Google is not among the biggest sellers of smartphones, but the American giant is a major player. Behind Android, it also has its own range of Pixel smartphones since 2016. The series has proven itself by quickly moving into artificial intelligence and photography. Although Pixels are regularly among the best smartphones, they are not always accessible to all budgets. Google has released a new range labeled “a” to remedy this problem. The effective recipe consists of incorporating the flagship elements of the Pixel in a less premium setting in order to reduce the Price.
After the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro at the end of 2023, Google is preparing to lift the veil on the new representative of its “a” series. While the Pixel 8a will not be made official for a few weeks, information is increasing about it and we can already give you a precise portrait. Here’s everything you need to know about the Google Pixel 8a ahead of Google I/O 2024.
Design: all round
Between renders, leaks, ads and hands-on videos, it’s hard not to know what the Pixel 8a will look like. The first images, 3D renderings published by OnLeaks, date back to the end of 2023 and were only subsequently confirmed. They show a Pixel 8a very close to the Pixel spirit introduced with the Pixel 6, with a wide strip on the back to house the photo part. If it seems thinner than on the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, it is strongly reminiscent of that of the current Pixel 7a.
Despite obvious similarities between the two “a” models, the Pixel 8a has significantly more rounded edges than its predecessor. It would retain fairly significant borders around its screen, particularly at the chin level. This design element would help to distinguish it from the higher range and the Pixel 8, from which it is also inspired with its rounded shapes. This approach, already seen on old Pixels, would help provide excellent handling. Google’s next smartphone would come in four colors: Obsidian (black), Mint (green), Porcelain (off-white) and Bay (blue).
A screen close to that of the Pixel 8?
The Google Pixel 8a would have dimensions of 152.1 x 72.6 x 8.9 mm and would be very slightly more compact than the Pixel 7a (152.4 x 72.9 x 9.0 mm). This format tends to confirm that the Pixel 8a would once again have a 6.1-inch OLED screen. This panel, displaying Full HD+ definition, would be smaller than the 6.2 inches of the Pixel 8.
While we were expecting a 90 Hz screen on the Pixel 8a, new rumors suggest the move to a refresh rate of 120 Hz. The mid-range would also offer a peak brightness (in HDR) at 1400 cd/m2, i.e. features worthy of the Pixel 8.
Performance: the same chip as the Pixel 8, with one catch
The evolution would be classic with the integration of the latest chip from the American giant, the Tensor G3 of the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. This SoC developed by Google offers a 1+4+4 configuration with one Cortex-X3 core, four Cortex-A715s and four Cortex-A510s. It would bring a Mali-G715 GPU on the graphics part, as well as a 5300 modem for connectivity.
The Pixel 8a would support AV1 encoding up to 4K at 60 fps. A performance gain is to be expected compared to the Pixel 7a under Tensor G3, but the Pixel 8a would not reach the level of the flagship models in the range. Indeed, Google would offer a slightly different variant of the Tensor G3. A thicker plastic casing would be present instead of metal and this would cause more heating. Performance should be slightly lower and this choice is explained by Google’s desire to reduce costs. This should also help to better differentiate the ranges, in particular the gap between a Pixel 8 and a Pixel 8a.
Photo: we take the same ones… without necessarily starting again
Google should not upset its recipe by offering the same hardware configuration as on the Pixel 7a. The Pixel 8a would retain its main Sony IMX787 sensor (1/1.73 inch) of 64 Mpx and an ultra wide-angle of 13 Mpx (Sony IMX712). This last sensor would also be present at the front for selfies and video calls.
The Mountain View firm has a habit of not rushing to buy the latest sensors available on the market. Google prefers to control its hardware by focusing on software to improve this crucial part of smartphones. With the arrival of the Tensor G3, we can hope for new developments in Google’s algorithmic processing and AI. Pixel “magic” generally allows the “a” series models to be among the best mid-range photophones. This was the case with the Pixel 7a and Google will have to confirm with its future smartphone.
Price: towards a new significant increase?
More affordable than a classic Pixel or Pro, the Pixel “a” has seen its price rise for several versions. The Google Pixel 7a was priced at 509 euros when it was released in France and we can expect a further price increase, of around 60 to 70 euros. The Pixel 8 would be sold at 569 or 579 euros in France, with 128 GB of storage.
Some rumors suggest the arrival of a 256 GB version, the price of which would be around 630 euros. Prices that move away from the aggressive pricing policy pursued by Google with the Pixel 4a (349 euros upon release). The “a” range would be inspired by the classic series, highlighting innovations to justify its repeated increases.
Google Pixel 7a 128 GB at the best price Base price: €509
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Release date: probable presentation on May 14, release expected in May
Google is hosting its Google I/O conference starting May 14. The event, focused on new software products, is generally an opportunity for the brand to formalize new products. Like several of its predecessors, the Google Pixel 8a should take advantage of this meeting to officially show itself.
The smartphone should be available for pre-order as soon as its presentation ends. The first deliveries would begin a few days later, before the end of May.
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