Skip to main content

The upcoming Pixel 8a may be bigger than the Pixel but it'll be less powerful

It’s been less than a week since the Pixel 8 series was revealed at the time of this writing, and already we’re getting leaks of the upcoming mid-range model: the Pixel 8a.

In collaboration with industry insider OnLeaks, tech news site SmartPrix recently shared multiple renders of the future smartphone’s potential design. On the surface,  the device looks like a cross between the standard Pixel 8 and the Pixel 7a as it has characteristics of both. The Pixel 8a will have the same rounded corners as the other models in the lineup, stepping away from “the boxy shape of its predecessor.” It will, however, be a bit bigger than the mainline model as its dimensions clock in at 152.1 x 72.6 x 8.9mm. 

But despite the extra bulk, the screen won’t be bigger. In fact, it's the opposite. The report reveals thicker bezels around the corners, effectively shrinking the display down to 6.1-inches. By comparison, the Pixel 8 has a 6.2-inch screen. 

Design flourishes

Other notable design features include the rear camera module which will keep the visored look the series is known for. On the front, you’ll see a small punch hole for the selfie lens. The power and volume buttons are on the left with the SIM tray on the opposite side. At the bottom edge, you’ll find a USB-C charging input in between the speakers. The top edge apparently houses “an ultra-wideband antenna”, according to SmartPrix. The device will be available in Sky Blue and what appears to be Peach Pink.

What’s particularly interesting is these renders match up with another leak from late September. Industry insider Abhishek Yadav apparently got his hands on a prototype and then proceeded to post images of it on X (the platform formerly known as Twitter). So it's possible the rounder design might be more plausible than we initially thought. 

Middling power

Obviously, because it is a mid-ranger, the Pixel 8a will not be more powerful than its siblings. SmartPrix’s report mentions a benchmark test that was discovered back in August for the smartphone although it’s referred to by its codename: Google Akita. The results suggest the model will host an “underclocked variant of the Tensor G3 chipset, coupled with the Mali-G715 GPU.” The amount of memory is staying the same as it’s “listed with 8GB of RAM”. Android 14 will be the OS.

See more

Going back to the rear camera, we know Pixel 8a will have two lenses judging by the images, but we don’t know how many megapixels each one will be. If history repeats itself, the phone’s camera may have more megapixels than the standard model. It’s similar to how the lenses on the Pixel 7a are technically better lenses than the Pixel 7. However, keep in mind, that more megapixels don’t always mean better photographs. You have to take into account other things like the processor. Taking pictures on the Pixel 8a might be a worse experience.

As always, take this information with a grain of salt. Things can always change at any time. A release date wasn’t given in the leaks. But again, if history repeats itself, we could see a May 2024 launch just as we saw with the Pixel 7a when it launched in May 2023.

Until we learn more, check out TechRadar’s list of the best Pixel phones for 2023. 

You might also like



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Windows Copilot leak suggests deeper assimilation with Windows 11 features

Key Windows 11 features may soon be customizable as Microsoft further integrates its Windows Copilot AI assistant into the operating system. This tidbit comes from tech news site Windows Latest , which claims to have discovered new .json (JavaScript Object Notation) files within recent preview builds of Windows 11. These files apparently hint at future upgrades for the desktop AI assistant. For example, a “TaskManagerService-ai-plugin.json” was found which is supposedly a “plugin for Task Manager integration”. If this ever comes out, it could give users the ability to “monitor or close running apps using” Copilot. In total, six are currently tested and they affect various aspects of Windows 11. Next, there is an “AccessbilityTools-ai-plugin.json” that gives Copilot a way to “control accessibility [tools]. This would make it "easier for those with [a] disability to navigate through the system.” Third is “ai-plugin-WindowsSettings.json” for controlling important Windows 11 set...
Post a Comment
Read more

Google Chrome releases security fix for this major flaw, so update now

Google says it has fixed a high-severity flaw in its Chrome browser which is currently being exploited by threat actors in the wild.  In a security advisory , the company described the flaw being abused and urged the users to apply the fix immediately.  "Google is aware that an exploit for CVE-2023-2033 exists in the wild," the advisory reads. Automatic updates The zero-day in question is a confusion weakness vulnerability in the Chrome V8 JavaScript engine, the company said. Usually, this type of flaw can be used to crash the browser, but in this case it can also be used to run arbitrary code on compromised endpoints.  The flaw was discovered by Clement Lecigne from the Google Threat Analysis Group (TAG). Usually, TAG works on finding flaws abused by nation-states, or state-sponsored threat actors. There is no word on who the threat actors abusing this flaw are, though. Read more > Patch Google Chrome now to fix this emergency security flaw > Emergency...
Post a Comment
Read more

Samsung's ViewFinity S9 may be the monitor creatives have been searching for

Originally revealed during CES 2023 , Samsung has finally launched its ViewFinity S9 5K monitor after nine long months of waiting.  According to the announcement, the ViewFinity S9 is the company’s first-ever 5K resolution (5,120 x 2880 pixels) IPS display aimed primarily at creatives. IPS stands for in-plane switching , a form of LED tech offering some of the best color output and viewing angles on the market. This quality is highlighted by the fact that the 27-inch screen supports 99 percent of the DCI-P3 color gamut plus delivers 600 nits of brightness.  Altogether, these deliver great picture quality made vibrant by saturated colors and dark shadows. The cherry on top for the ViewFinity S9 is a Matte Display coating to “drastically [reduce] light reflections.”  As a direct rival to the Apple Studio Display , the monitor is an alternative for creative professionals looking for options. It appears Samsung has done its homework as the ViewFinity S9 addresses some of...
Post a Comment
Read more