Believe it or not, it’s time for another new Pixel phone. If last year’sPixel 8andPixel 8 Proweren’t for you, Google’s hoping to sell you on its latest ultra-affordable A-series device.
At just $500, the Pixel 8a promises to deliver the samegreat Tensor G3-powered experiencefor $200 less than the Pixel 8, all while guaranteeing a smartphone experience capable of lasting the better part of a decade. Here’s everything you need to know about the brand-new Pixel 8a.
Google Pixel 8a: Design, specs, and cameras
A curvier take on last year’s Pixel 8 design
Unsurprisingly, the Google Pixel 8a looks a lot like both of its closest predecessors: the Pixel 7a and the Pixel 8. It’s borrowing the materials from its A-series lineage, all while using the more rounded corners introduced on last year’s Google flagships. In fact, this phone appears even more curved than ever, with a rounded frame that looks more in line with Apple’s design chops than Google’s. The boxy design of the Pixel 7a is gone — perhaps bridging the gap between the Pixel 8 and this fall’s upcoming Pixel 9 series.
For the most part, there’s very little in the way of design surprises. Even the colors are familiar: Obsidian (black), Porcelain (white), and Bay (blue) all return from the Pixel 8, slightly modified for this new device. Aloe, meanwhile, takes over green duty from Mint, appearing far more saturated than what we’ve previously seen from Google this year. Otherwise, the relatively chunky bezels and slimmed-down aluminum camera bar are what we’ve come to expect from A-series devices, and this year’s nothing different.
Specifications
Likewise, the specs are what you’d expect from a phone in the Pixel 8 family. It’s powered by the sameGoogle Tensor G3chip alongside 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of storage. It’s got both 18 watt wired and 7,5 watt Qi1 wireless charging — neither of which are particularly fast.
The Pixel 8a’s has a 6.1-inch, 1080p OLED display with a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. HDR is also on board with 2000 nits peak brightness, as is an in-display fingerprint sensor. All in all, it sounds pretty similar to thePixel 8’s Actua displayon paper, and all the usual connectivity options you’d expect from a modern smartphone.
The Pixel 8a has an aluminum frame. Its display is Gorilla Glass 3, which should offer decent protection for accidental drops and dings, but is much more brittle than the Gorilla Glass Victus used on the Google Pixel 8 or Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the Pixel 8 Pro. Luckily, plastic back with a matte finish that offers a little extra grip, but we’d still recommend a durable case. The Pixel 8a also has anIP 67 ratingfor dust and water resistance, something you don’t always see in this price range.
Best Google Pixel 8a cases in 2025
Protect your Pixel 8a with a stylish case
If you think what’s under the hood is familiar, the camera takes that up a step. Both the wide and ultrawide sensors on the Pixel 8a appear identical to last year’s phone, pairing a 64MP main camera with a 13MP camera with a 120° field of view for group shots.There’s also a 13MP selfie camera on the front of the phone. Google’s always working on improving its post-processing prowess, so don’t be too disappointed. Last year’s A-series device took great photos, and this one will too.
Google Pixel 8a: Software and OS updates
It’s all about AI, baby
The Pixel 8a ships runningAndroid 14, and it’ll get updated toAndroid 15right alongside other modern Pixels when it launches later this year. The usual round of AI features Google has rolled out over the last year — including Audio Magic Eraser, Magic Editor and Circle to Search — are all included as well, though it doesn’t seem like the company had anything new up its sleeves for this particular rollout. Meanwhile, Gemini Nano will also be coming to the Pixel 8a for on-device AI tools, though like the Pixel 8, it’ll be limited behind developer access.
Every new feature in Google’s March 2024 Pixel Feature Drop
An ongoing changelog of Google’s quarterly updates for its devices
The big software change with the Pixel 8a is its update policy. Like the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro, Google intends to deliver seven years of OS upgrades, security updates, and Feature Drops for the Pixel 8a, with the device guaranteed software support until 2031. That marks this device as the cheapest smartphone you can buy with such a long road ahead of it, as Samsung’s comparable A-series lineup remains limited to just four OS upgrades and five years of security patches.
Google Pixel 8a: Price and release date
Steady as she goes
Google delivered price hikesto the Pixel 7a, Pixel 8, and Pixel 8 Pro throughout 2023, but so far, the brand is holding steady in 2024. TheGoogle Pixel 8a starts at the same $500 price point, offering much of an identical experience compared to the $700 Pixel 8 while keeping an extra two hundred bucks in your wallet. If you’re looking for the Pixel 8a in its first-ever 256GB configuration, you’ll be paying $560 for the additional storage. It’s really giving OnePlus a run for its money on thebest budget phone you can buyin 2024.
Google I/O 2024: Everything announced so far
It’s all about AI this year — here’s everything Google’s talked about so far
Although we expected Google to debut the Pixel 8aon stage at I/O this year— just as it did with the Pixel 7a in 2023 — the company simply couldn’t wait. The Pixel 8a was unveiled on May 7th, 2024, with preorders going live immediately after its announcement. The phone hit carrier shelves on July 23, 2025, timed perfectly with this year’s I/O keynote.
Google’s best Pixel features, but cheaper
The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are some of thebest Android phonesGoogle has ever released, and we’re guessing it’s only the beginning. If Google can replicate that success with the Pixel 8a, it might be one of the best devices you can buy this year, all while saving you some cash in the process.
Google Pixel 8a
The Pixel 8a wants you to forget the Pixel 8 ever existed. With some crucial upgrades over its predecessor, including a brighter display, faster processor, and larger battery, Google’s latest mid-range smartphone is the perfect combo of speed and AI smarts. And with seven years of OS upgrades, it’s the longest lasting $500 smartphone you may find today.
