The Pixel 8A is the most boring phone I’ve tested in 2024, and that’s why I love it
Sometimes a phone can just be a phone. That’s exactly why Google’s Pixel 8A resonated with me when I tested it earlier this year. What it lacks in flashy AI features or camera tricks, it makes up for in mastering the basics. At $300 less than the $799 Pixel 9, this is the phone for people who just want a phone.
The $499 Pixel 8A continues the tradition Google set in 2019 with the Pixel 3A, its first A-series device. These phones are simple, cheaper alternatives to Google’s flagship Pixel phones, often sacrificing power, camera quality, software features and wireless charging speeds to achieve that lower price.
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But in my experience, the extras you get with Google’s step-up model don’t matter much. That’s only become more true in recent years as Google started putting its own Tensor chips in its Pixel phones, bringing more consistency in terms of features and performance across the range.
However, if you manage to find the Pixel 9 at a discount that puts it at the same price or less than the Pixel 8A, grab Google’s more recent phone. Since it has a newer processor, it will likely support more new features in the future.
The Pixel 8A has the right set of features for the price
The Pixel 8A might not have all of Google’s latest AI features or the latest processor, but with a 6.1-inch screen that can boost the refresh rate for smoother scrolling, a battery that’s almost as big as the Pixel 9 and a capable camera system consisting of main and ultra-wide lenses that ticks all the boxes most people are looking for.
While testing the Pixel 8A, I found that it took photos with vibrant, accurate colors that didn’t feel too exaggerated or washed out, as is sometimes the case with photos taken with Samsung’s budget phones. But you don’t get macro mode or Add Me, a new feature that debuted on the Pixel 9. This shooting mode uses augmented reality to help you take a group photo with everyone in the frame, even if one person in the party has stepped in. out to take the photo. It’s a neat trick, but not something you should buy the Pixel 9 for.
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The Pixel 8A’s battery life was more than enough to get through a full day in my testing, with 66% remaining after about 16 hours of use. But battery life will always depend on how you use the device, along with factors like screen brightness and whether you record a lot of video. I saw similar results with the Pixel 9 on a relatively slow day (64% after 16 hours), although the battery dropped to 38% after the same amount of time on a busy day of taking lots of photos and increasing the screen brightness.
Suffice it to say, it doesn’t seem like you’re missing out on much in the way of battery life by choosing the Pixel 8A over the Pixel 9.
You also don’t get any of Google’s new AI features, like Pixel Studio, which lets you instantly generate images just by typing in a prompt. But like Add Me, this is another tool that I don’t find necessary. After the novelty wore off, I found myself barely using it on the Pixel 9.
While the Pixel 8A is a great value, there are some drawbacks to keep in mind. Firstly, the 256GB storage option is strangely only available on the black version of the device, which is a shame because the Pixel 8A’s colorful green and blue tones are part of what makes it stand out. The Pixel 8A isn’t ideal for zoom photography either, so if you take a lot of photos at concerts and remote events, you’ll probably want to look elsewhere.
But overall, the Pixel 8A feels like the ideal budget phone. Considering Google has increased the price of its base flagship Pixel by $100 with the Pixel 9 compared to the Pixel 8, there’s an even more compelling argument for the cheaper Pixel 8A.
If you’re looking for extra budget-friendly gift ideas this holiday season, check out our roundup of 31 of the Best Tech Gifts Under $100 and 32 Best Christmas Gifts Under $100.
