Pixel 8a vs. Pixel 8: There’s only one winner [Video]

Google’s Pixel lineup welcomes a new challenger: the Pixel 8a. But how does the 8a stack up against its established sibling, the Pixel 8? Let’s dive into the specs, features, and potential trade-offs to help you decide which Pixel might be your perfect match.

Before you’ve even seen the tale of the tape, you probably wonder why the 8a exists. It could be the last A-series smartphone we see, and, therefore, this is a great final send-off. The base price of the Pixel 8 is just a tad higher than the Pixel 8a – but is the extra cost worth it?

Hardware

Both the Pixel 8 and 8a offer a 6.1-inch display, but the Pixel 8 takes the lead with a marginally more refined design and more premium materials. That said, the matte or frosted finish of the Pixel 8a and brighter array of color options means that the sub-$500 smartphone has the edge in our eyes. The glossy Pixel 8 doesn’t quite hit the mark in the same way as its cheaper sibling.

• Pixel 8 Initial Review: Google made the small phone of my dreams

The Pixel 8a and Pixel 8 both boast an OLED display with a buttery smooth 120Hz refresh rate, which makes for a super-fluid user experience. Scrolling and animations feel incredibly responsive. In terms of raw specifications, the Pixel 8 has the display advantage, but only just. The 2,000 nit maximum brightness is touted. In reality, you’ll get a bit lower than that in real-life situations, but it is much brighter than much of the competition and means that your phone screen will be legible even in sunny environments.

One sore point is the fairly big bezels on the Pixel 8a. These are super chunky compared to the thin forehead, chin, and side frame of the regular Pixel 8. This can be distracting and somewhat diminish the big display improvements on the cheaper model. This is exacerbated by the smaller footprint of the Pixel 8, which has a larger screen due to the smaller bezels.

All of the internals are practically identical here. The Google Tensor G3 processor is the SoC, while 8GB of RAM is included for smooth multi-tasking. You should have performance parity in most areas with either device, including the new 256GB storage option. No phone is a performance powerhouse, but there is enough power to do what you will need.

There is a mere 1g weight difference, but the Pixel 8 has a better water—and dust resistance rating. Thanks to the IP68 rating, it’ll withstand a dunk. You can get the Pixel 8a wet, but it’s not as well-protected.

Software

For all intents and purposes, the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8a ship with the same software pre-installed. Since launch, the Pixel 8 has gained a few tricks including Circle to Search, improvements to all of the various on-device modes, lots of security updates, plus is was confirmed as getting Gemini Nano integration in the not-too-distant future.

As we noted, the Pixel 8a ships with everything the Pixel 8 has received intact. This is a big boon for the cheaper device as there are no worries that features will be missed out of the box. Gemini Nano integration was initially just a Pixel 8 Pro exclusive that has since slipped down the totem pole – which should mean better AI functionality as Google adds more to the platform.

Another big selling point for the Pixel 8a and Pixel 8 is the promise of 7 years of security patches and updates. Even just offering the security patches is a good deal at this price point. However, the potential for Feature Drops and new functions means you cannot go wrong with either device and you’ll have a phone that – at least in terms of software – will stand the test of time.

Battery

There isn’t much between the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8a battery capacities. The 80mAh difference could prove crucial in terms of longevity. Your own mileage may vary depending on factors relating to app usage, screen brightness, refresh rate, and more. For most people you’ll get a day with either phone before running into longevity issues.

When it comes time to start charging, the Pixel 8 has way better options. It offers faster wired charging with supported power bricks at up to 27W and 18W wireless charging with the second-generation Google Pixel Stand.

Camera

Don’t get confused by the camera spec sheets of the Pixel 8a and Pixel 8. While the A-series phone has more megapixels and a few different sensors on hand, it isn’t going to be able to provide quite the same quality imagery as the Pixel 8.

That said, the 8a does have a marginally better ultra-wide lens at the rear. It has a wider field of view and is 1-megapixel better. The main wide lens will produce solid stills and video, but it will be a notable step down over the bigger and faster Pixel 8 main sensor. It will perform better in low-light as a result of the larger sensor platform too. One of the best ways to describe the difference is a “premium” system versus a “mid-tier” system – that’s the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8a cameras in a nutshell.

Even so, all of the core camera functionality remains identical on Pixel 8a and Pixel 8. You won’t miss out on all of the AI-powered post-processing options like Best Take, Magic Editor, and Audio Magic Eraser, but there could be some visual differences with what each camera system can produce due to the physics of the smaller versus larger sensors.

Pixel 8 vs. Pixel 8a: Which should I choose?

About upgrading: 9to5Google often gives specific product recommendations. Sometimes, we may suggest not upgrading, due to various reasons including, but not limited to: increased device cost, negligible performance gains, or environmental impact. Whether to upgrade is always your call, but our aim is to help you make as informed a decision as possible.

The Pixel 8a stands as a compelling option, especially with its more attractive price tag. It offers excellent core hardware with a capable camera system, guaranteed software support for several years, and way better color options.

However, the Pixel 8 emerges as the better buy for those seeking cutting-edge. Save the color options; it’s just a better buy for most people due to the improved camera system, higher IP rating, better screen, and faster charging. Another bonus is the discounts that have been floating around since launch. The Pixel 8 is, in many cases, cheaper than the Pixel 8a’s $499 retail price with discounts and rebates.

Because of that, it’s tough to see why anyone would pick the 8a up when the Pixel 8 remains for sale. You get a lot more phone for your money and it would be foolish to opt for the lesser device unless your budget simply cannot stretch for the marginally older handset.