Ever since Apple lost interest in the midrange smartphone segment, Google’s affordable Pixel A series has had quite the smooth sailing. The Pixel 7a is a crowd favourite with its bold colours, fresh new design and arguably the best camera system on any smartphone in its price range. Compared to the likes of the performance-centric OnePlus 12R and iQOO Neo 9 Pro, the Pixel 7a differentiates itself by offering a quality Android experience. As we head towards Google’s upcoming I/O 2024 event, smartphone enthusiasts are patiently waiting for the Google Pixel 8a, the successor to the Pixel 7a.
Although Google is likely to unveil its latest offering on the stage on 14 May 2024, the impatient community of tipsters has leaked a lot of information about the Pixel 8a. As such, be it its design renders or the internal specifications, we have a fair idea about what to expect from Google’s upcoming mass-centric smartphone. There’s even a rough estimate of what it could cost upon its launch!
Since the beans have been spilt, we decided to pit the Pixel 8a against its pricier sibling as well as its outgoing predecessor to find out whether it’s a worthy addition to Google’s expanding Pixel portfolio. We compared these phones on various crucial aspects such as design, display, performance, battery, cameras and pricing.
So, without further ado, let’s dive into our Google Pixel 8a vs Pixel 8 vs Pixel 7a mega comparison and find out who the winner is.
Google Pixel 8a’s specifications: How does it fare against Pixel 8 and Pixel 7a?
Design
Based on the leaked renders, it is safe to say that the Pixel 8a looks like a watered-down variant of the Pixel 8. While that may not garner applause from owners of the latter, it is certainly a step up for those coming from the comparatively bland-looking Pixel 7a.
While Google’s cost-cutting is observed in the Pixel 8a’s thick display bezels and slimmer camera hump, the rest of its fit and finish seems comparable with the Pixel 8. Out of the three phones here, it is the Pixel 8 that offers a glass panel on its back and an overall fit and finish that is a notch above the others.
As such, the Pixel 8 takes this round courtesy of its superior build quality and more refined design.
Winner: Google Pixel 8
Display
The Pixel 7a brought a notable upgrade with its 90Hz 6.1-inch OLED panel over the outgoing Pixel 6a. With the Pixel 8a, it seems like Google wants to be more competitive against aggressive offerings from Samsung, OnePlus and iQOO. The leaked specifications sheet reveals that the Pixel 8a will offer a 6.1-inch OLED display with a refresh rate of 120Hz. This should result in smoother animations and scrolling experience vis-à-vis the Pixel 7a.
However, it’s the Pixel 8’s 6.2-inch 120Hz OLED that reigns supreme in this three-way comparison, especially when you also factor in its 2,000 nits of peak brightness and superior Gorilla Glass Victus protection.
Winner: Google Pixel 8
Performance
The Pixel 7a with its older Tensor G2 chipset cannot offer the same levels of performance that its newer siblings offer. The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8a are equipped with the newer Tensor G3 chipset, which, while not as capable as the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, manages to offer decent performance. The newer hardware also allows the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8a to manage advanced generative AI features, something which the Pixel 7a misses out on.
Whichever Pixel smartphone you opt for, you get to experience Google’s iteration of Android 14 flaunting the Material You aesthetics. However, the Pixel 7a has already received its first Android update and is only slated to get two more OS upgrades in its lifecycle. The Pixel 8a is expected to get the same seven OS upgrades policy as the Pixel 8, thereby adding to its longevity.
Winners: Pixel 8 and Pixel 8a
Cameras
Being the true flagship model, it is the Pixel 8 that offers the better camera system out of the three.
With a 50-megapixel main sensor with an f/1.7 aperture lens and a 12-megapixel ultrawide shooter with a 126-degree field of view, the Pixel 8 can perform wonders in challenging lighting conditions. The Pixel 7a’s camera system is inferior in comparison, featuring a 64-megapixel main sensor with an f/1.9 aperture lens and a 13-megapixel ultrawide shooter. In the real world though, the differences in the output are minimal.
Rumours suggest that the Google Pixel 8a is likely to carry forward the Pixel 7a’s camera system unchanged, thereby offering no real-world performance gains. It, however, remains to be seen if Google’s generative AI can do wonders with the Pixel 8a’s camera system.
Winner: Pixel 8
Battery
Google’s Pixel phones are notorious for their terrible battery life and the Pixel 8 is no exception. With a 4,575mAh capacity battery, the Pixel 8 manages to keep its lights on for a whole day before needing a refill. In comparison, the Pixel 7a’s slightly smaller 4,385mAh battery, paired with the older Tensor G2 chipset, can barely make it past a day’s worth of stamina. You also get up to 27W of wired charging and 18W of wireless charging solutions.
Now, the rumours suggest that the Pixel 8a is likely to get a 4,500mAh capacity battery that, combined with the Tensor G3 chip, can deliver similar levels of stamina as the Pixel 8. What remains to be seen is whether the Pixel 8a gets faster charging solutions than the Pixel 8.
For this round though, it is the Pixel 8 that nabs the win once again.
Winner: Pixel 8
Prices
The Pixel 7a continues to sell for SGD 749 and is available in three colour variants and a sole 128GB storage variant.
On the other hand, the Google Pixel 8 starts at SGD 1,099 for the base variant with 128GB storage and goes up to SGD 1,199 for the top variant with 256GB storage.
As for the Pixel 8a, the recent price leak reveals that the handset is expected to start from CAD 709 (approximately SGD 703) for the base 128GB variant and could cost CAD 793 (approximately SGD 787) for the 256GB variant. Theoretically, this makes the Pixel 8a more affordable than the outgoing Pixel 7a.
If the leaks end up being accurate, the Pixel 8a is the clear winner here.
Winner: Pixel 8a
Google Pixel 8a vs Pixel 8 vs Pixel 7a: Our verdict
Winner: Pixel 8
In the comparison between the Google Pixel 8a, the Pixel 8 and Pixel 7a, it isn’t surprising to see the more expensive offering win a majority of the categories. The Pixel 8 offers a superior display panel, better build quality, nicer cameras, decent battery stamina and the promise of up to seven years of OS upgrades.
If the Pixel 8a manages to offer everything that its leaked specifications sheets hint at, it will offer enormous value for money for mid-range smartphone buyers. The Tensor G3’s Gen-AI processing capabilities along with a Pixel 8-equaling battery stamina and the promise of seven years of OS upgrades could draw more buyers to the Pixel stable.
(Hero and Featured Image Credits: Courtesy Google / Representational Image)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
– When will the Google Pixel 8a be released?
The Google Pixel 8a is expected to be released at the Google I/O 2024 event scheduled for 14 May 2024.
– What are the specifications of the Google Pixel 8a?
The Google Pixel 8a is rumoured to feature a 6.1-inch 120Hz OLED display, the Tensor G3 chipset, a 64-megapixel main rear camera, a 4,500mAh battery and up to seven OS upgrades.
