Blog

Google is back with another potential budget hit, but how does the Pixel 8a compare to last year’s equally solid Pixel 7a? Here’s everything you need to know.

This year, the lines between the base Pixel 8 and Pixel 8a are more blurred than ever. If you’ve seen the Pixel in the past, the A-series catches the eye with a combination of some flagship specs. competent cameras and smooth software. All this wrapped up in a more affordable price point – but what has changed from the previous generation?

Hardware

The design is the first difference. The Pixel 8a boasts a more refined look with smoother, rounded corners compared to the blockier design of the Pixel 7a. This makes the Pixel 8a a little more comfortable to hold, as the bubble aesthetic glides into your hands without making a dent.

Color options are another battleground. The 8a offers a wider selection of Obsidian (Black), Porcelain (Beige), Bay (Dark Blue) and Aloe (Green), while the 7a comes in Arctic Blue, Carbon, Coral and Cotton. The phones are virtually the same weight this time around as 5g makes little change to the overall mass. Plastic is used on the back plate, but the 8a boasts more recycled materials in its construction.

The display is another key differentiator. Both phones are expected to have a 6.1-inch screen size, but the 8a has a clear lead with its pOLED technology, potentially offering a smoother 120Hz refresh rate for a smoother user experience. It also boasts a significantly higher peak brightness of 2,000 nits compared to the 7a’s 1,000 nits. Both phones use Gorilla Glass 3 for protection – so no improvements in screen strength. I’d rate the Pixel 7a’s bezels as less “offensive” because they’re beefed up on the Pixel 8a.

The performance section reveals a clear advantage for the 8a. It boasts the latest Tensor G3 chip, potentially offering faster performance than the Tensor G2 in 7a. A side bonus is the improved thermals. Both phones have 8GB of RAM and a base configuration of 128GB. Only the Pixel 8a offers a larger storage option of 256GB if you want to store more files on the device.

Software

Despite the Pixel 8a’s exciting new features, it’s important to remember that both phones share the stock Android experience with Google’s Pixel-exclusive customizations. Here’s what you can expect on both devices:

Both devices offer a treasure trove of Pixel-exclusive features. These include Magic Eraser to remove unwanted objects from photos, Real Tone to capture realistic skin tones, Call Screen to screen out spam calls, Direct My Call to get information about the companies you are calling, Hold for Me to automatically on-hold during calls and transcribing hold time and Live Translate for real-time translation in different languages.

However, it does not stop there. Gemini Nano is coming to 8a in the near future. This will enable device processing such as recorder summaries, smart replies in Gboard and more. While Face Unlock is present on both phones, you can make secure payments on the Pixel 8a thanks to the Tensor G3 processor.

One of the biggest differences for the Pixel 7a and 8a is the update lifecycle. Both will be supported for some time to come. However, the Pixel 8a gets the full 7-year update promise that was given to the Pixel 8 series. This will be a big selling point and make the 8a a viable option for a lot more people.

Deeper future integration with Gemini could also mean the Pixel 8a becomes more capable as Google adds and improves existing features with Pixel Feature Drops, app updates and Android improvements with each release. While the core experience will be preserved in both phones, this could change dramatically in the coming years.

Battery

Since the Pixel 8a has a slightly smaller footprint, you might be surprised to hear that it actually has a larger internal cell than the Pixel 7a. The jump isn’t huge, but it might be useful if you want to run the display at a full 120Hz refresh rate. Setting your display to the highest refresh rate is a sure fire way to slow down everyday life despite the experiential benefits.

As for battery life, the 8a boasts a slightly larger 4,492 mAh battery compared to the 7a’s 4,300 mAh capacity. Both phones claim 24+ hours of battery life, but real-world usage may vary. The 8a sticks to slower 7.5W wireless charging, just like the 7a. It also once again retains the somewhat slow 18W wired charging.

Camera

Both phones share the same camera hardware: a 64MP main sensor and a 13MP ultra-wide sensor. This means that in most scenarios the images and video should be identical from the Pixel 8a and 7a. Unfortunately, there’s no telephoto on either phone, relying on digital zoom, which can cause some quality loss when zooming in on distant subjects.

The core feature set of the Pixel 7a and 8a is identical. Where the Pixel 8a starts to make gains is in its suite of post-processing features. Some of the key selling points of the Pixel 8 series are available on the 8a, including Magic Editor, Best Take, Magic Eraser and Audio Magic Eraser. Neither is available on the Pixel 7a through official means.

As we note, there’s little to really separate the Pixel 7a and 8a’s camera hardware. Just choose which set of software features are considered “essential” to you and you’ll be very happy.

Pixel 7a vs Pixel 8a: Which should I choose?

About the upgrade: 9to5Google often makes specific product recommendations. Sometimes we may suggest no upgrade, for various reasons, including but not limited to: increased cost of the device, minor performance increase, or environmental impact. Whether to upgrade is always up to you, but our goal is to help you make the most informed decision possible.

The Pixel 7a remaining in the range means the base Pixel still gives you a lot of bang for your buck. Where the Pixel 8a flexes its muscles is with new AI-powered features and an industry-leading update schedule. Although it’s set at $499, Google has promised updates until 2031. If you were to use the 8a for its entire supported life, it would only cost $70 per year.

It’s unlikely that many people will make the 8a last that long. That said, you now have the option. The Pixel 7a is now more affordable than ever. If you don’t care about the longest update schedule, it will still be supported for another four years. Most of the core hardware is identical to the 8a – apart from the SoC and the display.

Ultimately, the Pixel 8a offers a compelling package that has blurred the lines between the A-series and the regular Pixel 8 lineup more than ever. It’s both a blessing and a curse, but if you’re still rocking an older unsupported Pixel, then the 8a is an excellent upgrade option.