Rumours and what we wish to see

Because the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro are getting a lot of the consideration for now, we’re eyeing the following entry to Google’s personal mid-range Android lineup, the Pixel 8a. Since its inception with 2018’s Pixel 3a, the A-series has proved extraordinarily profitable because of the corporate’s mixture of nice software program help, a continuing drip of user-friendly options, and {hardware} that is low cost, however cheerful. The Pixel 7a was a welcome advance from its predecessors with the inclusion of wi-fi charging for the primary time. Will we see one thing as drastic make an look on the Pixel 8a?

We do not know for sure simply but, however we do have loads of intelligence to work off and we’re gathering all of it for you proper right here.

When is the Pixel 8a’s launch date?

Whereas there are not any strong rumours about these features – there have even doubts as as to whether the 8a would present up in 2024 – we are able to make educated guesses about the place these will land.

As for an announcement, Google had been pulling its A-series releases up the calendar: the Pixel 5a took place in late August of 2020, the next yr had the Pixel 6a in mid-July, and the 7a was introduced on the Google I/O 2023 keynote on Could 10. This spot, nonetheless, could be the most applicable one on which to plant the Pixel 8a in 2024.

At the same time as a convention geared toward builders, I/O at all times poses a possibility to introduce {hardware} platforms to serve this new software program on – reminiscent of a brand new Android telephone or two – for the general public’s discernment. It additionally lands far sufficient away from the mainline Pixel telephone releases that occur in October throughout the firm’s Made by Google showcases in order to not cannibalize gross sales.

How a lot will the Pixel 8a value?

Cash-wise, it is very probably that the Pixel 8a will carry over the Pixel 7a’s $499 price ticket – a $50 hike from the Pixel 6a and 5a and arguably referred to as for given international inflationary pressures. Late final yr, an unnamed supply claimed that the Pixel 8a would be the one to take on that $499 price tag and never the 7a.

What’s going to the Pixel 8a seem like?

It took till the thick of autumn earlier than we bought our first actual take a look at what a Pixel 8a would possibly seem like, however the photos did not disappoint – not less than by way of element. In late September, Indian blogger Abhishek Yadav posted photos to X (previously Twitter) of what was presupposed to be a Pixel 8a, probably an engineering validation unit. Lengthy-radius corners dominate the design right here very like they did with the Pixel 8 gadgets and there have been some complaints from commenters concerning the show bezel. Most notably, nonetheless, was the selection of colourway on show – one thing just like the Pixel 8 Professional’s unique Bay blue.

As mid-October approached, Smartprix printed CAD renders offered by OnLeaks of the Pixel 8a that kind of matched up with what we might see from the leak in September. However once more, color yells the loudest right here and we have been handled to a Rose-esque remedy that the non-pro Pixel 8 bought. It is essentially the most tacit of implications that does not get a verbal point out from both the weblog nor OnLeaks operator Steve Hemmerstoffer, however it appears as if we might be able to anticipate two particular non-grayscale hues on supply. After all, particulars reminiscent of availability can get messy and nothing has been picked up on that entrance but, so we propose not holding your breath on seems.

Hemmerstoffer does supply some perception as to how vast the corners on the Pixel 8a could also be and, proportionally talking, they give the impression of being to be wider than those on the Pixel 8 and eight Professional.

Google Pixel 8a specs

One source referred to as out the Pixel 8a’s codename as Akita and that appears to be correct, as a Geekbench result listing from August that pegs it as an Android 14 system that is operating a nine-core CPU with roughly 8GB of RAM. The existence of stated itemizing is why we imagine that an 8a is being pipelined for launch as we converse, however, as with something in hearsay and hypothesis, do not take anybody’s phrase for it.

The SoC appears to be styled after one which was seen in two Geekbench listings courting again to April for a supposed take a look at mattress named “Ripcurrent.” Leaks blogger @Tech_Reve claimed this chipset to be the Tensor G3, which might be the third technology of Google’s customized design that has been primarily based on Samsung’s Exynos blueprints. The chipsets on each Ripcurrent and Akita builds are clustered identically with a single-core hero unit, a quad-core mid-tier unit, and one other quad-core low-power unit. The large distinction between the 2 is that the Akita’s cores are biking slower. It is the case throughout every cluster, however the low-power group sees the widest gulf at 1.7GHz versus 2.15GHz.

The Tensor G3 has now been launched, powering the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, and it would simply be that that is clocked to a barely slower velocity. One other complication is that it is simple to spoof system names for Geekbench runs, however that is all we’ve got to work with to this point.

What concerning the Pixel 8a’s cameras?

Digicam particulars for the Pixel 8a have but to spill. Up via the Pixel 6 technology of gadgets, Google has been counting on the identical 12-megapixel sensor for its most important rear digital camera. The Pixel 7 and seven Professional launched a brand new array of sensors, however the 7a’s digital camera set was remarkably totally different to its siblings with a 64-megapixel vast unit and a 13-megapixel ultrawide. At this second, we suspect the corporate will carry those self same cameras (and a few value financial savings) over to the Pixel 8a.

Google Pixel 8a rumours: What’s occurred to this point

10 October 2023: Leaked Pixel 8a renders present precisely what to anticipate from Google’s subsequent funds telephone

We get a cleaner view with some CAD renders and it additional affirms the notion that the Pixel 8 design translating over to the Pixel 8a.

4 October 2023: What’s the Google Tensor G3 and the way is it totally different from Tensor G2?

Now it is official, here is a more in-depth take a look at the Tensor G3 that can likely power the PIxel 8a.

22 September 2023: Early Pixel 8a leak reveals a controversial rounded design

From our first real look at a supposed pre-release stage device, we see the long-radius corners and delicate curves of the Pixel 8 sequence ruling the day on a comparatively small chassis.

24 August 2023: Pixel 8a noticed on Geekbench

A tool that’s believed to be the Pixel 8a seems in a Geekbench end result (by way of MySmartPrice).

15 June 2023: Google Pixel 8 Tensor G3 leak factors to some massive efficiency upgrades

Barely tangential, however this story concerning the Tensor G3 does present some context concerning the uncertainty surrounding the Pixel 8a’s powerhouse.

23 December 2022: Leaked roadmap reveals plans for Google Pixel Fold, Pixel 7a, Pixel 8, and past

A supply to Android Authority relayed particulars concerning the Pixel 8a’s codename together with pricing plans and a possible change in launch cycle.