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Pixel 8 vs Pixel 8a

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Starting at

£204.12

£699 new

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Starting at

£194.02

£499 new

See options
Pixel 8Starting at £204.12See options
Pixel 8aStarting at £194.02See options
5.0/5 (5 reviews)
5.0/5 (1 review)

In a nutshell

They share the same Google Tensor G3 chip and the same 120Hz refresh rate. The Pixel 8a has the lower launch price, longer OS support until 2031 and a smaller 6.1-inch screen. The Pixel 8 counters with Wi-Fi 7, faster 27W wired charging and a bigger battery.

At 128GB, the Pixel 8 launched at £699 and the Pixel 8a at £499.

Available models

Pixel 8

Capacity

Condition grades in stock

Excellent, Good

Pixel 8a

Capacity

Condition grades in stock

Excellent, Great, Good

Durability

Pixel 8 76/100
Pixel 8a 73/100

The Pixel 8a should be supported for longer, with OS updates until 2031 against 2030 on the Pixel 8.

Water and dust:The Pixel 8 is rated IP68 against IP67 on the Pixel 8a, the higher of the two ratings.

Software support:The Pixel 8 should get OS updates until 2030 and the Pixel 8a until 2031. That gives the Pixel 8a the longer support window.

Front glass:The Pixel 8 has Gorilla Glass Victus on the front and the Pixel 8a Gorilla Glass 3.

Weight:The Pixel 8 weighs 187g and the Pixel 8a 189g, so the Pixel 8 is the lighter phone.

Released

2023
2024Newer

Updates until (est.)

2030
2031Supported for longer

Water resistance

IP68
IP67

Frame

Aluminium
Aluminium

Weight

187gLighter
189g

Release date

12 October 2023
14 May 2024

Front glass

Gorilla Glass Victus
Gorilla Glass 3

Dimensions

150.5 x 70.8 x 8.9 mm
152.1 x 72.7 x 8.9 mm

Biometrics

Fingerprint; Face Unlock
Fingerprint; Face Unlock

Security updates until

2030
2031

Performance

Pixel 8 73/100
Pixel 8a 79/100

The same Google Tensor G3 chip in both, so expect the same everyday speed.

Memory:Both have the same 8GB of RAM.

AI features:Both support Google's AI features, the same AI suite.

Storage:Both launched in the same 128GB and 256GB sizes.

Chip

Google Tensor G3
Google Tensor G3

RAM

8GB
8GB

Storage options

128GB, 256GB
128GB, 256GB

AI features

Yes
Yes

Screen quality

Pixel 8 87/100
Pixel 8a 87/100

The Pixel 8 has the bigger screen, at 6.2 inches.

Size:The Pixel 8's 6.2-inch screen is bigger than the 6.1-inch screen on the Pixel 8a.

Smoothness:Both refresh at the same 120Hz.

Panel:Both use the same Actua OLED panel at 2400 x 1080.

Brightness:Both peak at the same 2000 nits, by the makers' figures.

Screen size

6.2"Bigger screen
6.1"

Screen type

Actua OLED
Actua OLED

Refresh rate

120Hz
120Hz

Resolution

2400 x 1080
2400 x 1080

Peak brightness

2000 nits (maker figure)
2000 nits (maker figure)

Camera

Pixel 8 46/100
Pixel 8a 49/100

The Pixel 8a has the higher-resolution 64MP main camera.

Main camera:The Pixel 8a has a 64MP main camera against 50MP on the Pixel 8, which leaves more detail to crop into.

Ultrawide:The Pixel 8 has a 12MP ultrawide and the Pixel 8a a 13MP one.

Zoom:Neither has a telephoto lens. Only the Pixel 8 offers a 2x crop from its main sensor.

Selfies:The Pixel 8a has a 13MP selfie camera against 10.5MP on the Pixel 8.

Main camera

50MP
64MPMore megapixels

Ultrawide

12MP
13MPMore megapixels

Telephoto

None
None

Optical zoom

None
None

Front camera

10.5MP
13MPSharper selfies

Video recording

4K 60fps 10-bit HDR
4K 60fps

2x zoom

Crop from the main sensor, no telephoto lens
–

Battery

Pixel 8 75/100
Pixel 8a 61/100

The Pixel 8 has the bigger battery.

Capacity:The Pixel 8 has the bigger battery, 4575mAh against 4492mAh.

Wired charging:The Pixel 8 charges at up to 27W over a cable against 18W on the Pixel 8a.

Wireless charging:For wireless charging, the Pixel 8 supports Pixel Stand 18W, Qi 12W and the Pixel 8a Qi 7.5W.

Battery

4575mAhBigger battery
4492mAh

Wired charging

27WFaster charging
18W

Wireless charging

Pixel Stand 18W, Qi 12W
Qi 7.5W

Connectivity

Pixel 8 86/100
Pixel 8a 81/100

The Pixel 8 has the newer Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi 7.

Wi-Fi:The Pixel 8 has Wi-Fi 7 against Wi-Fi 6E on the Pixel 8a, which only pays off with a newer router.

5G:Both have the same 5G support.

Port:Both have the same USB-C (USB 3.2) port.

SIM:Both take the same Nano-SIM + eSIM setup.

5G

Yes
Yes

Port

USB-C (USB 3.2)
USB-C (USB 3.2)

Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi 7
Wi-Fi 6E

SIM

Nano-SIM + eSIM
Nano-SIM + eSIM

Bluetooth

Bluetooth 5.3
Bluetooth 5.3

Our verdict

Buy the Pixel 8 if you want Wi-Fi 7 and faster 27W wired charging. Buy the Pixel 8a if you want the lower launch price and longer OS support until 2031.

Buy the Pixel 8 if

  • You want Wi-Fi 7
  • You want faster 27W wired charging
  • You want a bigger battery
Shop from £204.12

Buy the Pixel 8a if

  • You want the lower launch price
  • You want longer OS support until 2031
  • You want a smaller 6.1-inch screen
Shop from £194.02

FAQs

The Pixel 8 should get OS updates until 2030 and the Pixel 8a until 2031. That gives the Pixel 8a the longer support window.

Neither has a telephoto lens. Only the Pixel 8 offers a 2x crop from its main sensor.

The Pixel 8's 6.2-inch screen is bigger than the 6.1-inch screen on the Pixel 8a.

Every Reboxed phone has a minimum of 80% battery health. If you want the closest thing to new, some phones offer our New Battery Upgrade, professionally installed before your phone is dispatched. If it's available, you'll see it on the product page.

Pristine, Excellent, Great and Good. Pristine has zero blemishes and at least 90% battery health. Good can show noticeable wear on the casing but works perfectly. Every grade is TechCheck certified and comes with a 12-month warranty.

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