by Holly, Team Mozillion.
The Pixel 8a hit shelves seven months after the Pixel 8. It costs less but how does it compare?
Both of these smartphones have what you may call ‘flagship qualities’ and the artificial intelligence running through them is pretty impressive, including some very clever photo editing tricks such as Magic Editor. More on that later.
They both have a durable design with water resistance and Gorilla Glass Victus for scratch resistance – though the ratings on both of these differ which we’ll get into below.
So what are the main differences between these two Google gadgets, and is the Pixel 8a just a better value version of the Pixel 8?
Let’s take a closer look…
Build and Design | Google Pixel 8 vs 8a
When it comes to design, the Google Pixel 8a sits somewhere between the Pixel 7a and the 8. It shares the plastic back of the 7a rather than the glass one of the Pixel 8 but it does have a pleasing matte finish that some people may prefer.
Around the corners, the Pixel 8a resembles the Google Pixel 8 with a rounded gradient, but it isn’t quite as slim as the 8, despite both weighing approximately the same.
The slimmer design, glass rear and smaller bezels gives the Pixel 8 a more premium feel, plus the screen is slightly bigger.
The IP rating for water and dust resistance is higher on the Pixel 8 at IP68 versus IP67 on the Pixel 8a. Gorilla Glass is present on both smartphones but you get slightly tougher Gorilla Glass Victus on the Pixel 8, with Gorilla Glass 3 on the 8a.
Display | Google Pixel 8 vs 8a
A high refresh rate is important for smooth scrolling and gaming as it offers a higher performance based on how many times per second the screen is able to draw a new image.
Both the Pixel 8 and the Pixel 8a have a maximum refresh rate of 120Hz which is the same as most flagship phones
Both phones are also hitting it out of the park with a peak level of 2000 nits when it comes to screen brightness which means that the screens are visible in bright sunlight. Again, a flagship quality.
The display is ever so slightly bigger on the Google Pixel 8 at 6.2 inches compared to 6.1 inches on the Pixel 8a – not everyone will notice the difference but it is there.
Both screens are Full HD + OLED.
Camera | Google Pixel 8 vs 8a
So what can you expect from some of the incredible photography tricks and treats available with the Pixel 8 and 8a?
One of the most impressive features that you’ll find on both models is Best Take. Whether your subjects are photogenic or not is no longer an issue as Best Take ensures you get the best shot by effectively blending a burst of photos into one perfect pic.
Magic Editor is another fun tool you’ll find on both phones. For those of you that are familiar with Magic Eraser, Magic Editor takes it up a notch. You can manipulate reality by moving objects around in your photo to where you feel they should have been in the first place. It even gives you suggestions on what to change like swapping a grey sky for a sunset.
You also now have Macro Focus for striking detail in smaller subjects and features such as Night Sight so you can be snapping away from dusk until dawn.
Hardware-wise, the Pixel 8 can capture more light than the 8a which usually means clearer, crisper images in a wider range of lighting conditions, plus the 8 has an ultra-wide lens with autofocus which doubles as a macro camera. Plain and simple, although both cameras are exceptional and they both have the same editing tools – the Pixel 8 pips the 8a on image quality and results.
Processor | Google Pixel 8 vs 8a
With both smartphones running on identical Tensor G3 chips, with 8GB of RAM and identical storage options – 128GB and 256GB – there is virtually no difference in them when it comes to performance and software. Plus Google is offering the same seven year update promise for both the Pixel 8 and 8a.
Battery | Google Pixel 8 vs 8a
The Pixel 8 supports 27W wired and 12W wireless charging and has a size of 4,575mAh.
The Pixel 8a has a slightly smaller battery at 4,492mAh with 18W wired and 7.5W wireless charging.
The fact that they have the same chipset makes them both pretty power efficient and one key point to note is that the 8a is a noticeable improvement on the previous Pixel 7a model.
Verdict | Google Pixel 8 vs 8a
With its higher spec, the 8 started out at a higher price point than the 8a but this price has come down since launch. Despite them being very similar in lots of ways, there is no denying that the Pixel 8 is a bigger and better smartphone overall – and that’s why it costs around £80 more.
That said you still get a lot of the flagship qualities and AI tools with the Pixel 8a so if it is down to price, the 8a is still a fantastic purchase for Android fans that don’t want to be spending thousands on a smartphone.
You’ll find both these phones and more on Mozillion.