Pixel 8a

For context, I'm a long-time iPhone user, who switched to a Pixel 8a about 18 months ago. [...] It may be my choice of reading material (HN), but I receive almost daily confirmation that this was a sound decision. [...] As a side note, my iPad (my sole remaining Apple device) quietly updated to iOS 26 a few days ago. [...]

pixel I do not use a case I have a Pixel 8a, and I have to use a case for it, because it appears to be designed to be as slippery as possible. Every edge is round and there's nothing to grip - it feels like an aluminium/glass bar of wet soap.

I used it for a few months after buying a Nitrophone but it was pwned with the same ease as regular Android, in days. So I just use it as a regular Pixel 8a now. Wish I went for Qubes instead maybe then I would've had more luck.

[...] I feel like im just constantly fighting the ios keyboard or having to type so slowly and carefully but it still is screwing up. I have a pixel 8a and Im shocked how quickly I can type on it while constantly tip toeing and fighting the ios keyboard. [...] Im constantly fighting the ios keyboard. [...] i got a pixel 8a just to amuse myself and i was again totally surprised how fast and easy the typing was. [...] even controlling when the keyboard appears and when you want it to go away is frustrating on ios. [...]

[...] I found that Fossify Launcher beta (from F-Droid) works well enough for me on my Pixel 8a. [...] My main goal was to have one like my older Android and not be forced to have a search bar or assistant triggers on my home screen. All I need from the home screen is to be able to place basic widgets like clock and calendar and shortcuts for the basic apps I use frequently. [...]

[...] My current Pixel 8a on Android 15 regularly has the underlying UI controls (separate from the launcher) crash and force me to restart if I want to use the app overview switcher since day 1. I also have no app overview button in the stock Android calculator since Android 14, the shipped OS, so if I want to switch between a calculation and another app I must first return to the home screen. [...] This product passed multiple reviews and 2 major OS releases with these (and many other) obvious and irritating bugs and shows no signs of improvement. [...] If Purism is shopping for new users, all they would eventually need to do is not get worse at a rate as fast as Android, or more expensive at a rate as fast as iOS devices. Based on what I've seen from them so far...they're not at that point yet: meager specifications, high prices. [...]

I got it all set up and tested out Gemma3 1B on a Pixel 8a. [...] All I asked was how it was small enough to run locally on my phone. [...]

[...] But I don't see a clear advantage of either, except that Android hardware is much more affordable (you can pick up a still pretty-ok Pixel 8a new for 379 Euro here currently) and Android has more customizability (but good out-of-the-box defaults). [...] They are the only Android phones that have reliable monthly updates [1], plus they are the only two brands that are not vague about having a truly separated secure enclave (Titan M2/Knox Vault respectively). [...]

I got a new phone in January, a Pixel 8a, after my previous phone's touch screen died. [...] When I played music over Bluetooth, the new phone would bug out after a few songs and make odd muffled sounds. I would have to reconnect the speaker and restart the app and it would play another song or two before bugging out. [...] Then there was an Android update and the problem went away. [...] Now there's another Android update last week. [...]

My pixel 4a lasted about 3 hours before the update, now its about an hour. Even with the discount in the store, it was cheaper to get the pixel 8a and some cash from a local vendor. The ticket to get the reimbursement went surprisingly fast, still waiting on money though. Yesterday I got my new 8a, installed grapheneos and it works very well! [...] When I tried this on the 4a some years ago, netflix complained about general certificate stuff and casting was broken, microG et al was barely holding on. [...]

About a month ago I needed to replace my phone so I got a Pixel 8a (yes, A!). It's really the best phone I've had in a very long while. Small by modern standards, better camera than the Pixel 6, just about all the features I want, all at a much better price than premium. [...]

