Google Leak Exposes Potential Pixel 8a Details

Pixel 8a Details. While Google isn’t expected to reveal the Pixel 8 smartphones for a few more months, it seems like the Pixel 8a won’t be making its debut until much later, probably around mid-2024. What adds to the excitement is that we’ve already caught a glimpse of its specifications, thanks to an early leak from a Geekbench result shared online.

The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are set to hit the market in the early 4th quarter of  2023. Nevertheless, the Pixel 8a is not going to reveal itself at the same time. In the past, Google unveiled the Pixel 6a and Pixel 7a at Google I/O in June of the ongoing year. They kickstart the annual product lineup, and the ‘A’ class models usually wrap up the cycle towards the end. 

 If you’re keeping tabs on pre-production names, the Pixel 8a is going by the codename “Akita,” which it shares with the beloved Japanese dog breed. 

Google Pixel 8a key features.

• The Pixel 8a’s possible specifications have surfaced before its launch. These leaks hint at it having a slightly slower Tensor G3 chip, a Mali-G715 graphics unit, and 8GB of RAM.

• Geekbench scores indicate that the Pixel 8a is in testing with Android 14, but we don’t have much more info about it right now.

• Keep in mind that these leaked Geekbench results should be viewed cautiously. We’ll probably see more leaks as the Pixel 8a launch gets closer.

Google Pixel 8a Google leaks.

Google Pixel 8a CPU and storage.

MySmartPrice recently caught a glimpse of a Geekbench result that hints at what’s in store for the Pixel 8a. It looks like Google will equip this device with a slightly slower version of their Tensor G3 chipset. Alongside that, it seems there’ll be a Mali-G715 GPU. The tested phone also seems to pack 8GB of RAM, but we can’t be sure if all Pixel 8a models will have the same amount of memory. Exciting times ahead!

Google Pixel 8a software:

Looking ahead, the Pixel 8a is in the testing phase, and it’s packing Android 14 as its likely operating system when it hits the market. The Geekbench test happened on August 24th. It revealed impressive scores i.e. 1218 for single-core performance and 3175 for multi-core performance as compared to 1,404 and 3,363 for the Pixel 7 Pro. That means performance will not be as good as we are expecting from the Tensor G3 chipset model. Not a good news for Pixel fans!

Google Pixel 8a rumors and what we are expecting.

Design:

When we look back at the Pixel 7a and Pixel 6a, it seems obvious that the Pixel 8a is likely to share a striking resemblance with the Pixel 8. Luckily, we already know about the Pixel 8’s appearance. Its design is not much different from pixel 7, only minor changes can seen.

So, If the Pixel 8a becomes available in the market, we can anticipate it will adopt a similar look to the 7a. It may be a bit larger than the Pixel 8 to incorporate more affordable materials, possibly opting for a plastic back. Additionally, expect it to have thicker display bezels and a less premium display when compared to the Pixel 8.

Camera:

From all the reliable leaks we’ve come across, it appears that the Pixel 8’s camera setup closely resembles that of the Pixel 7. The most significant improvement is the shift from the Samsung JN1 sensor beneath the main lens to the newer and superior JN2. Everything else in terms of specifications seems to remain unchanged.

Now, considering the nature of A series phones, it’s unlikely that the Pixel 8a will match the camera system of the Pixel 8. We can anticipate it featuring either the same camera setup found in the Pixel 7a or a modest upgrade from that. 

Keep in mind that the camera software across all Pixel phones is almost the same. Consequently, the Pixel 8a will be able to perform all the same functions as the Pixel 8 is performing, unless there are hardware limitations.

What we are expecting from Google Pixel 8a?

A good battery life: 

Our biggest complaint about the Pixel 7a was its battery life. Through our testing, we find that it would struggle to make it through a full day.

That’s really not ideal for a smartphone, so we’d like to see big improvements to battery life with the Google Pixel 8a.

Fast charging speed:

The Pixel 7a’s battery performance left us wanting more, and it’s not just about how long it lasts, we were also less than thrilled with its charging speed. With a maximum charging rate of 18W, it falls behind the times in 2023 when faster charging is the norm. Even the standard Pixel 7 doesn’t charge significantly faster, but we’re definitely looking for upgrades in that department.

As we set our sights on the Pixel 8a, we’re hoping for a minimum of 25W charging, and if possible, even faster charging speeds than that would be greatly appreciated.

Software updates:

Google, as the creator of Android, should be setting the standard for the duration of software updates for its phones. However, it falls short in this regard. Samsung, for instance, provides more extended support with four years of OS updates. Even the high-end Pixel 7 Pro is limited to just three years of major Android version upgrades and five years of security updates.

While the security update duration is commendable, a mere three years of new Android versions isn’t enough, especially for a top-tier phone. This applies equally to their a-series models. We’re looking for improved support for the Pixel 8a.

Less Price:

The Google Pixel 7a comes with a noticeably higher price tag compared to the Pixel 6a, particularly in the US and UK. This makes it somewhat challenging to suggest, especially when the Pixel 7 itself offers excellent value.

Therefore, the least we hope for is that the Pixel 8a won’t see another price hike. In our point of view, Google should consider bringing the price back down to the levels of the Pixel 6a, aiming for around $449 in the US, £399 in the UK, or AU$ 749 in Australia. That would certainly be a good approach for buyers.