Google Pixel 8a
Announced May 7, 2024
PixelMeter The PixelMeter is our 1–100 aggregate of reviewer scores from trusted publications and creators. Weighted by source tier — not a raw average, and not PetaPixel’s own review.
Reviewer Consensus
Strong
Google Pixel 8a is a standout mid-range Android phone that delivers flagship-level software support and camera performance at a competitive price point. While it lacks the premium build materials and fast charging speeds of more expensive devices, it remains a highly recommended, feature-rich choice for most users.
Weighted from 50 reviewer scores
Pros
- Excellent camera quality and AI editing tools
- Compact and durable design
- Bright 120Hz OLED display
- Seven years of software and security updates
- Strong performance with Tensor G3 chip
Cons
- Slow charging speeds
- Thick screen bezels
- Middling battery life
- Lack of dedicated telephoto lens
- Plastic construction
- Launch price $499 (USD)
- Main camera 64MP f/1.9 + 13MP Ultrawide
- Video 4K 60p
- Display 6.1-inch OLED 120Hz
- Chipset Google Tensor G3 8GB
What the Reviewers Say
All 50 expert reviews, weighted into the PixelMeter score.
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- PetaPixel 8.5/10
The Pixel 8a doesn’t have everything, which is by design. It’s a mid-range phone that undercuts competitors on price yet delivers results that cut above them.
- The Verge 8/10
It’s a 6.1-inch 1080p OLED, and it’s not the very best screen in the class — that belongs to the OnePlus 12R. But the 8A’s display feels at least good enough in the era of high refresh rate screens.
- WIRED 8/10
Cheaper phones, like the Nothing Phone (2a), offer fairly smooth performance for the money. That said, the Pixel 8A never stuttered or showed a sign of a slowdown, whether I was playing a game or using it for a few hours with nonstop GPS navigation and music streaming.
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The Pixel 8a is the best mid-range phone available by a wide margin. You would have to spend almost double to get a better Android handset than this.
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At launch, the Pixel 8a felt like a no-brainer to recommend because it perfectly fit that mold. It arrived at a slightly higher price of $499, yet it still undercut the Pixel 8 by a comfortable $200 while offering the vast majority of the same experience.
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It is far from a bad product. In fact, it’s the best A-series phone due to improvements in several key areas.
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[T]he 8a does its most important job: keeping the door open to a whole constellation of useful Google features for folks who don't want to drop big bucks on a premium Pixel.
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The Pixel 8a is the most complete mid-range phone from Google I have ever reviewed and one of the easiest to recommend devices in 2024.
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Despite not having the mightiest camera hardware around, the Pixel 8a is an impressive camera phone. Thanks to Google's smart processing, it can capture a good point-and-shoot picture in most lighting conditions.
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Simply put, the Google Pixel 8a is the best Android phone under $500. It offers class-leading cameras, performs on par with more expensive competitors, offers helpful AI features, and benefits from a lengthy software support policy.
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The Pixel 8a is my new favorite bargain phone, and if you need a new phone for less, the Pixel 8a gives you more than you'd expect. You get Google's latest and greatest mobile AI tools, plus seven years of Android updates, in a package that's colorful and durable.
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Every phone touts their value, but the Pixel 8a shows us why it's the best cheap phone on the market with its intelligent AI features, charming design, and class leading software support.
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With the addition of Google's Tensor G3 chip, the Pixel 8a delivers handy AI features alongside a beautiful 120Hz OLED screen, excellent cameras and way above-average battery life for just $499.
- Digital Trends 7/10
“The Google Pixel 8a is excellent value thanks to its great software, a vibrant and exciting camera, the latest AI smarts, and a pretty design.”
- CNET 9.1/10
Unless you can get the Pixel 8 for $500 or less at a discount, the Pixel 8A is probably the best choice for Android fans that want to stay well below the $1,000 mark.
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The Pixel 8a is Google's best mid-range hardware yet, further blurring the line between the company's flagship "premium" offerings and this mid-range winner. The cameras are still best-in-class and AI features aren't gatekept to the most expensive Pixels, unlike Apple's strategy.
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What I do know, however, is this: for as much confusion as we all might feel about the Pixel 8a, even at full price, it's a pretty great phone for the money. However, whether we all feel that way in a year or two is impossible to know.
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The 8a should be the cheapest new Pixel, but it's actually about the same price as the Pixel 8 when its price does go down, though the Google Pixel 8a is worth recommending if you're looking for a compact phone with nice cameras and software features.
