Everyone loves a bargain, and it’s hard to argue that the Google Pixel 8a is anything but. With a flagship processor and one of the best phone cameras around, the $499 smartphone has the specs to make it a steal. But Google hasn’t just crammed great hardware into the phone, it’s also got one of the cleanest implementations of Android 14, all of Google’s current AI roster, and a whopping seven years of software updates to boot. It’s a budget phone that can go the distance, and we’re happy to recommend it.
But it’s not perfect. The battery is a little weak, as is its charging capacity – and the less said about the cheap plastic body, the better. So while this is a powerful phone, there are a number of alternatives that could take your eyes off Google’s latest mid-range phone.
Here are five phones you should buy instead of the Google Pixel 8a.
Google Pixel 8
For your first alternative, look no further than Google’s own stable. The Google Pixel 8 is $200 more expensive than the Pixel 8a, which means it’s not a massive price jump compared to Google’s mid-range phone. But that only depends on whether it offers more of what you love. So yes? While the Pixel 8 has some weaknesses and similarities to the Pixel 8a, there are areas where it’s significantly stronger, and those might be enough to make you spend the extra money.
It’s fair to say that both devices have a lot in common. They are similar in size, with the Pixel 8a being slightly larger with a smaller display. The Pixel 8 has thinner bezels, but it’s not a big difference. Both also have a Tensor G3 processor under the hood, and both have 8GB of RAM and either 128GB or 256GB of storage.
But the phones are starting to diverge in other areas of design. The Pixel 8’s metal and glass body puts the cheap plastic on the Pixel 8a to shame, which makes a big difference when you handle the phone on a daily basis. The Pixel 8’s battery is also much stronger than the Pixel 8a’s. A more expensive phone lasts two days on a single charge, while a mid-range phone only lasts one day. The Pixel 8a’s 18W fast charging pales in comparison to the Pixel 8’s 27W charging.
Camera power is a hallmark of the Pixel range, so how does the Pixel 8a fare in this regard? Pretty good as it turns out. The two phones have different specs for their lenses, but both have a prime lens and an ultra-wide lens and seem to deliver similar performance. The Pixel 8a struggles a little more in bright light, but the Pixel 8’s ultra-wide lens is a little disappointing, so it makes up for it.
Where does that leave us? With a very strong alternative. The Pixel 8 shares much of what makes the Pixel 8a so strong, including superior software, AI magic, seven years of updates, and flagship specs and cameras. But it also adds a much stronger battery, a sleeker design, and a much, much nicer body. If you can stretch to $200 more, then the Pixel 8 is worth considering – and even if you can’t afford it, keep an eye out for deep discounts during sales.
OnePlus 12R
The Google Pixel 8a is notable in the mid-range space thanks to its flagship specs, but it’s not the only such smartphone in the space. The OnePlus 12R lives up to the brand’s flagship killer reputation by offering hardware that rivals high-end flagships while keeping the price at $500. As a result, it is one of the strongest alternatives to the Pixel 8a.
The specs are the main reason to buy this phone and they are as impressive as you would expect. At the top of the list is the flagship processor, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. It’s last year’s chip, yes, but it’s still incredibly powerful – faster than the Tensor G3 and without the overheating issues that plague Google’s chips. This is joined by up to 16GB of RAM and up to 256GB of storage, which are truly flagship by standards. It also has a beautiful display. It’s deep and vivid and matches the Pixel 8a’s 120Hz refresh rate. However, it is much larger at 6.78 inches, which may be a problem if you have smaller hands.
The battery is another big advantage over the Pixel 8a. It’s usually a two-day affair, with even heavy use taking a day and a half. Even better, charging is incredibly fast. The US model doesn’t get 100W charging, but it still gets 80W, leaving the 18W Pixel 8a in the dust.
The 12R’s triple-lens setup is no match for the Pixel 8a’s camera, and while the 50MP main lens is fine most of the time, it struggles with movement. And the ultra-wide and macro lenses are pretty terrible. Also keep in mind that OnePlus is largely known for pushing big spec numbers, and that means there’s little room in the budget for anything else. As a result, you won’t find anything particularly special like the Pixel’s AI features.
The OnePlus 12R is a very strong alternative to the Pixel 8a, but it’s very much a choice for a specific type of person. If you want a large and powerful smartphone, perhaps for gaming, then the OnePlus 12R is a great way to get it for $500. But if you love a good camera and are interested in the future of artificial intelligence and what it can do for smartphones, then the Google Pixel 8a is the way to go.
Samsung Galaxy A35
The Samsung Galaxy A35 is in many ways the closest to the Pixel 8a when it comes to alternatives. Love the Pixel’s value, lightweight design, and gorgeous display? The Galaxy A35 has these features as well, and at first glance it’s difficult to choose between the two devices. However, there are some key differences and the central point is the attractive price.
