Google Pixel 8a vs. Pixel 8: What are the differences?
Google just dropped the new Pixel 8a, but the question is, should you get the new phone or opt for the pricier Pixel 8?
The Pixel 8a vs. Pixel 8 is a face-off we decided to put together to help you understand the difference between the Pixel 8a and its pricier Pixel 8 sibling.
At first glance, they may seem similar, but when you dive into the nitty gritty details, they're a lot more different than you think.
Without further ado, let's pit the new Pixel 8a against the Pixel 8.
Pixel 8a vs. Pixel 8: Price and specs
The Pixel 8a starts at $499, $200 cheaper than the Pixel 8.
This configuration comes with the following specs:
Google Tensor G3 chip + Titan M2 security co-processor
128GB of storage
8GB of RAM
6.1-inch, 2,400 x 1,080-pixel display
The Pixel 8 starts at $699:
Google Tensor G3 chip + Titan M2 security co-processor
128GB of stage
8GB of RAM
6.2-inch, 2,400 x 1,080-pixel display
For both the Pixel 8 and the Pixel 8, you can upgrade your configuration to 256GB of storage, which will require you to shell out an additional $160 for both models.
Of course, price-wise, the Pixel 8a has the edge.
Winner: Pixel 8a
Pixel 8a vs. Pixel 8: Design
The new Pixel 8a has a familiar Pixel 8 design, featuring rounded corners and the distinctive tennis sweatband-like camera bar, an unmistakable characteristic of Pixel phones.
However, the dimensions tell a different story:
Pixel 8a - 6.0 x 2.9 x 0.4 inches
Pixel 8 - 5.9 x 2.8 x 0.4 inches
The Pixel 8a is a hair taller than the Pixel 8 as well as slightly wider. In terms of thickness, they have the same height (i.e., 0.4 inches).
As far as weight is concerned, the Pixel 8a is slightly heavier than the Pixel 8 (i.e., 6.8 oz vs. 6.6 oz), but not by much.
The Pixel 8 offers these colorways: Hazel, Mint, Obsidian, and Rose.
The Pixel 8a, on the other hand, comes in the following colors: Obsidian, Porcelain, Bay and Aloe.
Keep in mind, though, that the Pixel 8 has IP68 dust-and-water resistance while the Pixel 8a has an IP67 rating. This means that, unlike the Pixel 8a, the Pixel 8 can survive being underwater for a longer period and a deeper depth. As such, if you tend to be the clumsy type, and you often go to the beach, I'd opt for the Pixel 8.
Winner: Pixel 8
Pixel 8a vs. Pixel 8: Display
Let's start with the display size. The Pixel 8 offers slightly more screen real estate at 6.2 inches compared to the new Pixel 8a's 6.1-inch display.
Here are the display specs of both phones:
Up to 120Hz refresh rate
2,400 x 1,080-pixel resolution
Up to 2,000 nits of peak brightness
OLED screen
20:9 aspect ratio
On difference worth pointing out, however, is that the Pixel 8a has a Corning Gorilla Glass 3 display. The Pixel 8, on the other hand, has a Corning Gorilla Glass Victus panel, which offers significant improvement to drop and scratch resistance.
In other words, the Pixel 8 will be less susceptible to scratches as well as wear-and-tear, so if you're looking for better durability, the Pixel 8 is your guy.
Winner: Pixel 8
Pixel 8a vs. Pixel 8: Performance
The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8a both have the same processors: Google Tensor G3 chip + Titan M2 security co-processor. They also have the same RAM (8GB).
As such, neither phone should have a significant advantage over the other when it comes to performance.
Pixel 8a vs. Pixel 8: Camera
There are some marked differences between the Pixel 8a and Pixel 8 when it comes to their cameras. Let's break them down.
Wide camera
Pixel 8a: 64MP
Pixel 8: 50MP
Ultra-wide camera
Pixel 8a: 13MP
Pixel 8: 12MP
Selfie camera
Pixel 8a: 13MP
Pixel 8: 10.5MP
The Pixel 8a's cameras are more pixel dense than the Pixel 8's shooters, but don't let this fool you. For example, yes, the Pixel 8 has a 50MP main camera compared to the Pixel 8a's 64MP main camera. But the Pixel 8's wide-lens sensor is much larger than the Pixel 8a (1/1.31" vs 1/1.73"), allowing the former to capture more light in photos.
On top of that, the Pixel 8's main camera has a wider aperture (f/1.68 vs. f/1.89), again, yielding better light gathering.
The same can be said for the other shooters. On paper, the Pixel 8a may appear to have the better camera set, but the aperture and sensor size say otherwise.
Pixel 8 vs. Pixel 8a: Camera features
The Pixel 8a has some features that the 7a didn't have, including Best Take and Magic Editor (utilities you can find on the Pixel 8).
For the uninitiated, Best Take analyzes a set of similar photos and delivers, well, "the best take," ensuring that everyone looks their best.
Magic Editor, on the other hand, lets you move objects around the scenery.
The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8a share the following camera features:
Magic Eraser
Photo Unblur
Real Tone
Face Unblur
Panorama
Manual white balancing
Locked Folder
Night Sight
Top Shot
Portrait Mode
Portrait Light
Motion Auto Focus
Frequent Faces
Dual exposure controls
Live HDR+
Ultra HDR
One feature that the Pixel 8 has that the Pixel 8a doesn't is Macro Focus. Macro Focus lets you get extremely close to a subject and capture it in great detail.
Winner: Pixel 8
Pixel 8 vs. Pixel 8a: Battery life
The Pixel 8, packed with a 4,575 mAH battery, has a larger battery capacity compared to the Pixel 8a (i.e., 4,492 mAh).
Still, Google rates the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8a as having the same runtime: "31 hours" on a usage profile based on a mix of talk, data, standby and other features.
We'll have to get the Pixel 8a in for review to know for sure.
Unlike the Pixel 8, the Pixel 8a does not have a feature called "Battery Share," which lets you charge other devices on it wirelessly.
Winner: TBD
Pixel 8 vs. Pixel 8a: Which should you buy?
The biggest difference between the Pixel 8a and the Pixel 8 lies in the cameras. You should get better-quality photos with the Pixel 8 because the shooters are designed to let in more light compared to the Pixel 8a.
I'd also add that the Pixel 8 is designed to be more durable. As such, if longevity is important to you, and you want to reduce the risk of a cracked screen, get the Pixel 8.
If these aren't alluring to you, the Pixel 8a would be a perfectly good fit for anyone looking to snatch some flagship-caliber features at a more wallet-friendly price.
