this post was submitted on 07 May 2024

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Google Pixel 8a announced (9to5google.com)

submitted 6 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

37 comments fedilink hide all child comments

The Google Pixel 8a starts at $499 for 128 GB and $559 for 256 GB (Obsidian only)

top 37 comments

sorted by: hot top controversial new old

[–] [email protected] 27 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (1 children)

Things I like:

Brighter screen and now upto 120 Hz
256 GB option, weirdly for the obsidian color only. Aloe and bay are nicer! (Also annoying how Google phones don't have microSD card slots because they offer Google Drive. smh this company)
Will get Gemini Nano for on-device AI
7 years of OS updates

Rest is pretty much the same.

Google Store, Amazon and Best Buy are offering a $100 gift card for pre-ordering. Best Buy and Google Store are accepting trade-ins - you'll have to compare to see which one is offering the most value for your phone. Best Buy gift card will be more useful than a Google Store gift card though.

If you can wait half a year or so, it should drop to about $375 like the previous A phones have, making it a solid bang for your buck.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 6 months ago (2 children)

MKBHD says to get the 8 over the 8a but I disagree. The improvements are marginal. Unless you really need wireless power sharing, the 8a offers pretty much everything the 8 does if slightly slower.

Best Buy gift card + trade-in or waiting till a price drop make it more enticing than paying $500 for the Pixel 8.

I'm plenty happy with my 6a so I'm going to hold onto it.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 6 months ago (1 children)

I got a 6a for € 232 last week. Enjoying it quite a bit.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 6 months ago

Got a 7a this week, its super Nice

[–] [email protected] 6 points 6 months ago (1 children)

also, if the 8 can go from 699 to 549
then why won't 8a go from 499 to 399 or lower?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 6 months ago

It can and most likely will. Why MKBHD did not consider that puzzles me.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 6 months ago (2 children)

Does it have a headphone jack

[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 months ago

Nope

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago

Headphone jack was killed as of the 5a

[–] [email protected] 10 points 6 months ago (2 children)

My Pixel 4a's battery is on the wane, so this may be my next phone.

Probably wait for a price drop though because I'm not desperate for it at the moment.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 6 months ago

The 7a is great, no reason the 8a wouldn't also be. Go for it!

[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 months ago

Mine too, but the lack of headphone jack kills it for me. I may end up getting an expensive Sony as there aren't many choices left that aren't gigantic garbage phones.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (3 children)

For those coming from the 6/6a, the in display fingerprint sensor is much better now

[–] [email protected] 5 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Interesting. Did a reviewer mention this or were you able to try the device yourself?

I'm one of the few who has had zero issues with the 6a fingerprint sensor. Sure it's a little slower but it works accurately for me.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 6 months ago

Cuz I went from the 6a to the 8 and it's definitely much better and rejects a lot less. The 8a has the same sensor. Still has the annoying bright backlight though, unlike the Samsung in display fingerprint sensor. But it's not really a big deal if you're already used to it on the 6a and it doesn't bother you.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago

Currently have a 6a, the fingerprint sensor was garbage when I first got it but Google really did some work to improve it over the years. It's not perfect but it works.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 months ago

Weird. I never had a single issue with the fingerprint sensor on the 6a, it literally works every time. It's just a little slow, it could maybe be a little bit faster. But you know what's a bad fingerprint sensor? Touch ID on older iPhones. That shit is terrible, never works for me.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 6 months ago (1 children)

As previously announced for the Pixel 8, the 8a will be getting on-device Gemini Nano — in a future update — as a developer option that users can enable for Recorder Summarization, better Gboard replies, and Magic Compose in Messages.

I'm guessing there is a negative in enabling this feature if it's going to be tucked in developer settings. Likely increased app reloads and the phone running hotter.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 6 months ago (1 children)

And even more collecting of your data.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (1 children)

GrapheneOS removes all google garbage and sandboxes apps, along with other security and privacy enhancements.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 6 months ago

Android sandboxes apps anyway, what GrapheneOS does is allow you to install Google Play Services in a sandbox so you can use it without granting it the admin-level permissions it usually demands.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 6 months ago

The design is really pretty

[–] [email protected] 7 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

Damn Nit are up to 1000... Wasn't the nexus 4 400?

[–] [email protected] 6 points 6 months ago (1 children)

is there any reason to update to 8a from pixel 6,or should I wait until 9 or 10?

[–] [email protected] 19 points 6 months ago

7 years guaranteed updates. Otherwise nah- not really.

And even then you can wait til a pixel 9a or 10 comes out next year when the pixel 6 is no longer given updates.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 6 months ago

Looks like a solid choice. I like the matte plastic back and wireless charging. This is a good recommendation for a mid price phone, although personally I am not a fan of Pixels barebones android.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 6 months ago

This might be my next phone. I'm still rocking the Pixel 5a which has updates until August and thanks to its OtterBox it's still in great condition. But IDK, might end up installing a custom ROM.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (1 children)

I'm still rocking my 4a but I'm looking to upgrade soonish. Screen is cracked, especially around the front cam making it useless. The USB-C port is in a terrible state and will barely connect with my charters anymore.

Might get this one. I looked into the new Fairphone but I just couldn't justify the price for a device that's barely better than what I already have

I should also take a look at previous pixel models. I don't need better performance. The only things I would like to improve on is getting 5g, wireless charging so loose ports aren't a problem anymore, and a better camera.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago (1 children)

You can get your screen and USB ports replaced at a local fixit place. shop around

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (1 children)

I considered it, but the battery life has become terrible too. I'm pretty sure the front camera lens is shattered too, nooit just the screen. I could live with just fixing the port if I wasn't going on a big international vacation later this year. I really need a good battery for that, and at that point I'd rather just buy something new.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Well batteries are replacement items, too.

You can probably get all three done together for fairly cheap once they get working on it.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago (2 children)

I could buy a new pixel 4a for under €200. On ifixit a new screen is €100, battery €40, usb-c port €30. After shipping costs and paying someone to do the work it would be more expensive and the front camera lens would still be broken. Fixing it really isn't worth it, and if I'm buying new I might as well go for an upgraded model that's gonna get updates for longer.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 months ago

Hey, it had a good, hard life and went down fighting. That's all you can ask for.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 months ago

Also you can repurpose an old phone as a Webcam, and many other uses

[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 months ago

Bruh I just got the OnePlus 12... Welp..

Pixel pricing is horrendous in my region anyway.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago

That is a very cute blue.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 months ago

190 grams is too heavy. Phones shouldn't be more than 165.