The Google Pixel 8a is set to be announced at Google I/O next month. However, ahead of that announcement, we now know just about everything there is to know about the Pixel 8a.
Today, we are sharing additional renders of all four Pixel 8a colors (Obsidian, Porcelain, Mint, and Bay), as well as cases and promotional images that tell us basically every feature coming to the Pixel 8a this year.
With the Pixel 8a, Google is touting the “AI-mazing” Camera on the phone. Giving it features like Audio Magic Eraser, Night Sight, and Best Take. None of these are actually new for the Pixel 8a, as Night Sight and Best Take have been around for a good bit already. However, Audio Magic Eraser was added to the Pixel 8 series last fall. It has worked very well in our testing with the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, and we’d expect the same experience with the Pixel 8a.
Google is also touting a good number of features that can be used to help you throughout the day. Like screening calls with Call Assist, you can also get a summary of emails on the spot and use Circle to Search on the Pixel 8a.
Next up, some specs. As expected, the Pixel 8a does run on the Google Tensor G3 processor. This is the same processor powering the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro that were launched last fall. Google also mentions fast charging, though we wouldn’t expect anything faster than 30W here.
Finally, Google promoted a feature that they were actually killing in June. That is the Google One VPN. Additionally, the Pixel 8a is IP67 certified for water and dust resistance, and it will get seven years of security updates. Here, Google is specifying security updates, instead of just updates, like they did with the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. So perhaps it’s not quite the same update policy as the flagship Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro.
Google Pixel 8a will go on sale on May 16
The Google Pixel 8a will likely go on sale on May 16, which is just a couple of days after the Google I/O keynote. And that is also represented by the home screen on these renders. Typically, that date means either the announcement date or the date that the phone is going to go on sale. With Google I/O being May 14 and 15, we expect that to be the sale date.
As you can see in the gallery below, there are matching silicon cases for all four Pixel 8a models. That includes the Obsidian, Porcelain, Bay, and Mint colors. These cases are going to be the same as what previous Pixel phones have used, that includes a rather sticky finish that will hold onto dirt and dust with ease.
Pricing is expected to remain around $500 for the Pixel 8a this year. Recently, there was a leak from a Canadian retailer on pricing, which showed the converted price to be around $510 USD, which isn’t much of a price increase over the Pixel 7a.
Right now, the Pixel 8a is expected to be the only hardware announced at Google I/O, but that could change. So far, we haven’t seen many leaks about the Pixel Fold 2 (or Pixel 9 Pro Fold as was recently rumored) nor the Pixel Tablet 2. Both predecessors launched at Google I/O last year. But it seems like those will be launching in the Fall instead.
Google’s Pixel 8a is shaping up to be an excellent mid-range phone from the company. And getting seven years of security updates pretty much blows away every other phone in its price range.
