Google Pixel 8a vs Pixel 8 vs Pixel 8 Pro: Pixelate

The Google Pixel 8a has been officially revealed. Over the past few years, the decision between the biennial Pixel a series and the flagship Pixel or Pixel Pro has been an easy one. Typically you'd get most of the bells and whistles of last year's premium at a more attractive price, but the Pixel 8a so closely resembles its premium counterpart that the price has started to creep closer too. That leaves the Pixel 8a in a tricky spot and makes it a tougher sell, especially when the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are regularly sold at an attractive discount. 

So should you grab the latest Pixel 8a, despite the price bump, or find a solid deal on last year's Pixel 8 or Pixel 8 Pro? Let's stack the handsets up side-by-side. 

The most meaningful difference between the flagship Pixel phones and the Pixel a series is, of course, the price. If you're on the Pixel a cycle, it's because you don't mind holding out for a year to get most of the same features for a much cheaper price. But this year might have the more frugal smartphone users among us scratching their heads. 

The Pixel 7a cost $749 at launch, the same price as the Pixel 6a before it; a comfortably "midrange" price at that. Not quite as affordable as the Pixel 4a, which retailed at $599 back in 2020, but still in the right ballpark for the specs offered. This year Google is charging $849 for its entry-level 128GB Pixel 8a and up to $949 for the 256GB model, which is honestly nobody's idea of "midrange" even as premium smartphones increase in price. 

Here's how the Google Pixel 8a compares in price to other Pixels. 

The closest alternatives you will find in the Android space are Samsung's Galaxy A55 and A35, which are both cheaper at $699 and $549, respectively. Otherwise if you're open to a newcomer in the Android midrange, you could consider the Nothing Phone. The budget-minded Nothing Phone (2a) costs around $650 via Amazon Australia while the more primo Nothing Phone (2) is currently discounted to $845 on Amazon.

If you're tempted to hop the fence over to Apple's side of the field, your only real option is the 2022 iPhone SE which costs around $790 for the 128GB model at Amazon and $969 for the 256GB model. While still great smartphones in their own right, at nearly two years old, they're on their way out. 

With all that said, it's best to keep an eye on the outright deals. You're not going to save much by pre-ordering the Google Pixel 8a prior to release, but the following retailers will be competing on price in the months to follow:

The Google Pixel 8a is available for pre-order now through Telstra and Optus and there's no word on whether it will be available through Vodafone here in Australia. 

Both premium Pixel phones, the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, are available through Telstra, Optus and Vodafone. You can find more information in our breakdown of Pixel 8a, Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro plans, but in the meantime, here are the cheapest 36-month plans for each Pixel 8 handset. 

Besides pricing, the Pixel 8a's camera is the one area where you can expect to miss out on a few minor features when compared to the Pixel 8 (and a few more compared to the Pixel 8 Pro.) Sure it's got all the same AI camera features of both flagship Pixel 8 phones, but the hardware isn't quite the same. 

Comparing the phones side-by-side, the technical differences might seem like much of a muchness, as do most of the photos to the naked eye. But there are still a few key differences about what each phone's cameras can and can't do. 

Let's start with the Google Pixel 8a. On paper, the dual-lens 64MP (main lens) + 13MP (ultrawide lens) isn't much different from the Pixel 8 (50MP + 12MP,) but still significantly inferior to the Pixel 8 Pro's triple-lens array (50MP wide + 48MP ultrawide + 48MP telephoto.) 

But as most readers would know at this stage, sheer megapixel count doesn't tell the whole story.  So let's focus on the sacrifices the Pixel 8a makes. 

Firstly, there's no LDAF sensor (laser detect auto-focus sensor.) This technology gives the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro's cameras an impressively fast auto-focus when taking quick snaps. Likewise, the Pixel 8a doesn't have the 2x optical zoom or the Macro Focus features that are available on the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. 

Here's a quick side-by-side breakdown of the key camera spec differences between the Pixel 8a, Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. 

The Google Pixel 8a is packing a decent 4,492mAh battery. Thanks to the slightly smaller 6.1-inch display, that is about equivalent to the Pixel 8's 4,575mAh battery and the 8 Pro's bigger 5,050mAh battery. All three devices promise around 24 hours of usage and in our early tests, the Pixel 8a has managed that and then some. 

What you won't get is fancier battery and charging features, like the faster 18W and 23W wireless charging available with the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, respectively. The Pixel 8a also doesn't support Battery Share, Google's reverse wireless charging feature that lets you power other devices, like earbuds or the Pixel Watch, using the stored battery life in the handset. 

The Pixel 8a's display boasts a few neat surprises, and also a couple of downgrades. For a first in the Pixel a series, you won't need to sacrifice a higher refresh rate if you're saving money with the Pixel 8a. The 6.1-inch OLED Actua display of the Pixel 8a offers a variable refresh rate, between 60 and 120Hz. The Pixel 8 Pro can dip even lower, all the way down to 1Hz if the situation calls for it, but more important is the fact that Pixel 8a users will experience the same buttery smooth animations and user experience as Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro users. 

It's also just as bright as the Pixel 8 with up to 2, 000 nits peak brightness and offers an Always-On Display. 

Where Google has saved money on the Pixel 8a comes down to the build and durability. While it won't make much of a difference, the Pixel 8a is rated IP67 for dust and water resistance, while the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are rated IP68. On paper, that simply means they can be submerged in deeper water without compromising the device's internals. 

• IP Rating Guide: Water and dust-resistance explained

The Google Pixel 8a isn't quite as durable as its counterparts in most regards. For example, the Corning Gorilla Glass 3 that's used on the display isn't as strong as the Gorilla Glass Victus and Victus 2 featured in the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, respectively. 

And as is usually the case with these midrange alternatives, the Pixel 8a also ditches the glass back panel of the premium smartphones for a cheaper plastic material, though the difference there probably won't be noticeable to the untrained eye.

One incredibly refreshing aspect of the Pixel a series is that, as of the Pixel 7a generation, the midrange alternative gets all the grunt afforded to the flagship phones. This year, that means the Google Pixel 8a has the same Google Tensor G3 chipset for comparable performance and shared AI assistance with photography and editing. It also has the same security system, including Google's Titan M2 chip and onboard VPN. 

It's a slightly different story when it comes to storage and memory. For starters, the 12GB RAM is exclusive to the Pixel 8 Pro, whereas the Pixel 8a and Pixel 8 sport 8GB of RAM. 

Lastly there are the storage options. This year, the Pixel 8a shares the same configuration options as the Pixel 8, with 128GB and 256GB storage models. The 512GB model is still exclusive to the Pixel 8 Pro.