Google Pixel 8a: Price, specs and cheapest plans

Google I/O is a week away but Google is showing off the Pixel 8a anyway.  We've got the full rundown and all the juicy details about Google's latest budget-friendly banger of a smartphone.

Regardless of whether you're after the more general gist or an in-detail breakdown of everything you need to know about the Google Pixel 8, we've got you covered. Here's how it compares to the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, when you can get your hands on the device and how much it will cost in Australia. 

• Tensor G3: The new A-Series device has the same processor as Google's premium phones do.
• Upgraded Face unlock: The Pixel 8a now meets the highest standard of biometric security on Android
• Brighter screens: An Actua display for the Pixel 8a offers 40% increase in brightness
• Faster refresh rate: An upgrade from 90Hz to 120hz
• New camera features: Audio Magic Eraser, Best Take,
• New AI features: Circle to Search, Call Assist, Live Translate
• Seven years of security updates: Superior customer support
• More expensive: $100 more than the Pixel 7a at launch

If you're after the short version, it's that the Pixel 8a doesn't deviate from what made previous budget-friendly Google devices such a winner. That said, it doesn't bring with it any big new features beyond a brighter screen, a faster refresh rate, a bigger battery and a more powerful processor and it does come at a higher price than previous models. 

The Google Pixel 8 went up in price last year, and the Pixel 8a is following that lead in 2024. Where last year's Pixel 7a started at $749, this year's Google Pixel 8a is $100 more expensive for the cheapest version of the device.

Here's a sense of how the Pixel 8a sits when it comes to the pricing of the current roster of Google smartphones:

• Pixel 8a (128GB) - $849
• Pixel 8a (256GB) - $949
• Pixel 8 (128GB) - $1,199
• Pixel 8 (256GB) -  $1,299
• Pixel 8 Pro (128GB) - $1,699
• Pixel 8 Pro (256GB) - $1,799
• Pixel 8 Pro (512GB) -  $1,999

The Google Pixel 8a isn't trying to reinvent nor is it looking to fix something that isn't broken. While there are a few design tweaks that it's inheriting from the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, the bulk of the changes here are happening under the hood.

The Pixel 8a boasts a brighter OLED screen that goes up to 120Hz when needed, a faster Tensor G3 processor, a bigger battery and improved face unlock. Like its flagship-grade counterparts, the device also comes with a full seven years of security and software updates.

If you expected the Google Pixel 8a to be a familiar evolution of the formula it's been honing since the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, the design of the device does little to dissuade you of that notion at first glan e.

The headliner here is a 6.17-inch OLED screen with FHD+ resolution and a 60Hz-120Hz dynamic refresh rate. According to Google, the screen on the Pixel 8a is said to offer a 40% increase in peak brightness compared to the one found on last year's Pixel 7a.

Beyond that, the budget-friendly device offers pretty much all the premium perks you'd expect of it, including but not limited to an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor, water and dust resistance, wireless charging and fast charging via USB-C.

As with last year's Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, Google's latest mid-ranger comes with an extended software support life for the new phones. Previous Pixel phones received three years of major operating system updates and five years of security updates. This year's Pixel 8a comes with seven years of OS updates, feature drops, security updates and customer support.

On the inside, the Google Pixel 8a is powered by the same Google Tensor G3 processor found inside last year's Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro.

While you're still getting the same 8GB of RAM seen in the Pixel 7a, the Pixel 8a comes in two storage variants this time around. One features the usual 128GB. The other doubles that to 256GB.

As for battery size, the Pixel 8a is powered by a 4492mAh battery that's slightly larger than the one in the Pixel 7a and Pixel 8. Even if it's not a huge upgrade, it's likely to be a welcome one. 

In his review of last year's Pixel 7a, Fergus Halliday was plenty impressed when it came to battery life. Hopefully, the Pixel 8a lives up to that legacy.

The hardware handling things here isn't a huge departure from what the Pixel 7a had to offer when it came to the camera. The back of the Pixel 8a plays host to a 64MP main lens and 13MP wide angle lens.

Instead, the major update here has to do with the software. As with the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, the Pixel 8a comes with improved real-tone tech to deliver better skin accuracy across the photos and videos you capture. There's also a number of unique AI-powered features including Best Take and Audio Magic Eraser.

The Pixel 8a will come with the same level of 5G connectivity as last year's Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro.

Of course, you'll need to be located in an area with 5G coverage in order to actually make use of this feature. To see where is 5G available in Australia, use the coverage map below.

Click the big orange button, and select your desired network provider from the dropdown (e.g. Telstra, Optus or Vodafone). Then, find out if you have 5G coverage in your area by using the (+) and (-) icons in the top-left corner of the map to navigate to your local area.