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The launch of the Pixel 8a is now practically guaranteed, despite concerns a few months ago that Google wouldn't launch a new mid-ranger this year. Earlier this week, we learned that Google submitted documentation to the FCC covering soon-to-be-released devices. The paperwork includes a phone identifier that had previously been listed in a Pixel 8a packaging leak.
Now we have another Pixel 8a leak that could detail some of the phone's most important features. If accurate, and most Pixel leaks are, this could make current Pixel 8 owners quite angry. Additionally, Pixel phone fans may not like what this spec leak implies because a price increase may be necessary for the Pixel 8a.
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But I must say that the Pixel 8a phone will be an amazing mid-range phone if the specs leak is real. That's because the Pixel 8a is practically a flagship device.
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Leaker Kamila Wojciechowska obtained Pixel 8a specs that indicate the device is essentially a Pixel 8 variant. That's what some Pixel 8 buyers might not like. They might not have bought the flagship Pixel 8 after its launch in October 2023 if they knew the Pixel 8a would practically match the Pixel 8's performance.
Wojciechowska says the Pixel 8a will feature a 6.1-inch, 120Hz Full HD OLED panel that supports 1,400 nits of peak HDR brightness. It's almost the same display panel as the Pixel 8, which has a 6.2-inch display with identical specs.
The Pixel 8a's screen corner radius is also more in line with the Pixel 8 model.
The Pixel 8a also gets the Google Tensor G3 chip from the Pixel 8, although it's not identical. The difference here is in the packaging, according to the leak:
Although the silicon die inside the chip is identical, the plastic packaging is different. While the regular G3 uses FOPLP (Fan-Out Panel Level Packaging), the 8th G3 uses IPoP (Integrated Package on Package). According to Samsung, IPoP is thicker and hotter than FOPLP, but it is also cheaper, which explains the decision.
The Pixel 8a should be as good as the Pixel 8 when it comes to overall performance, including generative AI features. And I would speculate that the hardware will allow Google to promise seven years of updates for the Pixel 8a, just like it does for the Pixel 8. I think it's largely a gimmick, but anything over four years is still great news for the consumer.
The Pixel 8a will also inherit the Pixel 8's DisplayPort capabilities, although Google hasn't really made use of the feature yet. Once fully activated, you will be able to use your Pixel phone with external displays.
As for camera specs, the Pixel 8a should retain the Pixel 7a's camera setup rather than copying the Pixel 8's dual-camera setup. This means you'll get 64-megapixel and 13-megapixel Sony cameras on the back and a selfie camera 13 megapixels. Everything is on par with the Pixel 7a.
This detail indicates that the Pixel 8a should be a little more affordable than the Pixel 8. Hence the anger of some more budget-conscious Pixel 8 buyers out there.
But the Pixel 8a can't be that cheap, assuming the above set of specs is correct. We had a Pixel 8a leak earlier this year that said there would be a price increase for the device. Buyers looking for a cheaper Pixel A-series phone might not like this.
The Pixel 8 cost US$699 at launch, while the Pixel 7a sold for US$499. The Pixel 8a could fall in between these price ranges.
Wojciechowska doesn't mention the Pixel 8a's price, but says the phone will be more widely available. Electronic warranty labels indicate that the device will arrive in many European markets where Google has not yet released new phones. These are the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia.
Google will likely unveil the Pixel 8a on May 14 at I/O 2024, where it will likely confirm all of the above specifications.