Customers are pleased with the Pixel 8a 5G 128GB's camera quality, battery life, and ease of use. Many appreciate its smooth performance and the ample storage it offers. However, some users have experienced issues with the fingerprint reader and the lack of a headphone jack. The phone's price point and design also receive positive feedback.
This summary was generated by AI based on customer reviews.
The vast majority of our reviews come from verified purchases. Reviews from customers may include My Best Buy members, employees, and Tech Insider Network members (as tagged). Select reviewers may receive discounted products, promotional considerations or entries into drawings for honest, helpful reviews.
Page 3 Showing 41-60 of 413 reviews
Pros mentioned:
Battery life, Camera quality, Performance
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Pixel 8a, the gem in the 8 lineup,
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Posted . Owned for 2 weeks when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Well opted for the obsidian (black). You can't go wrong with that color, and black absorbs heat but also dumps it faster than other colors. Now you know why black umbrellas are used in very hot climates.
That said, obsidian (black), aloe (green), and
porcelain (white), that porcelain color is striking.
It was a tough pick of black over the porcelain.
It has an OLED screen that can go up to 120 MHz using the Settings app; it defaults slower.
The reason we opted for the Pixel 8a over a OnePlus 12R, which is faster, has better sound, and has a slightly bigger battery, is the Pixel 8a will get OS updates until 01 May 2031.
The Pixel 8a's hardware is good enough. It's fast enough for us, we don't try to play games on a phone, we have tablets for that.
It has excellent cameras.
The only real thing to complain about is that they opted for QI wireless 7.5-watt charging, rather than 18 watts plus. This was probably an area to save money to produce it at its price point.
It's good to have QI, but is a longer charge at 7.5 watts. Maybe in a vehicle, it is good when using your phone as a GPS because you are not hammering the battery with an 18-plus QI charger.
Overnight slow charging on QI is probably better than an hour cord charge.
About QI you cannot complain the Pixel 8, 8a, et al., do not support QI2. Phone design takes months, a year or so; QI2 just got approved, so you just can't let that bother you; it's chasing a rabbit down a hole, trying to keep up.
The Pixel 8a is rather the sleeper gem in the Pixel lineup.
Catch it on sale for $100 off, it's a good deal.
This review is from Google - Pixel 8a 5G 128GB (Unlocked) - Obsidian
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Battery life
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Nice entry level phone.
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
The Pixel 8A is a nice entry level phone, with all the features you would expect from the Pixel line.
Packed with 128/256gb of storage, 64mp camera,13mp ultrawide lens and 13mp front camera, 6.1 display, 8gb of memory, Goggle Tensor G3 processor,4492 mAh battery, Wifi 6E, Bluetooth v.3
Also packed with software features such as Best take for when you take a group picture. If someone blinks you can change out there face with a better picture of them or expression which make the perfect picture at your fingertips, no more missed opportunities. Audio magic eraser to eliminate distracting sounds in your audio recording, Magic editor to edit objects in your photos. You can make things look bigger or smaller or even disappear, tons of other options for your phone photography.
A big new upgrade for the phone is Gemini a n AI assistant, that can be used for instance Email summaries, plan events Contextual help among google apps, photo info, use it to draft and send emails.
Circle to search, just circle and item on a photo or tap and you can search for info without leaving the page.
Also included with the phone are the standard google apps like call assist, google assistant, Assistant voice typing, live translate.
The pixel 8a is made from 24% recycled materials and the back cover is 76% recycled materials.
The 8A is the first A series phone that will get up to 7 years of updates and feature drops, an industry first.
My observations:
Upon first glance the phone is smaller than Galaxy or apple models. This might be an issue for people with less than 20/20 vision. I wear glasses and had to up the font, bold it and make the app icons bigger. It still take a while to get used to, Setup was the easiest I have ever experienced with any phone, just leave your phone next to the new one and with a few button presses your info, stings and apps will be copied over. Granted I and going from Android to Android. I did not test Apple to Android. The phone came with 75% power so I was able to start the transfer immediately. This took about 30 minutes to complete. I then upgraded the firmware/OS to the latest. Before testing.
