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The launch of the Pixel 8a was somewhat an interesting phenomenon to witness – instead of the usual pomp and fanfare that accompany Google’s smartphone unveilings, the 8a made its way to stores in a more discreet manner of sorts, launching just shortly after Apple’s iPad event. That’s not to mention the many leaks that flooded the internet over the past few weeks, killing any excitement about Google’s new midranger.
READ: 10 Awesome Cases for the Google Pixel 8a!
Following all of this, there’s also an ongoing debate among smartphone enthusiasts about the value that the Pixel 8a represents. Sure, it does come with several upgrades over previous A-series Pixels, including a brighter and smoother display, a newer chipset and new AI features, but at the same time it’s priced too close to the base model Pixel 8.
“But isn’t the Pixel 8 priced at 700 bucks?” you might be asking – and you are technically right, although things have changed since the launch of Google’s 2023 flagship smartphone. Several months after release, the Pixel 8a can now be found for as low as $500 or $550, at virtually the same price as the Pixel 8a. Of course it’s not fixed at this price, although the frequency at which it goes on sale basically makes the Pixel 8 the more tempting choice between the two.
Some users have even commented that the Pixel 8a should have been launched at a lower 400-450 price tier.
As a result of this pricing scheme however, it does add a bit of confusion for uninformed buyers, or folks not up-to-date with current tech trends. Some users have even commented that the Pixel 8a should have been launched at a lower 400-450 dollar price.
With that said though, there are key differences which play to the Pixel 8’s strengths. For one, the Pixel 8 has a slightly larger display at 6.2 inches with smaller bezels around the screen, and it does feature a more durable Gorilla Glass Victus display versus the Gorilla Glass 3 on the 8a. Additionally, the 8 packs faster wired charging (27 vs 18w speeds), as well as a larger battery and a larger camera sensor than the 8a, despite the latter’s higher resolution.
Overall, you definitely get a more versatile and capable hardware setup with the Pixel 8. There’s a reason that Google still designates the 8a as a midrange device, despite sharing some similarities with its more premium sibling.
That’s not to say that the 8a doesn’t have its advantages, however – for one, its matte rear panel is more scratch-resistant than the glass back on the 8, it is lighter on the hands, and its 500-dollar price tag can go even lower with trade-in and carrier deals. In countries where price drops rarely happen, the Pixel 8a is also bound to be considerably more affordable than the regular 8.
Of course at the end of the day, the choice ultimately belongs to you (it is your wallet after all). There’s nothing wrong if you should go with the 8a, as it offers a lot of the same features found on more premium Pixel smartphones, but it’s also worth keeping in mind that the Pixel 8 offers a more “complete” user experience, with none of the hardware limitations found on the 8a.
READ: Google expands the availability of the Pixel 8a
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