Google officially launches the Pixel 8a. The cheaper Pixel is intended to bring the best that Google phones have to offer to a more affordable price level.

The Google Pixel 8a was officially announced by Google today. As usual, after the launch of the new Pixel generation in the fall, a cheaper model will follow in the spring.

The word “cheaper” shouldn’t sound disrespectful here: Google often manages to present rock-solid specifications at an affordable price with its Pixel-a devices. This tradition continues with the Pixel 8a.

Small but powerful

The Google Pixel 8a is a compact device with a screen size of 6.1 inches and a weight of just 188 g. Google must have read our review of the Pixel 7a carefully because it fixes two deficiencies in the screen. The screen brightness has been increased by forty percent and the refresh rate can now reach a maximum of 120 Hz, which is no more than the norm in the price range in which the Pixel 8a competes.

Google includes the same Tensor G3 processor in the Pixel 8a as the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro, so you can expect excellent performance. A Titan M2 chip ensures increased integrated security. The device is also an “AI smartphone”. Google itself has sowed a lot of confusion about which Pixel devices qualify for this label, but the Pixel 8a has the necessary hardware to run the Gemini Nano-LLM.

Cameras full of AI

The cameras are a strength of every Pixel phone. Google itself claims that the Pixel 8a has “the best cameras under five hundred dollars.” For the Benelux countries we have to put this statement into perspective somewhat, as the device is sold here for more than five hundred euros.

The Pixel 8a has two cameras: a 64 MP sensor (f/1.89) and a 13 MP sensor (f/2.2). There is a 13 MP sensor (f/2.2) on the front. Above all, Google wants to make a difference with a series of AI functions during and after the photo is taken. Have fun with image editing features like this Magic eraser to remove unwanted objects from a photo or Best recording to take a group photo with everyone smiling and eyes open.

These features are not new as Google has already introduced them for its Pixel 8 devices. The Pixel 8a offers AI features at a cheaper price. This also applies to non-photo features like Circle to Search.

Slow loading

Unfortunately, the Google Pixel 7a’s biggest weakness is not addressed. Google doesn’t say a word about it in the announcement and you have to look carefully for it in the specs list, but the charging power is still a meager 18 W. Don’t let Google fool you into thinking that this also falls under “fast charging”. Fortunately, the battery (4,404 mAh), which is small on paper, does not need to be charged quickly: with average use, the battery easily lasts 24 hours.

Finally, Google promises up to seven years of software and security updates for the Pixel 8a, just like the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. In the class under seven hundred euros, only the Fairphone 5 with its eight years of updates performs better.

Prices and availability

The Google Pixel 8a will be available in the Benelux from May 14th in white, black, light blue or light green. In the basic configuration (8 GB + 128 GB) the device costs 549 euros, with 256 GB of memory the price is 609 euros, including VAT.