The screen is very clear and quite vibrant, video is smooth and precise. Switching between memory hog apps was a snap with no lag. I had 15 open at one time. The phone did appear to heat up when testing but all my previous phones have done the same thing.
Battery life is excellent. I was able to go all day using the phone for texting, surfing and phone calling. Ky day started at 9 and by 7 that night I still had 45% left of battery life. Impressive.
I want really impressed with the camera and its pictures while boating, they appeared to be a little pixelated, videos had same result but this could be to the stabilization as the boat was bouncing all over the place but the weather was great for pictures. Using the slow mo feature while videoing my daughters was at least cool.
Conversations on the phone were predictably perfect every time. Not tinny or distance like some cheaper phones are. The speakers are just right for this phone for conversations or video.
Setting up the phone for kids is easy and when using the family link app , you can keep track of your kids, use parental control and see what they are doing.
Final comments:
The phone itself is nice for those who like lots of options but don’t want to pay a lot of money. Granted this isn’t the Flagship phone but for the budget minded. All the features are there but you loose some quality in the camera. Overall I'm happy with it. But when the 9 comes out I will be upgrading.
I would recommend this to family and friends.
This review is from Google - Pixel 8a 5G 128GB (Unlocked) - Obsidian
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Battery life, Screen size
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Great "budget" phone, need more storage.
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Introduction
It’s been a long time since I’ve used an Android phone. I would say it’s been about 5 years. I’m excited to see what Google has done terms of its software as well as the Pixel line.
Going in
I’m familiar with the Android OS, but it’s been a while, so I’m a couple of versions behind. I’m hoping that I’m still able to navigate the UI without having to go through a massive refresh tutorial.
What comes in the box?
Out of the box you get the Pixel 8a, a USB-C to USB-C cable, a USB-A to USB-C adaptor, a sim card purge tool, and inserts.
Minor wins
The fingerprint sensor under the screen was a good compliment to the face unlock. I like having the option of using either or both to quickly unlock the phone, so that’s a win.
Major wins
The OLED screen provides some of the best brightness and vivid colors that I’ve seen on a phone, while offering some of the deepest blacks. The smooth display offers a 120hz refresh rate. When scrolling through website, you’re treated to a smooth experience.
Aesthetics
The Pixel 8a has a 6.1” display which offers plenty of real estate to do all of your tasks. The bezels are not as thin as some other modern phones, but it’s a minor issue considering the price. The frame around the phone as well as the camera housing is an anodized aluminum. It feels nice to the touch. The back has a nice matte finish which not only feels great and reduces fingerprints.
Usage
I decided to use the Pixel 8a as my main phone for about three days. Google phones became famous for their cameras, and so I was most excited to give it a try. One of the more interesting tools is the magic eraser. If there’s something in your photo that you want to remove, you simply go into photos, edit, and then tools. From there you can choose magic eraser and you simple circle the target that you want removed, and AI does its best to erase it. It’s definitely not perfect. It almost performs an erase, then smudge to cover up what was removed.
One of the best features I tried out was the audio magic erase. This allows you to remove certain sound aspects of a video. I recorded myself just talking and had my fan going right next to me, and I was able to completely remove the sound of the fan.
One of the newest features is the AI integration. Gemini is what I would call a slightly advanced Google assistant. I’m probably downplaying the capabilities, but it performed simple tasks like foods that certain countries are known for then piggybacking to finding me recipes to those foods. The voice sounds more like a human being, and more natural in its conversational tone. I found myself not using it as much as I thought. I was the same way with the other voice assistants.
The sound is actually pretty remarkable. I opened a Youtube video, and set the volume to max, and it was surprisingly immersive. The video itself looked beautiful on the OLED screen. For media consumption, it’s great.
The battery life is actually pretty good. I kept the screen brightness at about half way, and with normal usage of texting/watching videso, and web browsing, I got about a day’s worth of battery life. I’m sure that if gaming were involved, it would have drained much faster.
Minor issues
The phone is quite slippery in the hand. Both the aluminum sides and the matte finish don’t really offer a good grip.