But we won’t dive into the price just yet, because you need to know what the differences are before the price comes into play. Let’s start with the specs, and this is where the Pixel has the edge. The Galaxy A35 uses an Exynos 1380 processor, Samsung’s own mid-range chip, and it’s a good performer. Will it match a flagship chip like the Tensor G3? Definitely not, but it holds up well regardless. If you’re willing to put up with a very slightly slower response, you’ll be fine.
The A35 has a plastic body, like the Pixel 8a, but unlike the Pixel, it feels great in the hand. It looks like metal from a distance, and the flat edges give it a modern style that we really like. The display is also beautiful. It’s a 6.6-inch Super AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate and looks amazing. It does achieve 1,000 nits of brightness, which is half of the Pixel’s 2,000 nits, but that’s easy to forgive.
The camera is a three-lens affair – a main camera, an ultra-wide camera and a macro camera – and it’s pretty good. It’s no match for the Pixel 8a, but it takes good-looking, fun photos, and you’ll rarely be disappointed with its results. However, the battery is a bit of a disappointment as it drains in just a day where we’ve seen previous A-series phones achieve two days on a single charge. Charging is also on the weak side. Still, 30W is faster than the Pixel’s 18W.
The Samsung Galaxy A35 is quite similar to the Pixel 8a in many ways, and both phones share strengths and weaknesses, but differ in one key area: price. The Galaxy A35 starts at $400, a full $100 less than the Pixel 8a. That’s a lot less, especially at this end of the market, and given how similar the two are, the A35 is a strong contender for your pocket.
Moto G Stylus 5G (2024)
Not many phones have what this Motorola phone has: a built-in stylus. But that’s not the only reason to buy the Moto G Stylus 5G (2024). No, Motorola’s $400 phone is a pretty great smartphone regardless, and a solid competitor to the Google Pixel 8a — if you’re willing to accept some downsides, of course.
We’ll start with the most glaring of these weaknesses — the camera. Motorola has often struggled with cameras on cheaper phones, and while the Stylus isn’t a complete failure, it’s a step down from the Pixel 8a. The 50MP main lens takes very solid photos during the day, but it struggles to produce anything good outside of optimal lighting conditions. Put it up against the Pixel 8a and it’s clear that Google still has the upper hand.
Still here? Okay, let’s talk about what the Moto G Stylus does well. Despite being a $400 smartphone, it doesn’t skimp on a solid display. It’s a 6.7-inch OLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, 1080p resolution and a selfie camera hole. Performance is also good, and while the Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 can’t keep up with the Tensor G3 in terms of raw performance, it still delivers a powerful and smooth experience. Oh, and it has a stylus. It doesn’t have any fancy features like the Samsung S Pen or the Apple Pencil, but it works well enough when it comes to sketching, drawing and taking notes.
The battery lasts easily for two days, another huge bonus. And thanks to its 30W charging speed, it charges faster than the Pixel 8a. But there’s one more downside, and it’s a big one: it only gets one software update. Yes, one. While the Pixel 8a gets seven updates, the Moto G Stylus gets one update to Android 15 and nothing else. This is another big reason not to buy this phone, and it’s an ongoing problem with Motorola as a whole.
Still, if software updates aren’t a big deal to you, then the Moto G Stylus is a great way to save $100 over the Pixel 8a. The mediocre camera means it’s a less enticing package than some other phones, but if the stylus is a big draw for you, then it’s worth considering.
Nothing Phone 2
It’s easy to forget that Nothing exists, but you really shouldn’t. The Nothing Phone 2 is a very good smartphone, and at $599, it’s a very solid competitor in the Pixel 8a space. It’s a strong all-rounder with only a few minor weaknesses and one very cool trick in the Glyph lighting system on the back.
We called the Glyph lighting a gimmick, and it is, but don’t take that to mean that it’s not also a genuinely useful addition to the phone. Individual parts of the Glyph light up to correspond to timers, show how far your Uber ride is, or perform a variety of other functions. It can be used as a camera flash or flashlight and is a useful way to see if you have a notification when the phone is placed face down. Don’t write it off as a gimmick, because it absolutely isn’t.
Performance is brisk thanks to the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, which is still very fast despite being several years old. The display is a 1080p 6.7-inch OLED panel with a dynamic refresh rate of 120Hz, and it looks amazing. Expect to get a day and a half on a single charge, with two days possible with very light use. There’s not much chance you’ll drain that battery in a single day if you don’t really trying Charging is a respectable 45W, which is much better than the Pixel 8a.
What’s the catch? The camera isn’t as good as the rest of the phone and struggles with low-light shots. Put it up against the Pixel 8a and it’s no contest. The Nic Phone 2 also only has an IP54 rating for dust and water resistance, which isn’t great, especially compared to the Pixel 8a’s IP67 rating.
But those are some relatively minor points if you’re not a big fan of the camera. The Nothing Phone 2 costs just $100 more than the Pixel 8a and features the Glyph lighting system, a fast flagship processor, and excellent battery and charging speeds. If you can live with a slightly crappy low-light camera (and remember you’ve got the mother of all flashes on the back of your phone anyway), then the Nothing Phone 2 is a very tempting competitor.
Editor’s recommendation