Apple and Sonos aren’t the only companies dominating the headlines with new devices this week. Google also officially announced the Pixel 8A following weeks of rumors, introducing the forthcoming handset a full week ahead of Google I/O 2024. The phone launches on May 14th, but you can preorder an unlocked model from Amazon, Best Buy, and the Google Store starting at $499 with a $100 gift card.
As expected, the upcoming Pixel 8A is aimed squarely at the midrange market. Google’s Pixel 7A ended up being our favorite Android phone for under $500 despite its $50 price bump, with much of its success riding on its 64MP main camera and a number of features typically reserved for more premium phones (ahem, wireless charging). The 8A only builds upon that excellent foundation with Google’s latest processor and a handful of minor hardware upgrades, along with a staggering seven years of software support — which is unprecedented in the midrange class.
In terms of specs, the 8A retains the 64MP shooter, 8GB of RAM, and an IP67 rating. The 6.1-inch display now offers a 120Hz refresh rate, however, as well as up to 2,000 nits of peak brightness. It also supports the same generative AI photo and video features found on the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro — Magic Editor, Best Take, etc. — which, for better or worse, might change the way you look at smartphone photography.
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Google Pixel 8A (128GB)
$499
Google’s latest midranger touts a whopping seven years of software support and a number of small upgrades, including Google’s speedy Tensor G3 processor, a 120Hz display, and plenty of new AI features.
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