The Google Pixel 8a is an AI-driven ‘beginner’s smartphone’ that eclipses its pricier rivals
We get our hands on Google’s latest device, the mid-range Pixel 8a, a stripped-down smartphone that still packs an excellent camera, solid hardware and an AI-powered software punch

A new smartphone is usually a good measure of the speed of technological advancements. In the time between the launch of Google’s Pixel 7a as an entry-level model and the arrival of the all-new 8-series Pixel models, the world has gone crazy for AI in all its forms, from photo editing through to the ability to screen unwanted calls.
At just half the price of the excellent Pixel 8 Pro, does the 8a have everything the casual user needs? First up, Google bills this as a phone for beginners, i.e. young people. At a time when the correlations between smartphone use and age and general wellbeing are being scrutinised more than ever before, it feels a bit disengenous to pitch such a powerful device as the pocket equivalent of training wheels.
This youth-orientated approach is evidenced by the relatively bold and playful colour set, more distinct and vibrant than the low-key palette of the ‘grown up’ models. Yes, there’s recycled materials, but also a new emphasis on resilience, with a scratch-resistant 6.1” ‘Actua’ display, metal camera housing and water and dust resistance. So far, so good. Like all Pixels (and modern smartphones in general), the 8a feels well weighted and substantial in the hand, only to have this tactility reduced by the addition of the (essential) case.
The on-screen experience has much in common with its pricier siblings, running the latest iteration of Android (14), with the more prominent addition of an in-built AI assistant, Gemini (formerly Bard). In theory, Gemini can be asked to create summaries of long documents or emails, or search items online simply by circling them on the screen. In practice, it’s little more than a glorified version of Google’s already excellent Lens application, which has been baked into Pixels since it debuted in 2017.
AI also underpins the 8a’s photographic skills. The device uses the Google Tensor G3 chip, just like the 8 and 8 Pro, but cuts costs by only having two front-facing cameras, a 64MP Quad PD wide camera and a 13MP ultrawide camera. Pixel cameras are some of the best in the business, combining quality hardware with unrivalled processing power. With excellent low light performance, 4K video from front and rear cameras, and a bunch of proven AI-driven tools like Photo Unblur, Magic Eraser and Best take, the 8a will serve casual photographers, power users and the selfie-obsessed equally well.
A host of security measures, including the Google One VPN and a promised seven years’ worth of software updates and supports, are also baked in, and the phone is available with 8GB RAM and 128 or 256GB of storage. Power users might be put off by the implication that the ‘a’ suffix implies a knocked-down version of Google’s flagship devices. For those unbothered by the smartphone status game, the Pixel 8a is easy to recommend as a straightforward but extremely powerful way to access the omnipotent Google eco-system.
Google Pixel 8a, from £499, Store.Google.com
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
Jonathan Bell has written for Wallpaper* magazine since 1999, covering everything from architecture and transport design to books, tech and graphic design. He is now the magazine’s Transport and Technology Editor. Jonathan has written and edited 15 books, including Concept Car Design, 21st Century House, and The New Modern House. He is also the host of Wallpaper’s first podcast.
-
Is this the world’s most comfortable sofa? Cozmo and Pearson Lloyd invite you to find out
Pearson Lloyd and Cozmo lay bare the design process behind ‘Hug’, their new high-backed sofa design, at the eye-opening exhibition ‘Comfort Lab’ during LDF
-
A Mexican clifftop retreat offers both drama, and a sense of place
Casa Yuri, a clifftop retreat by Zozaya Arquitectos, creates the perfect blend of drama and cosiness on Mexico's Pacific Coast
-
Tour David Lynch's house as it hits the market
David Lynch's LA estate is for sale at $15m, and the listing pictures offer a glimpse into the late filmmaker's aesthetic and creative universe
-
The Apple iPhone Air leads the company’s round of autumn product launches
The new Apple iPhone 17 range boasts better cameras, more memory and more Apple Silicon. It launched alongside new Apple Watches, new AirPods and the remarkable iPhone Air. We explore out the key innovations and products
-
Honor introduces an ultra-slim trio of new flagship foldable phone, tablet and laptop
Thin is in as Honor goes for style and substance with three new portable computing devices – a high-powered folding phone, tablet and laptop that offer anything but slim pickings
-
The new Plaud Note Pro deploys AI to transform the spoken word into searchable data
The Note Pro promises full-on conversational AI, a pocketable device that can capture roundtable chats and correctly attribute speakers and action points. Help or hindrance?
-
Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold7 shows the folding smartphone still has traction as a flagship device
The Samsung Galaxy range has been given a thorough overhaul, with a new Fold, new Flip and an update to the class-leading Galaxy Watch series
-
Liquid Glass, subtle AI and cross-device continuity define Apple’s new 26-branded OS
At WWDC25, Apple announced a raft of design changes, rolling out iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe 26, watchOS 26, and tvOS 26 to the delight of attending developers
-
Google I/O 2025 melded light-touch UI interactions with an enhanced AI-driven core
We take stock of Google’s new AI offerings. Under a new Material 3 Expressive aesthetic that softens and smooths, AI arrives to take stock of you, your choices, desires, innermost thoughts and exactly what it is you want for dinner
-
Microsoft vs Google: where is the battle for the ultimate AI assistant taking us?
Tech editor Jonathan Bell reflects on Microsoft’s Copilot, Google’s Gemini, plus the state of the art in SEO, wayward algorithms, video generation and the never-ending quest for the definition of ‘good content’
-
The new Google Pixel 9a is a competent companion on the pathway to the world of AI
Google’s reputation for effective and efficient hardware is bolstered by the introduction of the new Pixel 9a, a mid-tier smartphone designed to endure