The Pixel 8a is a strong contender for the best mid-range phone you can buy, but a price rise in the UK makes that more difficult
Ever since it first arrived in 2019, Google’s Pixel A series has been considered a benchmark for mid-range phones.
Indeed, 2023’s Pixel 7a is still the best mid-range phone you can buy, a year on from its release.
But is it about to be replaced as the best phone under £500/$500 by the new Pixel 8a? Google certainly hopes so, and there are plenty of changes on the new phone. Here’s everything you need to know.When will the Google Pixel 8a be released?
Google officially launched the Pixel 8a on 7 May 2024.
The phone is on sale now, having been released 14 May 2024. To get your hands on one, see our separate article on where to buy the Pixel 8a.
For context, here’s when the last few generations were available to buy:
Pixel 7a – May 2023
Pixel 6a – July 2022
Pixel 5a – August 2021
Pixel 4a 5G – November 2020
Pixel 4a – August 2020 How much does the Google Pixel 8a cost?
At launch, the Pixel 8a costs £50 more than the Pixel 7a in the UK, though the starting price is unchanged in the US.
It’ll set you back £499/$499, putting it firmly in mid-range phone territory. However, it’s worth noting that the usual 128GB model will be joined by a more expensive 256GB version on the Pixel 8a, though we don’t yet know how much that’ll be cost.
Here’s how that compares to recent generations at launch:
Pixel 7a – £449/$499
Pixel 6a – £399/$449
Pixel 5a – $449 (no UK release)
Pixel 4a 5G – £499/$499
Pixel 4a – £349/$349 What specs and features does the Google Pixel 8a have?
The Pixel 8a has a lot in common with the regular Pixel 8 from 2023, though there are also some notable differences.Design
The Pixel 8a has a slightly smaller display than the Pixel 8 (6.
