The Pixel 8a is anything but official yet that isn’t stopping small details about the device from trickling out, like the higher refresh rate and other display improvements coming to Google’s more affordable Pixel phone.
The Pixel ‘A’ series of devices has always been about shaving off some of the price tag by either lessening some of the specs or removing some features. Or both. Google isn’t necessarily straying from that approach entirely with the upcoming Pixel 8a. However, it does seem to be including improvements that will make the phone even more of a bargain.
A new report from Android Authority says the Pixel 8a will come with both a higher refresh rate and a higher peak brightness. From a user standpoint, these are both huge improvements. The higher refresh rate will make using everything on the phone appear more smooth. The higher peak brightness will make it easier to use the phone in direct sunlight and in rooms that are more brightly lit. The Pixel 8a is also said to be coming with a higher price tag, as well as a new battery feature. The phone also seemingly went through FCC certification on March 18. Potentially signifying its imminent arrival.
The Pixel 8a display comes with a refresh rate of 120Hz
According to the report the display refresh rate is being bumped up to 120Hz. Compared to the Pixel 7a which came with a 90Hz display, this is a decent if not almost strange move. Another thing to take into account is that the peak brightness is being bumped up to 1400 nits compared to the 1000 nits on the Pixel 7a.
These are both the same as what Google offers on its standard Pixel 8 model. Considering this, there might be less of a reason for people to choose the standard Pixel 8 over the ‘A’ series model. After all, the Pixel 8a will come with a display that is likely just as nice. Not to mention many of the other same features. And at a significantly lower price. Given these factors, it might be tough for Google to convince people to spend more to get the Pixel 8. There are a few details about the camera as well. Although it might not be what people are hoping for. The Pixel 8a will seemingly not change the camera. It will reportedly keep using what the Pixel 7a has.
You can mirror the phone’s display with a USB-C cable
Google is bringing over another feature from the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. The DisplayPort output option. With a USB-C to USB-C or USB-C to HDMI cable, you can plug your Pixel 8 series phone into an external monitor to mirror it. This will be debuting on the Pixel 8a as well. What isn’t clear, however, is whether or not the feature will be available out of the box. It’s compatible with the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. But to currently use it, your phone has to be on the latest Android 14 QPR3 beta. This might be a fully rolled-out feature by the time the Pixel 8a arrives. However, Google only just enabled this last week.
So there’s a chance it might not be available on the ‘A’ model unless it’s running this same beta software. Interestingly, it appears the Pixel 8a will come with a Tensor G3 chip and it’ll be available in more countries. The report states that so far there are electronic warranty labels for a handful of countries. This includes Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia. These are all new regions where Google didn’t sell past Pixel devices. So it’s slowly starting to expand where consumers can buy them officially.
2024-03-20 15:07:25