Major issues
I’ve probably been out of the Android phone market too long, but I do miss the upgradable storage option via a micro SD card. With such a fancy camera, you’ll probably fill up the capacity quite quickly. Yes there’s the cloud, or transferring it to a computer, but still… I just miss the convenience of adding a 512 GB micro SD so I don’t have to worry about storage. I wish they would bring this back.
Primarily for
People on a budget, but still want a capable phone with a really nice camera. I would say photo enthusiasts would enjoy using the Pixel 8a.
Probably not for
People who like larger phones, and or want the latest and greatest. Also, people who eat through storage in a matter of months.
All in all
The Pixel 8a is a very nice “budget” phone. For the price point you’re getting a beautiful fast OLED screen with a 120hz refresh rate, nice speakers, a whole slew of nice photo/video/audio editing tools, a new AI assistant, all in a 6.1” screen. What you’re not getting is a lot of storage. Still, I would definitely recommend anybody who like Android phones and hasn’t updated in a while.
This review is from Google - Pixel 8a 5G 128GB (Unlocked) - Porcelain
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Camera quality, Screen size
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Pixel value is back
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Over the years I have owned several high and mid and android, and Apple smart phones. One of my favorites was the pixel two XL, which was not too expensive and had an excellent camera and excellent day-to-day function. When the pixels became more expensive, and the Apple phones finally improved their camera quality I switched back to iPhones as my primary line. For the last several years, I have had various android phones as a secondary or business line.
The new pixel 8a is an excellent size and is priced in the upper mid range. When compared to $200 and $300 phones, the responsiveness is significantly better as is the consistency of response. One of the main
advantages of the pixel devices was the lack of clutter and excellent integration of some of googles most advanced features. This includes several excellent pixel functions, including call assistant (an easy to use call screening and quick response feature.
There are also several updated or longstanding easy to use Camera utilities, including photo blur and night site. The upgraded magic eraser function seems much cleaner as well as easier to use. The edited photos appear less compared to the earliest versions of the magic eraser. Best take is a new easy to use group photo editor which may allow you to shoot less and live more while still ending the day with good group photos.
This pixel includes an amazing seven years of Operating system and security updates as well as feature update. While some of the feature drops are only used by a niche group others make every day life easier.
Finally there are also several AI features including Gemini assistant and circle to search and handy selective image search. As always read the privacy policies and do your homework before going all in AI.
This review is from Google - Pixel 8a 5G 128GB (Unlocked) - Obsidian
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Battery life, Camera quality
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Google pixel
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I bought the google pixel from Best buy as a birthday gift for my mother she loves it!! Its super cute the color is so bright and brings back that nostalgic feeling because that was a popular color from back in the days! My mother finds the phone to be easy to use and the camera is the best takes really awesome photos! No regrets on buying this super cute phone another thing to mention is battery life is a plus it last a long time compared to other phones you wont regret purchasing this phone I wouldn't be writting a review that wasn't true ;)
This review is from Google - Pixel 8a 5G 128GB (Unlocked) - Aloe
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Camera quality, Processor speed, Screen size
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Perfect size, color and AI made easy. Best Pixel!!
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Posted . Owned for less than 1 week when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I bought every Pixel Phone since the release of the original in 2016. The Pixel 8a is so far my favorite. I love the Aloe green color, it is a head turner. The size is PERFECT for one handed use and it actually fits into my front pocket without sticking out like 99% of all other modern phones. The Tensor G3 is fast and competes with most Flagship phones out there. The oled panel is very nice and the 2000 nits of brightness on an A series is a great surprise! The glazed back is plastic or poly-carbonate but actually feels just like the glass on the Galaxy S24 or the Pixel 8. The speakers are amazing and the camera is very impressive. Face Unlock is fast and can be used for apps like eTrade unlike the competition in the Android market. Stock Android, as always, is easy and a pleasure to use and the new AI features are fun! I highly recommend this device!
This review is from Google - Pixel 8a 5G 128GB (Unlocked) - Aloe
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Battery life, Camera quality, Screen size
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Great Product
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I'm a big fan of the Google Pixel products, and they've continued to deliver on great quality with the Pixel 8a. The screen is receptive, camera quality is just as advertised, and the google assistant is a great QoL feature that I use on the daily. So far battery life has exceeded my expectations, and is holding up with pretty consistent use!
