Google is making further strides in the global expansion of its Pixel smartphone series. The upcoming release of the Pixel 8a, expected to be announced at Google I/O 2024, is slated to expand market availability of the series to 10 new European countries. This will give consumers in the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia direct access to purchase the Pixel 8a officially through Google or partner retailers.
This shows Google’s growing commitment to making the Pixel brand more globally accessible. While Google expanded the availability of the Pixel 8 to 4 new markets at launch, the addition of these European countries marks a significant step forward. This could also suggest Google’s recent marketing efforts in parts of Europe, especially with popular teams in English football like Arsenal and Liverpool, are likely paying off.
While this latest expansion is focused on Europe, Pixel enthusiasts in other regions will be hopeful that it’s a sign of Google’s ambition to reach even further in the future. Budget-conscious markets in Asia, South America, and Africa would be excellent destinations for a competitively priced Pixel phone. Though there’s no current indication of plans for these regions, Google’s increasing emphasis on global availability for the Pixel is a positive sign.
The Pixel 8a is expected to be a significant upgrade over the Pixel 7a, not only in terms of specs and features, but also pricing. While Google will likely stick with the same screen size and resolution, there’s talk of a 120Hz refresh rate, up from the current 90Hz. The more powerful Tensor G3 chipset used in the premium Pixel 8 will also be on show, but it may not be as fast/powerful due to customization. Like its older siblings, the Pixel 8a is also expected to support offline tracking, a feature that lets you find the phone’s location even when it’s turned off. But all these will potentially come at a higher price tag of $550.
The Pixel 8a will likely be announced on May 14, which is when we get to confirm these pricing and market availability details.
Featured image: Smartprix
Hillary Keverenge
2119 Posts
Tech has been my playground for over a decade. While the Android journey began early, it truly took flight with the revolutionary Lollipop update. Since then, it's been a parade of Android devices (with a sprinkle of iOS), culminating in a mostly happy marriage with Google's smart home ecosystem. Expect insightful articles and explorations of the ever-evolving world of Android and Google products coupled with occasional rants on the Nest smart home ecosystem.
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