Google Pixel 8a vs Pixel 8: What are the Differences? And Which One Should You Get?

Google recently dropped the Pixel 8a under the radar in India and globally. While the Pixel 8a is considered a more affordable Pixel option, it is by no means affordable. In India, the Pixel 8a fetches a price tag of Rs 52,999.

Given its price tag, the Pixel 8a isn't too far off from the Pixel 8 (Review), which comes in at Rs 62,999. So let's find out the differences between the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8a and see which one offers the better bang for your buck.

Google Pixel 8a vs Pixel 8: Full Specs Compared

Design and Build

The overall design of the Pixel 8a is similar to the Pixel 8, although there are a few minor differences. For one, the Pixel 8a is slightly taller and wider than the Pixel 8. The Pixel 8a also has bigger bezels and the edges are slightly more rounded.

The Pixel 8a uses inferior Gorilla Glass 3 on the front and has a plastic back, while the Pixel 8 boasts Gorilla Glass Victus protection on the front and back.

Both phones feature an aluminum frame, although the Pixel 8 has a slightly superior IP68 rating. The Pixel 8 certainly feels like a more premium phone both in terms of design and build.

Performance, Display, Battery, Software

The Pixel 8 has a slightly taller display and much slimmer bezels, offering a little more screen real estate. Apart from that, the displays on both phones are similar. Both phones also feature the same Tensor G3 SoC and the Titan M2 security chip, offering similar performance.

The Pixel 8a has a slightly smaller battery but this shouldn't make much of a difference in terms of battery life. However, the Pixel 8 does offer faster wired and wireless charging, although both phones don't come with an adapter in the box.

Both the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8a run Android 14 out of the box. Google is also offering seven years of OS and seven security updates on both phones. The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8a also come with VPN by Google One, Circle to Search, and several other features.

Cameras

The main camera sensor on the Pixel 8 is larger than that of the Pixel 8a. The vanilla Pixel 8's primary camera also has a wider aperture and comes with Laser AF. The Pixel 8 also has a larger ultrawide camera sensor with a slightly wider field of view.

The same can be said of the front cameras of the two phones, with the Pixel 8a opting for a smaller sensor. So don't be fooled by the higher resolution cameras of the Pixel 8a. Video recording on the Pixel 8a on the front is limited to 4K at 30fps, whereas the Pixel 8 can go up to 4K @60fps.

The rear camera system on both phones can capture 4K video at @60fps. While the camera hardware on the Pixel 8 is superior to that on the Pixel 8a, Google heavily relies on software to deliver those high-quality shots, so it isn't like the Pixel 8a is a major step down.

Lastly, the Pixel 8a also retains the same camera features as the Pixel 8, including Magic Eraser, Photo Unblur, Real Tone, etc. The only one difference is the omission of Macro Focus from the Pixel 8a.

Google Pixel 8a vs Pixel 8: Final Thoughts

The biggest difference between the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8a lies in the camera system of the two phones. The Pixel 8 will give you an advantage in the photo and video departments thanks to its superior camera hardware. Moreover, the Pixel 8 is also the more durable of the two phones and looks more like a flagship than the 8a.

If we had to pick between one of the two, based on specifications alone, we'd opt for the vanilla Pixel 8. However, for those who cannot afford an additional 10K on the Pixel 8, the 8a is the perfect alternative. It still offers the same software, performance, display, battery life, and design as the standard Pixel 8.

And due to Google's heavy reliance on software, we're unlikely to see a massive gap in overall camera performance. Additionally, the Pixel 8a also retains nearly all the same flagship camera and AI features of the Pixel 8 series, making it a solid alternative.