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ThePixel 8aisGoogles latest mid-range phone and a putative replacement for the outgoingPixel 7a.
Except, the Pixel 7a isnt going anywhere.
The Google Pixel 8a
This makes a comparison of the two phones all but essential.
What does the Pixel 8a do that the Pixel 7a doesnt?
And how much extra do you should probably pay so you can access those new features?
Is it worth the price of admission?
As it’s possible for you to see, theyre ostensibly very similar devices indeed.
That launch price has remained unchanged, at least officially, following the rollout of the Pixel 8a.
The Google Pixel 8a
Theres also a 256GB Pixel 8a model, which costs $559 / 559 / AU$949.
Broadly speaking, though, these are two phones that sing from the same design hymn sheet.
However, the Pixel 8a does have a couple of notable advantages.
The Google Pixel 7a
You also get the same 13MP f/2.2 front-facing camera for selfies.
It really is the exact same photographic hardware.
Audio Magic Eraser, meanwhile, lets you remove unwanted background babble from videos shot on the Pixel 8a.
The Pixel 8a’s rear camera array(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
In the CPU-focused Geekbench 6 multicore test, the newer phone scores around 4100 to the Pixel 7as 3500.
We defy you to notice the difference between the Pixel 8a and Pixel 7a in regular usage, i.e.
when flicking between apps and booting up the camera app.
The Pixel 7a’s rear camera array(Image credit: Future / Philip Berne)
The main upgrade for the Pixel 8a relates to the Tensor G3s AI performance.
For instance, besides those aforementioned camera tricks, Googles latest phone will soon have access to Gemini.
Needless to say, the software experience is nigh-on identical between these two phones.
The Google Pixel 7a’s Tensor G2 chipset in action
Both run onAndroid 14, with Googles impeccably clean and stylish UI leading the way.
This is arguably the biggest difference between these two devices.
Thats not a big enough difference to be significant, at least not in isolation.
The Pixel 8a (above) runs on a Tensor G3 chipset
Factor in that more efficient Tensor G3 chip, however, and we could be getting somewhere.
Well have to wait and see how the Pixel 8a improves upon this, if at all.
Both phones support a fairly meager 18W wired charging provision.
The USB-C charging port on the Google Pixel 8a
The Pixel 8a is unlikely to do any better.
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