Pixel 8a Review

The Pixel 8 was a phenomenal phone that we really enjoyed. You can read all about it here in my review of the device from a few months back. I was interested to see what the Pixel 8a was bringing to the table – was it a big step down from the 8? Is it a more worthwhile purchase than the 8? Let’s dive into the Pixel 8a and what’s changing in the Google lineup!

The goal of the 8a is to create an affordable Pixel cell phone but one that still comes with a number of great features. The lineup of ‘a’ phones is something Google has been doing for a long while now, releasing months after the original at a slightly lower price point. Generally, the conversation around these phones is whether or not you should just pick up a discounted version of the original phone, or whether there is a good reason to pick up an ‘a’ version. In past years, we have been very complimentary of the ‘a’ series of phones, but perhaps this is the year it all changes?

Honestly, it’s not likely. What I love about Google and how they roll out their phones is that even before the Pixel 8a launched, we had a good idea of what we probably were going to expect, especially when compared to the Pixel 8. The question always stands out to me – do you compare this phone to the Pixel 8, or do the Pixel 7a?

This year’s phone has a brighter screen, better screen refresh rate, and a brand new chipset featuring some of Google’s latest and greatest software and security. It does feature similar design choices to the 7a, with an all plastic back and rounded edges. If you are looking to upgrade from a 7a to an 8a, I would argue it’s probably worth the money, even before diving deeper into this review.

I think, however, the real question we want to answer is how this compares to the Pixel 8. See, by this point in the Pixel 8 lifecycle, you can probably find a discounted Pixel 8 from your local mobile store, making the Pixel 8a closer in price to the discounted 8. MSRP to MSRP, yes, I would argue that the Pixel 8a is a fantastic deal, especially for the average Android phone user. Why? It has great features like lots of Google’s great software (magic eraser, anyone?), great cameras for the price (although perhaps still not in video), super fast screen refresh, super bright screen for watching YouTube or Netflix, and so much more. Sure, there are some production cutbacks to lower that price, but you are still getting many of the key features you would in the 8.

So how are these two phones different? Let’s break it down (Pixel 8a versus standard Pixel 8):

Processor – Both phones are using the Tensor G3 processor, which means battery life and performance are almost identical. The battery in the Pixel 8a is SLIGHTLY smaller. Emphasis on the SLIGHTLY!

Phone Size – 6.2 Inches on Pixel 8, 6.1 Inches on Pixel 8a, both with OLED screens.

Screen Quality – Both phones boast an OLED display, although when compared side by side, it’s easy to note that Google is obviously using a better quality display in the 8 than the 8a. Still, the 8a screen is VERY good.

Cameras – This is where you begin to see the separation between the two phones. The cameras on the Pixel 8a are very good and more than enough for the average mobile phone user. However, the quality of the images and the available editing features are better on the Pixel 8, and it is noticeable side-by-side.

What about the games though? GamesReviews has always looked at mobile phones from a user standpoint, not a technical standpoint. There are plenty of sites that will tell you all about the battery sizes, chip sets being used, security features, and more. We are about the user experience, and an important factor for our readers are games!

We ran a number of different games on the Pixel 8a including some of our more recent favourites like Monopoly Go!, The Simpson’s Tapped Out, and a few different racing games. For the most part, I would say that performance was really good. I have yet to use a mid-level / budget cell phone that could keep up with my city in the Simpsons, and that was again the case here. The odd stuttering and frame rate drops were noticeable, but they have been noticeable across many different phones, some more expensive and more impressive than this.

That could also be the game, however, as other heavy use games like Asphalt seemed to run no problem. I would say this is more than adequate for playing your various games, and most people will have no issue getting in and out of games rather quickly.

Overall, I’m really impressed with the Google Pixel 8a. It’s a solidly built phone with a ton of great Google features, at a really good price. I would obviously recommend getting the Pixel 8 if you can find one for under $50 more than this, but otherwise would highly recommend the Pixel 8a for any average mobile phone user!