This review is from Google - Pixel 8a 5G 128GB (Unlocked) - Obsidian
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Battery life, Processor speed
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Google pixel 8a
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Posted . Owned for 1 week when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
"The phone offers a sleek design with a vibrant display and impressive camera capabilities. Its fast processor ensures smooth performance, while the long-lasting battery keeps you powered throughout the day. With its user-friendly interface and ample storage options, the phone is a solid choice for those in need of a reliable device for everyday use."
This review is from Google - Pixel 8a 5G 128GB (Unlocked) - Porcelain
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Battery life, Camera quality, Screen size
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Feel Confident in Purchasing
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Posted . Owned for 1 week when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Using it so far for a week I'm pleased with purchase. With a mix of browsing, gaming, watching videos, texting, and emailing seems like one should be able to get at least 10hours of usage without needing to charge battery. That should be plenty for most individuals for daily use. Transition of the initial setup from previous Pixel 4 was smooth as files, photos, and apps were copied over even wirelessly. There are initial system updates that take some time after starting you'll do and realize some of the newer camera AI features will need downloaded. Screen can definitely be very bright. Sound on the low end is very low which usually forces user to bump up to more middle of volume setting to hear. Phone doesn't get that warm with intense long usage. Appreciate the size not being a monster that so many phones are becoming and can still use one handed. Screen bezels are not slim, but are not an annoyance. Camera seems solid. Speakers are crisp for streaming music (realize what looks like a speaker on bottom left is not and is the microphone). Color of phone being Bay is a nice muted blue.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Camera quality, Processor speed
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Title: “Google Pixel 8a: A Mid-Range Marvel with P
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Posted . Owned for less than 1 week when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
The Google Pixel 8a 5G offers solid performance with its Tensor G3 chipset and 128GB storage, ensuring smooth multitasking and AI-powered features. Its 120Hz OLED display delivers vibrant visuals, though it lacks the LTPO efficiency of pricier models. The camera is a standout, leveraging Google’s AI tools for exceptional photography. Battery life is decent but not class-leading, and charging speeds remain slow. Overall, it’s a strong contender in the mid-range segment, ideal for those prioritising camera quality and clean software.
This review is from Google - Pixel 8a 5G 128GB (Unlocked) - Obsidian
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Battery life, Camera quality, Performance
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Google Pixel 8a: A Fantastic Budget Smartphone.
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Posted . Owned for 8 months when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
The Google Pixel 8a offers excellent value with its sleek design and solid build. The 6.1-inch OLED display is vibrant and sharp, making media enjoyable. Performance is smooth, thanks to the Google Tensor G2 chip. The camera delivers great results, especially in low light with Night Sight. Battery life is solid, and the clean Android experience with timely updates is a bonus.
This review is from Google - Pixel 8a 5G 128GB (Unlocked) - Porcelain
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Battery life, Camera quality, Processor speed
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Incredible phone, incredible value
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Posted . Owned for 1 week when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
This is one of the best Android phones I have ever used. I am used to buying flagships, but with this possessing the same chip as the Pixel 8 Pro and the amazing green color I had to give it a shot. All I can say: WOW! Lightning fast, decent battery life, amazing camera. And did I mention that it is LIGHT? Not a brick like a lot of the solid glass phones on the market. The back has the nice soft touch feel like the glass on the back of the 8 Pro, but it's plastic so you don't have to worry about it breaking.
All in all, highly recommended.
This review is from Google - Pixel 8a 5G 128GB (Unlocked) - Aloe
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Camera quality
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Fone for Families!!!
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Posted . Owned for 2 months when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
The new Pixel 8A phone truly embodies the innovation and user-friendliness that Google is known for. Parents, in particular, find it easy to navigate, making it an ideal choice for families. The device runs on a streamlined and efficient Android operating system that ensures smooth performance, allowing for quick access to apps and features without any lag.
One of the standout features of the Pixel 8A is its impressive camera, which captures stunning images with remarkable clarity, perfect for documenting life’s special moments. Additionally, the phone sports a refreshing new shade of green that sets it apart from the sea of standard-colored devices, giving it a unique and stylish appearance.