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The Google Pixel 8a is another home run for Google in its Pixel a-series. Keeping the Pixel 8a at $499 instantly makes this the best $500 phone of the year.
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It’s overall specs are good enough for the price point, the software is excellent, and the camera probably punches above its weight.
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Google Pixel 8a seems like a solid little flagship, one of the very few on the market, and also one that doesn't cost a thousand dollars/euros. The slow 18W wired charging is a glaring omission on the spec sheet, though.
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[I]n the end, there are lots of things to love about the Google Pixel 8a.
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Whether or not it ends up cannibalising its elder sibling remains to be seen, but either way the Pixel 8a is exceptional in its own right.
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With swift performance, sleek AI-powered software, and outstanding camera capabilities for its price, the Google Pixel 8a once again dominates the affordable smartphone market. It proves that you don’t need to spend over [...]
- Creative Bloq 9/10
The Google Pixel 8a may not be a flagship phone, but it's very nicely made and offers good cameras, a colourful OLED screen, and enough AI power to be genuinely useful.
- How-To Geek 7/10
Despite the more budget look and feel and slow wireless charging, if it wasn't for the $499 price tag, I'd recommend it to everyone. But instead, I firmly believe that most people are better off looking at Google's more premium handsets.
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For the average phone buyer – the target market here – the Pixel 8a ticks most of the boxes and with longevity promised will make for a good value choice over its lifespan.
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For most people looking for a basic smartphone that can at least capture the moment when the aurora borealis makes a rare appearance, the Pixel 8a is an excellent buy for its $500 starting price tag.
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[A] bright 120Hz OLED screen, Google's well-tuned cameras, and seven years of software updates.
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The new $499 Pixel 8a is the most affordable way to punch your ticket into Google’s AI club, which is filled with access to its Gemini AI model and dramatic photo-editing features (and whatever else Google announces at today’s Google IO event to rival ChatGPT-4o).
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If you’re on an older Android device and desperately need something affordable that will get years of software upgrades and general reliability, the Pixel 8a is a great choice.
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If you are looking for a solid Android phone that does everything well without compromising on support and software, the Pixel 8a is a solid phone that will last you a long time. However, it does this at a premium price.
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[I]f you want the full Pixel experience and you got about 500 quid to spend, well, job fracking done.
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While there's lots to love about the Pixel 8a, there's no reason to buy it when the Pixel 8 has been regularly sold for less and is a clear step up in every way.
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[I]t's a really fun device in my opinion.
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The Pixel 8a is so good that it puts many flagship phones on notice, but for a fraction of the price.
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If you want an Android smartphone that nails the essentials, amazing cameras, a clean software experience and years of update, this is an easy recommendation.
- Pocket Tactics 8/10
If you're looking for an affordable phone with silky smooth performance, a vivid display, and a host of fun and useful AI features, we can't help but recommend the Pixel 8a.
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If that person who is that perfect user who doesn't do much with their phone and just wants a solid camera and good software experience, what phone should I buy? The Google Pixel 8a.
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[...] I am very pleased with this phone from Google. They always try to deliver a lot of value in this segment of the market and this one really takes it up a notch.
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It's a solid mid-range-ish phone with a lot going for it, as long as you can look past the chunky bezels and super slow charging.
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This phone is pretty good, but I don't think you should buy it, just to be honest.
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If you really need a phone now though, you honestly can't go wrong with a Google Pixel 8a.
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The Pixel 8a is a fantastic phone that’s easy to use and packed with great features. It’s perfect for everyday use, whether you’re snapping photos, watching videos, or just browsing the web.
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The Pixel 8a is the under-$500 smartphone to get, and I’m not talking just Android. The product’s design, performance, camera quality, cutting-edge Android experience, and immaculate futureproofing leave rivals that cost the same (or less) in the dust.
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The Google Pixel 8a impresses with its combination of solid performance, excellent cameras, and future-proof software support. It stands as a testament to Google's ability to deliver quality at a more accessible price point.
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For $500, I think Google really missed the mark on pricing to spec here.
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I think the biggest testament of the Google Pixel 8a is just the fact that I've been using it for like 3 weeks now and I haven't really felt a massive need to switch back to my regular S24 Ultra.
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For me, the Google Pixel 8a is an absolute steal.
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So all in all, guys, for the Google Pixel 8a, I definitely think it's a phone that I would recommend because honestly, the only major issues that I've had is the speakers and just the brightness, and if those are my two issues, then I think I'm doing pretty good.
