That’s it, the Pixel 8a has finally been officially launched. You will have to wait a few more days for it to arrive in stores, but you can pre-order it now. Here’s everything you need to know about it.
While Google I/O has not even started yet, the American company did not wait to officially unveil its new affordable smartphone, which had been the subject of numerous leaks in recent months. As expected, Google truly wants to position the Pixel 8a as the best in its class.
Every year, the new A series smartphone inherits the main technical characteristics of the main range devices, but at a reduced price. Despite its slightly increasing price, this Pixel 8a promises to attract many customers looking for a new device.
What technical sheet for the Pixel 8a?
Concretely, the Pixel 8a is a slightly smaller Pixel 8. It is powered by the same in-house Tensor G3 processor, which makes it one of the most powerful devices in its segment. This chip allows the Pixel 8a to benefit from all the AI features of its big brothers, including Surround to Search, Call Filtering and Sound Clarity. The Pixel 8a even introduces a new one: Audio Emojis.
We find at the front a 6.1-inch OLED screen, with a refresh rate increasing to 120 Hz. Google announces that the latter is 40% brighter than the previous generation, and now reaches no less than 2000 nits at peak. It is protected by Gorilla Glass 3 and the device is IP67 certified for water and dust resistance.
The Pixel 8a is powered by a generous 4492 mAh battery, given its small format, compatible with 18W wired fast charging and wireless fast charging (Qi certified). The device measures 152.1 x 72.7 x 8.9 mm, weighing 188 grams. It is therefore far from being the lightest and thinnest in its category.
On the photo side, the Pixel 8a relies on 2 sensors at the back: one of 64 MP, the same as the Pixel 8, and another of 13 MP for ultra wide angle. The selfie part is provided by a 13 MP sensor, and we find all the AI features of the Pixel 8: Magic Retouch, Magic Eraser, Real Tone or even Top Shot, to name a few.
The most interesting thing is that the smartphone will also be entitled to updates for no less than 7 years, like high-end devices. It is therefore the mid-range smartphone with the best software tracking on the market.
Price and availability
The Google Pixel 8a is now available for pre-order. Like most of its competitors, Google has probably been forced to increase the price of its device this year, since it is now marketed from 549 euros in its version with 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storagebut a version with 256 GB of storage is also offered.
It is therefore 40 euros more than the previous generation, the Pixel 7a. However, given the even more interesting technical sheet than last year, this small increase does not really detract from the excellent value for money that this series usually offers. 4 colors are available in France: Volcanic Black, Porcelain, Azure Blue and Aloe Green.
Pre-orders last for a week, after which the smartphone will be available on the Google website and usual partners from May 14. Note that if you order between May 7 and 13, you will be entitled to a significant trade-in bonus of 150 euros on your old smartphone, but to do this you must respect certain conditions detailed by Google during the purchase.