Google is expected to launch their new Pixel 8a smartphone soon. The handset will most likely be announced at I/O 2024. For those unfamiliar, Google’s Pixel A series of phones represents a slightly cheaper version of their flagship Pixel handsets. It does compromise on certain aspects, but it is a cheaper alternative if you still want the most optimized Google/Android experience.
That being said, with the Pixel 8a launching soon, will the handset have what it takes to be a hit for Google? We know that past Pixel A series phones have been quite well-received, so what will Google have to do to ensure the continuity of their success?
Price
Unfortunately over the years, Google has steadily raised the prices of its phones. We understand that in today’s economy, companies need to raise prices in order to maintain their profits and revenue. The downside is that this will make Google’s Pixel A smartphones less of a value proposition than before.
Google raised the price of the Pixel 7a last year. The rumors are claiming that the company might do it again for the Pixel 8a this year, which we think will be a bad move. Even a bump up in price of $50 would push the phone closer to the higher-end side of the market, alienating potential customers further.
Google needs to at the very least maintain the price. We doubt that Google will drop the price since that’s almost never practiced by companies, so maintaining it should be the least they can do.
Increase the value proposition
If Google does indeed raise the price, they will need to justify it by increasing the value proposition of the phone. For example, with the Pixel 7a, Google only used a dual camera setup versus the Pixel 7 Pro which had a triple camera setup. They also opted to go with a smaller display compared to the base Pixel 7 model.
They also opted to use 8GB of base RAM whereas the Pixel 7 Pro went up to 12GB for some configurations. For the Pixel 8a, Google should consider at least bumping up the RAM to justify the potential increase in price. An upgrade in battery size or charging speeds could also provide customers with another reason to purchase the phone. An upgrade to the display refresh rate might also be a good idea.
Keep the software the same
Google has actually done a good job in this space. Both the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7a phones have near-identical software. There are some features that are missing from the Pixel 7a compared to the Pixel 7. For example, the Pixel 7a does not have spatial audio while the Pixel 7 does.
The Pixel 7 also comes with an Action Pan camera feature that the Pixel 7a does not. If the Pixel 8a is really going to be powered by the same Tensor G3 found in the Pixel 8 series, we don’t see why Google can’t offer the same software experience out of the box. Maybe bridging the gap could make the Pixel 8a a more attractive alternative for those who might want a smaller phone but still have an identical flagship experience.
Conclusion
Price will still be the driving factor behind the reason why customers might end up rejecting the Pixel 8a and choose to go with the Pixel 8 or spend more to upgrade to the Pixel 8 Pro. Perhaps the Pixel 8a should no longer be seen as a “cheaper” version of Google’s flagship phones. Instead, perhaps viewing it as being the “base” model of the Pixel 8 series could reframe it in a better way.