Google’s subsequent mid-range telephone, the Pixel 8a, is quickly approaching launch. The presumed launch date has all the time been Google I/O, and that is formally set for Might 14. Though the Pixel 8a lately hit the Federal Communications Fee, the field has leaked, and renders have been out since October, we have not actually talked specs.
The ever-reliable Kamila Wojciechowska has a brand new article for Android Authority detailing some specs for the upcoming gadget. Apparently, there are some huge upgrades deliberate. The Pixel 7a took an enormous bounce to a 90 Hz show, and the Pixel 8a is encroaching much more into flagship territory with a 120 Hz show. Wojciechowska’s supply says the Pixel 8a show can be a 6.1-inch, 120 Hz, 2400×1080 OLED panel with an improved 1,400 nits brightness. The show’s 120 Hz display screen is not going to solely make the telephone extra aggressive right here; it’s going to even be an enormous deal for the Pixel line’s latest enlargement into India, the place 120 Hz is the norm at this worth vary.
The report says to count on the identical digicam loadout because the Pixel 7a, together with the newer Google Tensor G3 chip, identical to the opposite Pixel 8 telephones. Google does not point out it on the spec sheet, however Wojciechowska says internally there’s a small distinction: It is the identical silicon on the A-series, however Google goes with a less expensive, hotter silicon packaging methodology. So count on some thermal variations.
One main shock within the report is that the Pixel 8a will help DisplayPort by way of the USB-C port, which might allow you to plug your telephone right into a monitor and energy the show. This has lengthy been a risk on Android telephones, and a few third events like Samsung have taken benefit of the display-out to permit telephones to energy a PC-like interface. Google has all the time particularly gone out of its strategy to disable display-out on Pixel telephones, although, even when it is constructed into the {hardware}. Presumably, this has been to prop up Google’s wi-fi “Google Forged” ecosystem, however one thing has been altering recently. DisplayPort alternate mode was really lately enabled for the Pixel 8 on one of many new Android betas. Now, it is apparently going to be enabled on the Pixel 8a out of the field. It is unclear why or whether or not Google has any software program mode that can make the characteristic extra helpful. For now, it is only a easy show mirroring mode.
One other good enchancment is the potential for extra nation availability. Immediately, the Pixel 7a is offered in 21 international locations (the official checklist is right here). Wojciechowska’s Pixel 8a leak consists of “digital guarantee labels” for 31 international locations, which suggests—however does not assure—wider distribution. The brand new international locations are Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia.
One draw back to the Pixel 8a launch is perhaps a better worth. WinFuture’s Roland Quandt reported that the 8a worth in Europe goes up from the Pixel 7a’s 499 euros to 550 euros. If the US worth goes up an analogous $50, the Pixel 8a would price $549. When the Pixel 7a got here out, Google saved the Pixel 6a round and dropped the value to $349; hopefully, we’ll get an analogous Pixel 7a price discount, too.