but that would pretty much be it, with no 512GB, let alone 1TB of storage on such an affordable phone.
UPDATE: We have another leak (courtesy of MySmartPrice) that shows an alleged picture of the retail box of the Pixel 8a (along with some specs). The design shown on the box really corroborates all other leaks we have so far, including the design renders (look below). So, we're pretty sure how the Pixel 8a will look like. We also have alleged real photos of the Pixel 8a courtesy of TechDroider, who posted on X (formerly Twitter) the front and back of the phone, both in turned off and turned on state. These photos show substantial bezels around the screen with a slightly larger chin at the bottom.
There are three other leaks that cover the design of the Pixel 8a. One of these leaks contains a couple of hands-on images showing the alleged Pixel 8a in a light blue color. The other notable leak comes from OnLeaks and SmartPrix, two credible sources, and offers a glimpse on a slew of design renders of the Pixel 8a. Finally, we have a recent leak that allegedly shows a dummy model of the Pixel 8a, again coming from OnLeaks and corroborating previous rumors.
Image courtesy of Abhishek Yadav
Looking at these sources it's clear to see that the Pixel 8a looks unmistakably Pixel, with the camera bar and the overall shape of the device. What seems different is the radius of the frame and the back glass, it seems pretty curved. The bezels around the display are also substantial and there's a hole-punch camera in the upper center of the screen.
Alleged Pixel 8a retail box
As for the possible Pixel 8a colors, we can only judge these by the leaked renders and alleged hands-on images. Looking once again at those, it seems that we'll get at least two fresh color options, namely a bright blue, and a mint green.
The alleged Pixel 8a colors. The super-bright green is a very interesting color indeed
Pixel 8a display
The display specs of the Pixel 8a are another unknown variable in this equation, so we can only speculate and extrapolate here. The expectation is that the Pixel 8a will come with a 6.1-inch OLED screen. Looking at the leaked renders and hands-on photos, it seems that the display is flat with a 2.5D glass on top (meaning slightly chamfered and rounded edges, but nothing as radical as a truly curved screen).
We expect the resolution to be of the FHD variety, which is nothing unexpected given that even some compact flagships opt for that resolution nowadays. In terms of brightness, we expect the Pixel 8a to at least match the solid 800 nits we measured during our Pixel 7a review. Oh, and one more thing, the Pixel 8a will most likely support at least 90Hz display refresh rate, so more good news here.
Pixel 8a battery
4,500 mAh (rumored)
When it comes to the battery, there's little info in the form of a UL Demko certification for an upcoming unknown Pixel model. The model number is GH2MB and the rated capacity 4942mAh, which, if true, will be a huge bump up, compared to the Pixel 7a. The previous model comes with a 4385mAh battery, which is a slightly smaller than its predecessor the Pixel 6a and its 4410mAh cell.
The rumor above kind of clashes with other murmured information about the Pixel 8a. It's believed that the phone could be more compact than its predecessor, which in turn means that it will be difficult to snug a 5,000 mAh battery inside. The latest specs leak, on the other hand (coming from Yogesh Brar) lists a 4,500 mAh battery for the Pixel 8a.
We don't have much info about the charging support and capabilities of the Pixel 8a, so we have to assume that the phone will carry over the specs from its predecessor, namely 18W wired charging support, and 7.5W wireless.
Pixel 8a features and software
Now, the Pixel 8a is expected to ship with Android 14 out of the box when it launches next year, and given the fact it will most likely sport the Tensor G3 chipset, we should expect some of the great software features from the Pixel 8 series to drip down to the Pixel 8a. Whether those will be delivered with a Feature Drop of will arrive at launch, we still don't know.
What's certain is that the Pixel 8a will retain all the feature from its predecessor. Here are some of them:
Face Unlock
Direct my call
Alt text
Call Screen
Hold for Me
Clear Calling
Wait times
Live Translate
Recorder Speaker Labels
Assistant Voice Typing
Voice Messaging Transcription
At a Glance
Google Assistant
A clean Android with no bloatware
One pressing question concerning the software situation is whether or not Google will offer the same extra-long seven-year support cycle the company debuted with the Pixel 8 series. We certainly hope so! Another big question here is whether the Pixel 8a will receive some of the AI magic Google has been pouring over the Pixel 8 series. Recently, the company denied that the Gemini Nano will be coming to the Pixel 8 but Google can still offer a lower tier version of its AI on the Pixel 8a.
Pixel 8a hardware and specs
The Pixel 8a was spotted on GeekBench earlier this year (or should we say a device with the codename Akita), and it looks like the phone will feature an underclocked version of the Tensor G3 chipset, which debuted with the Pixel 8.
Alleged Pixel 8a GeekBench scores
Of course, GeekBench data is easy to manipulate, so we shouldn't rely on the image above too much, and furthermore, manufacturers often use underclocked versions of the final SoC during preliminary tests. The specs sheet is rather small at the moment, but we'll add to it as the launch approaches.
Pixel 8a rumored specs at a glance:
Dimensions: 152.1 x 72.6 x 8.9mm (Pixel 7a dimensions: 152.4 x 72.9 x 9.0mm.)
Display (diagonal): 6.1"
CPU: Tensor G3 with Mali-G715 GPU
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 128GB
OS: Android 14
Codename: Akita
Should you wait for the Pixel 8a?
If you like Android phones and want the best bang for your buck, the Pixel 8a is a no-brainer. This phone promises to redefine the budget segment with a powerful Tensor G3 chipset, all the software bells and whistles a Pixel phone features, and potentially the longest support cycle on a phone of such caliber. We should wait and see, but the Pixel 8a holds the potential to be a very exciting phone indeed.
Mariyan, a tech enthusiast with a background in Nuclear Physics and Journalism, brings a unique perspective to PhoneArena. His childhood curiosity for gadgets evolved into a professional passion for technology, leading him to the role of Editor-in-Chief at PCWorld Bulgaria before joining PhoneArena. Mariyan's interests range from mainstream Android and iPhone debates to fringe technologies like graphene batteries and nanotechnology. Off-duty, he enjoys playing his electric guitar, practicing Japanese, and revisiting his love for video games and Haruki Murakami's works.
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