I bought a pixel 8a last week, and absolutely love it. [...] I feel like this is the opposite lifestyle of having a cracked iPhone 16 pro.

further adventures in upgrading my phone: i have acquired another refurbished pixel 8a. this one is definitely one of the models that should be able to have its bootloader unlocked, but i cannot, because they seem to have smushed parts from multiple phones together, and now it's disagreeing […]

tried updating to a phone that is not eight generations old i am now returning the updated phone because I got it specifically to switch to grapheneos, but I accidentally got the one sub-model of pixel 8a that doesn't support bootloader unlocking, so I cannot install grapheneos fuck phone […]

Anyone got recommendations for a custom firmware to put on my Pixel 8a? Getting rather sick of some of the shit Google are doing (ie begging me to update to android 17 after it's been like. only a week) I have android 16 currently, and my phone isn't locked since that isn't common in the UK […]

I've been using refurbished Pixels and find them great because its stock android no real bloat. Currently using a pixel 8a, had a pixel 5 and a pixel 1 in the past and they served me well. I'd still be using my pixel 5 if I could but sadly the 4/5g bands aren't activated in NZ.

[...] For some stupid reason, the Omnipod/insulin pump app isn't supported on my Pixel 8a (but is supported on the 8 and 8pro :[ ) So now I have to have another device to carry with me instead of just having an app on my phone. [...]

It took a bajillion years, but I've finally dropped and cracked my phone screen for the first time in my 40+ years on this planet and, my dudes, it's ruining my life. I am not a cracked screen person. [...] Please send thoughts and prayers (and brand new, jailbroken Pixel 8a phones).

[...] So my phone's been sitting around useless for days.🤬 So no repair for me. New Google Pixel 8a is $400 though and should arrive tomorrow.

I got a new phone and I hate it. Google Pixel 8a. [...] I go to open the Keep (notes) app and this stupid AI assist button won't stop FLASHING at me. [...]

From my experience it was quite usable on Pixel 8a, but I did experience problems. For context, I use it mostly for web development. It runs a desktop environment with VNC, so I'm able to connect and run software like a browser. [...] The Terminal app does crash from time to time. It can crash after 15 minutes, but I've also had it running for about 2 hours without issues. [...] I ignore this, because it's a timing issue; the app was slow to start. [...] The battery usage is not too bad. I use an external display and make the phone screen black during this time. The battery gets depleted at a rate between 5% and 20% per hour, but this is only for active usage. [...]

I recently got a Pixel 8a since my Nova 5t died from water damage and I wanted to try GrapheneOS, I wanted a smallish phone with eSIM and it was one of the cheapest phones long term when comparing OS update support length. I still prefer the Nova ergonomics with the fingerprint sensor on the power button and the power button below the volume but aside from that: The notch is not an issue at all, it appeared larger to me in pictures. The camera focus has not died on a motorcycle without vibration damping and the phone itself has not died to rain. The plastic back is also nice since I don't have to worry about it cracking. [...] Battery life is kinda iffy and the slow charging is a bit annoying at times. [...]

[...] I want an adequate one-hand screen size (6"), a headphone jack, and an even camera bump (just so it lies flat on the table). I love the pixel 8a, the size, curvature and camera bump seems ideal. [...] Does anyone know the phone which is small, has a headphone jack, even camera bump and is still buyable to this day?

[...] I want an adequate one-hand screen size (6"), a headphone jack, and an even camera bump (just so it lies flat on the table). I love the pixel 8a, the size, curvature and camera bump seems ideal. [...] Does anyone know the phone which is small, has a headphone jack, even camera bump and is still buyable to this day?

I own a Pixel 8. I've been impressed with it's performance and the general feel of using it over the past months. With Pixel 8a, the gap between A series phones and the non-pro version seems to be diminishing way too fast. They still need to fix the modem issues and thereby increase battery life.

I tried the following workflow with darktable: Take pictures with Open Camera on my Pixel 8a using HDR mode (3 exposures -2EV,0,+2EV) saved as both JPG and RAW). [...] 5 As a result, compare the JPEG produced by Open Camera with the one produced by darktable. [...]