Affordability is also a key highlight of the Pixel 8A, as it comes with a price point that offers excellent value for the features and performance it provides. Overall, the Pixel 8A combines practicality, aesthetics, and cost-effectiveness, making it a strong contender in the smartphone market.
This review is from Google - Pixel 8a 5G 128GB (Unlocked) - Aloe
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Camera quality, Processor speed, Screen size
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
The iPhone killer
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Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
As a long time iPhone user I'm excited to say I love the pixel 8a. This phone is the perfect size being able to use it with one hand easily. The screen is great and the phone feels very snappy. The camera and video recording is just as good as my iPhone 15 plus. Google has a lot of features I like that iPhone doesn't have and it pairs nicely with my pixel watch.
This review is from Google - Pixel 8a 5G 128GB (Unlocked) - Obsidian
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Battery life, Camera quality, Screen size
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Great phone
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Posted . Owned for 5 months when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Love this phone. It is small enough to fit in my pocket but not too small that things are too tiny to read. I have dropped it a dozen times and the screen it perfect still. Takes great photos and the battery lasts me two days depending on use.
This review is from Google - Pixel 8a 5G 128GB (Unlocked) - Obsidian
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Camera quality, Screen size
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Great Phone
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Great Phone, came unlocked and was able to enable OEM Unlocking. Phone itself is nice, screen resolution is good, camera isn't great, but better than most budget phones I've used in the price range. Phone seems to be limited to the amount of apps you can open before it has to close some, it seems to be about 3-4 apps, so switching between multiple apps in a short period of time is a bit more frustrating, but overall a great phone for the price
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Camera quality, Processor speed
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Pixel 8a the replacement for the 8
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Picked up the phone today I’m not a noob to the pixel line I have owned all of them I’m a bit of a reviewer. The 8a in my opinion replaces the pixel 8 (unless you do a lot of low light photography) for me I’m mostly during the day or dusk timeframe both phones snap identical pictures of the black starlight nights perfectly trumping my galaxy s23 and 24 as they seem to over brighten the night sky. This G3 is actually as snappy as its big brother’s P8 pro as they use the same chip. My P7A last year was a bit watered down compared to my P7 however that’s not the case this year, the pixel 8a hit the sweet spot snag one I got the blue and it’s nice matte back no fingerprints! I’m not gonna rave on but it’s an awesome phone and is on par with our iPhone 15 pro max it’s got that “rich contrast “ type of photos that the iPhone has (not a specific setting just they way pics look) For an android I say it’s as close as you will ever find in camera quality to a 15 pro max nothing touches it Samsungs over saturation kills the pics lots of the time. But I say there close behind next year watch out new everything on galaxies..
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Battery life, Processor speed
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Google Pixel 8a: A Compact, Future-Proof Smartphon
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Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
The Google Pixel 8a is a fantastic mid-range phone that offers great value for its price. The compact design feels perfect in hand, and the OLED display delivers vibrant colors and smooth visuals. The camera performance is outstanding, especially in low light, thanks to Google’s computational photography. Battery life easily lasts a full day, and the Tensor G3 chip ensures fast and seamless performance for multitasking. I also appreciate the commitment to five years of updates, keeping the phone future-proof. Highly recommend it for anyone looking for an affordable yet powerful smartphone!
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Camera quality, Performance, Screen size
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Excellent "compact" phone.
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Posted . Owned for 1 week when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
This is an excellent relatively "compact" phone. The screen is very bright, the camera is awesome and it has no lag or slugglishness in performance. The form factor may seem small compared to today's big screen phones but it makes for easy one-hand handling and operation. I would definitely recommend the phone.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Battery life, Camera quality, Processor speed
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Great phone at a great price
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Posted . Owned for 1 week when reviewed.
This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
The phone is a great upgrade from the Pixel 4a 5G I previously had. Snappy, great photos, battery life is excellent. It's the level of happiness you can't quite vocalize because everything is good and there are no glaring flaws. It's a great phone - without the "for a non-flagship" or "for the cost" qualifiers.