OPINION : Just a few days after Google confirmed that this year ’s Google I / O would take place on 14 May , the Pixel 8a – which is expected to be announce at the show window – suffered ahuge news leak .

If the rumours are indeed lawful , the Pixel 8a sounds like a capable beast . So much so that I ’m a little bit concerned about the regularPixel 8 .

There havealwaysbeen similarities between the A - serial and the flagship Pixels , but there have always been key differences between them that showcase the Pixel A - series ’ budget nature .

With thePixel 7andPixel 7a , those differences issue forth in the form of refresh rate , showing sizing and the camera offering . The Pixel 7 ’s 6.3 - inch dialog box with a 120Hz refresh rate and dual television camera offering nonplus the 90Hz , 6.1 - inch screen and dual television camera oblation from the Pixel 7a . However , if the rumours are true , most of these differences could be a matter of the past with the vent of the Pixel 8a .

Take the refresh rate for example ; despite only get to the jump to 90Hz with the Pixel 7a , the Pixel 8a could again make the start , this sentence to the same 120Hz as the even Pixel 8 . It ’s not just the refresh rate either ; other fundamental Pixel 8 screen technical school , like the 1400nits tip HDR brightness level , could be available on the Pixel 8a .

The chunky bezel of the Pixel 7a could all but disappear with the Pixel 8a , with the same theme take that the corner wheel spoke of the Pixel 8a ’s screen closely equate that of the regular Pixel 8 serial publication .

In fact , rumours evoke that the panel will be sourced by BOE and Samsung , the same manufacturers that handle the Pixel 8 ’s filmdom tech . This lends credenza to the idea that the two control panel will be near - indistinguishable . The only other central remainder is size , with a rather insignificant 0.1 - inch difference between the two .

The flagship Pixel 8 also preface DisplayPort yield support , another feature that ’s said to be come to the Pixel 8a . While it does n’t put up a PC - esque DeX apparatus like Samsung flagships right on now , it could in the future . Hey , the Android 15 reveal is only a span of month away …

And , of course , the Pixel 8a will go on the long trend using current flagship - level fleck , this clock time in the form of the Google Tensor G3 . That ’s the same as the Pixel 8 – in most esteem , anyway . While there are little dispute in the manufacturing process with the Pixel 8a ’s G3 essentially using garish portion , the material - world dispute is likely paltry , as with premature A - series phones .

That ’s all a roundabout manner of saying that the Pixel 8a will be closer to the Pixel 8 than any other A - serial publication release before it , and with an expected terms tag of around £ 449/$499 , it ’ll be much meretricious than the £ 699/$699 flagship .

There are still differences between the two earphone – the Pixel 8a uses a smaller 64MP principal sensor in place of the Pixel 8 ’s larger 50MP sensor , and it ’s a exchangeable story in the ultrawide department . The Pixel 8 also offer marginally better junk and water system resistance , but for the deal - hunting consumer , I ’m not sure these difference count all that much .

In most key metrics , it seems the Pixel 8a will match the Pixel 8 ’s oblation at a gimcrack toll point . That ’s great for consumer around the public , but it does n’t on the nose bode well for sales event of the flagship alternative .