Google Pixel 8a reportedly getting 120Hz display, Tensor G3, and DisplayPort output

An Android Authority source inside Google has provided exciting details about the upcoming Pixel 8a, promising significant upgrades for the budget-minded smartphone. Google’s Pixel A series offers some of the best value in the Android smartphone space, if you’re in the US. Sure, it means making compromises in terms of cutting-edge hardware, but the excellent price, Google’s software prowess, and top-notch camera performance usually make up for it.

Google has even started bridging the gap between the A series and its flagship Pixel line. The Pixel 7a demonstrated this trend with a smoother 90Hz display, better cameras, and the welcome addition of wireless charging. It even reigned supreme in MKBHD’s blind smartphone camera test experiment early this year.

One of the most notable changes in the Pixel 7a was the jump to a 90Hz display. This addressed a major shortcoming of the Pixel 6a, where the 60Hz panel felt outdated. The Pixel 8a is set to push this even further. While the display’s resolution and size remain unchanged, the OLED panel is rumored to support a buttery-smooth 120Hz refresh rate and boast 1,400 nits of peak HDR brightness.

This matches the higher-end Pixel 8! The panel will likely be sourced from BOE and Samsung – further mirroring the Pixel 8. Anticipate a visually similar display experience between the two devices. This news makes me happy since a 120Hz display was part of my Pixel 8a wishlist.

Based on leaked Pixel 8a design information, the display’s corner radius has also been increased, bringing it closer in line with the Pixel 8 series aesthetic.

A long-awaited feature debuted on the Google Pixel 8 series: DisplayPort output. While not initially functional, Google recently enabled limited functionality with Android 14 QPR3 beta. It’s basic right now, not quite the Samsung DeX-like desktop experience some hoped for. However, it hints at Google’s willingness to invest in this capability.

The Pixel 8a could further solidify this commitment, as it’s predicted to also have DisplayPort support. While Google hasn’t released software to take advantage of it, the hardware’s presence lays groundwork for intriguing possibilities down the line.

Pixel A series phones are renowned for punching above their weight in photography, thanks to Google’s computational photography magic. The Pixel 7a thankfully moved away from the ancient Sony IMX363 (first found in 2018’s Pixel 3) to a more modern 64MP Sony IMX787 sensor. Google appears to be sticking with this same setup for the Pixel 8a. While hardware itself won’t change, the upgraded Tensor G3 processor could lead to subtle image processing improvements.

Unsurprisingly, the Pixel 8a will feature the Google Tensor G3 – the same powerhouse found in the Pixel 8 series. This represents a substantial leap for the A series, as the Tensor G2 was a more modest improvement.

The biggest upgrade lies in the CPU. Gone are the older Cortex-X1 and Cortex-A55 cores, replaced by newer, more efficient 2022 designs. Google also changed the core configuration, moving from 2+2+4 to 1+4+4, providing an additional CPU core for better multitasking. All this points to a significantly faster device.

The Tensor G3 offers additional benefits over its predecessor: a newer Mali-G715 GPU, Samsung Modem 5300, AV1 encoding up to 4K/60fps, an upgraded image processing unit, and a new DSP.

Cost-saving measures mean the Pixel 8a likely uses a slightly modified Tensor G3 compared to the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro. It relies on IPoP packaging, which is slightly thicker and runs a touch hotter, but ultimately cheaper to produce. In real-world use, the difference shouldn’t be noticeable.

Google Pixel availability can be frustrating, with limited official release regions. For example, the Pixel 7a is officially available in only 21 countries. There’s hope for change, according to the report.

The Pixel 8a shows signs of expansion with electronic warranty labels found for these new regions:

• Czech Republic
• Estonia
• Finland
• Hungary
• Lithuania
• Latvia
• Poland
• Romania
• Slovakia
• Slovenia

While this remains a prediction, a similar listing for the Pixel 8 series proved accurate. So it seems Google is doubling down on its focus of expanding in Europe. Hopefully we see further expansion outside of Europe with the Pixel 9 series or even the Pixel 9a that will presumably launch next year.

The Pixel 8a continues the trend of blurring the lines between the budget-friendly A-series and the flagship Pixels. However, the rumored price bump leaves me wondering what’s Google’s end goal? You can grab a Pixel 8 for as low as $499 right now. So if Google starts selling the Pixel 8a at $549 (rumored price), I’m not sure if it’ll be a logical purchase. Anyway, what are your thoughts on the Pixel 8a now that we have the potential specifications of the phone in front of us? Let us know in the comments below!

Featured image credits: OnLeaks / Smartprix