Pixel 8 presented in retail packaging. Specifications and launch price

Expected to launch on May 14 at the Google I/O 2024 conference, the Pixel 8a already appears in an unofficial video presentation, confirming the main specifications.

Starting with the less pleasant information, leaks from retail stores suggest that the Pixel 8a will debut with a significantly higher launch price than the previous model. Thus, while the Pixel 7a debuted at $499 in base trim, the cheapest Pixel 8a version will be listed by Google at $549. And for European customers the prices could be even higher than that, with the phone appearing in the retail catalog of a store in Germany with the price of €569.9, respectively €630 for the next-higher equipment.

Coming to the good news, the Pixel 8a gets a 4750mAh battery, significantly larger than the 4385mAh used with the previous model. It will power the new Tensor G3 chipset and 6.1-inch screen. Representing a welcome upgrade from the LCD solution used with the previous model, the new OLED screen supports a refresh rate of 120Hz and promises a maximum brightness of 1400 nits. The configuration also includes 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage in the basic equipment.

The photo arrangement has as its central element a 64MP main camera with optical stabilization, next to a 13MP ultrawide camera. The front camera keeps the 13MP resolution found in the previous model, but we could see some improvements in the image quality part.

At least at launch, the Pixel 8a will ship with Android 14 pre-installed, with the update to Android 15 arriving a few weeks later. The Pixel 8a will be available in four color versions: Obsidian (black), Porcelain (beige), Bay (light blue) and Mint (light green).

Unfortunately, the unboxing video presentation shows an austere retail package, with no AC adapter included. You only get a USB-C to USB-C cable, the SIM tray key and the Pixel Quick Switch adapter that will help you quickly transfer your data from your old phone to the new Pixel 8a.