I can’t help with your question sorry. But I am interested that you are doing HDR from CR2 files in DT. When I have tried HDR merges in DT previously I got woeful results and abandoned the idea. I would be interested in seeing a good result. For me I find that with my CR3 files that picking a single exposure that is ETTR without clipping the highlights gives a better result than any HDR merge using DT or any program. HDR for me was important with JPG images but I find less so with RAW. That is why I am interested in the results you are achieving. I hope someone can answer your question for you and welcome to the community.

[...] I used to buy Nexus devices as well as some of the first Pixels, until at some point the prices shot up to ridiculous levels for a phone and I went with other brands. Last year though the Pixel 8a was selling for 350€ and I got one. [...]

Pixel A series (from Pixel 8A) is a non-flagship that will receive 7 years of updates. I bought 1 last year around less than $300.

barely over a year old and i have to charge my phone more than once a day on average the pixel 8a is such a pos

How have you been liking it so far? I got the pixel 8a a year ago and I'm satisfied with the functionality but I wish the battery lasted longer

[...] The text on this blog occupies 1/6 of the screen, 5/6 of white. If i only use half the screen for the broswer, it would be 1/3 and 2/2. [...] If i had to change today i would go again for a Pixel 8A (or a series 10) and graphene. [...]

I usually buy refurbs similarly like I buy 2 year old cars. Currently I can get brand new Pixel 8a on ebay for £250 or similar, and refurbs from "flawless" to mint" conditions for half of it. Still good enough.

I have a pixel 8a with a TIM SIM card and every once in a while I see an ad popup on my phone.

Well i do use banking and netflix on graphene os on my pixel 8a and everything works perfectly

[...] Pixel 8a was my choice, and I did end up paying about $50 more than what would have been the best deal, to make sure that it specifically said it's bootloader unlockable to allow for custom OS installations.

There is also Calyx, which is also a privacy friendly Android distribution. It uses open source versions of Google Services. With my Pixel 8a on Calyx I can use NFC to pay with my Credit Card.

I have probably normal hands, and I feel that the pixel 8a is perfect, and that I could use a bigger one too. You can choose the size of the keyboard, if this worries you.

[...] I've used it infrequently on a Pixel 8A. It's worth noting it only mirrors the screen, there's no extend option or DEX like experience. [...]

Until I purchased a Pixel 8a, I thought the same thing. I discovered that all the newer pant models that I purchased have bigger pockets, so that's not a problem anymore.

Pixel 8a has 8gb ram. [...]

I love having the fingerprint reader behind the screen on my Pixel 8a. It has a clear benefit vs. the back; you can unlock it while it's sitting on the table, without lifting it up.

These days, I would just use a vscode tunnel from Android to develop on a real computer, but edit locally. I've done that with my Pixel 8a connected to external screen and input devices. Works ok.

that annoyed me as well (pixel 8a) but i just switched to my go-to launcher, Nova. I've used it quite a bit over the last years.

[...] Update: Not OP, but I'm on a Pixel 8a with Firefox.

GrapheneOS has only been problematic with Revolut That's odd, did it complain about anything? I use GrapheneOS on my Pixel 8a and Revolut works without any problems for me. It's also on this list of banking applications that have been verified to work on GrapheneOS:

I have a Pixel 8a and there is a built-in feature like this already. If you connect to a protected wifi it give the option to use the camera to read the password off a sign.

I still can't justify spending more than about $500 on a phone when the perfectly good Pixel 8a is available. I'm still using my Pixel 6a and will probably continue until it fails or the battery life gets really bad.

Oh for sure, I'm looking to finally upgrade to a used google pixel 8a once my reserve stock of 4a5gs runs out (I bought another one for 90 bucks and have it stored away for emergencies LMAO)

May I ask what model phone? My phone (Pixel 8a)'s focus at that distance is... Not Great lol