Why the $339 Pixel 8a is the only cheap Pixel I’ll buy in 2026

Home electronics are becoming more expensive. from PC smartphones for game consolesArtificial intelligence-driven component shortages are forcing us all to pay more for the technology, and the cost of these goods doesn’t look set to drop anytime soon as global events constrain supply chains once again.

With data in mind, you might want to save money on your next phone. In this case, I have a recommendation for you: a Refurbished Pixel 8a. Google has been selling refurbished Pixel phones for a while now, but the price of its second-hand options hasn’t made a good case for buying a refurbished phone compared to a new one.

That changed this week, when Google announced that you’ll be able to get the Pixel 8a, a midranger that retails for $499, in 2024. for only $339. This is the best deal in Google’s refurbished lineup — so much so that I wouldn’t buy another refurbished Pixel phone right now.

You can choose from six Certified Refurbished Pixel phones today: Pixel 8a, 8, 8 Pro, 7a, 7 and 7 Pro. The 8a actually comes with the smallest discount at $160 off its original retail price. And at $499, the Pixel 7 Pro is almost half off its retail price, and cheaper than both the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7a 8a.

So the Pixel 7 series looks like a bargain at first glance, but all of these phones are getting pretty long in the tooth. Launching in 2022, the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro are only guaranteed five years of software updates, with Android version upgrades and security patches ending next October. The Pixel 7a, released a few months later, will receive updates until 2028.

That might work for you if you’re looking to upgrade again soon, but the Pixel 8a was Google’s first mid-range phone to benefit from the company’s modern update policy: it’s guaranteed seven years of operating system and security updates, which will keep its software up-to-date for the next decade.

The Pixel 8 and 8 Pro are also guaranteed with seven years of software support, and being flagship phones, naturally both are slightly higher than the derivative, budget-minded 8a. The 8 Pro, in particular, comes with a large display (if you’re that inclined) and a telephoto camera, two things you can’t get with the 8a.

But the Pixel 8a has most of what makes its more expensive cousins ​​a good phone: the same Tensor G3 chipset, the same 8GB of RAM, and a 1080p, 120Hz OLED display that looks a lot like the Pixel 8. The more expensive Pixel 8 has a glass back rather than plastic, charges a little faster, and offers some minor camera advantages. But after using both, the Pixel 8’s advantage over the 8a doesn’t justify its $459 refurbished price tag to me — that’s $120 more than the Pixel 8a.

The Pixel 8a can’t quite match the latest flagships, but it has enough horsepower for everyday smartphone tasks like communication, web browsing, and light gaming. At a repair price of $339, I think it’s pretty affordable with Google’s current-generation mid-range offering at $499. Pixel 10a. The newer phone packs a more powerful Tensor G4 chipset, but it still rocks a 1080p display, 8GB of RAM, and similar camera hardware.

If you’re looking for a decent new phone and don’t want to spend a fortune to get one, the refurbished Pixel 8a is a great deal at $339: it’s fast, takes great photos for the price, and can last you until 2031 if you’re careful with it. Plus, it comes in a beautiful blue color. Google’s refurbished phones also come with a one-year warranty, something you won’t get with third-party second-hand devices.

For my money, the updated Pixel 8a is the Android deal to beat right now.