{"id":512006,"date":"2026-04-04T05:46:23","date_gmt":"2026-04-04T05:46:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/512006\/"},"modified":"2026-04-04T05:46:23","modified_gmt":"2026-04-04T05:46:23","slug":"why-the-339-pixel-8a-is-the-only-cheap-pixel-id-buy-in-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/512006\/","title":{"rendered":"Why the $339 Pixel 8a is the only cheap Pixel I\u2019d buy in 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img class=\"e_Wg\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"eager\"  title=\"Google Pixel 8a buttons\"  alt=\"Google Pixel 8a buttons\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Google-Pixel-8a-buttons.jpg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Ryan Haines \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n<p>Consumer electronics are getting more expensive. From PCs to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.androidauthority.com\/samsung-galaxy-s26-series-more-expensive-3643406\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">smartphones<\/a> to <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.playstation.com\/2026\/03\/27\/new-price-changes-for-ps5-ps5-pro-and-playstation-portal-remote-player\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">game consoles<\/a>, AI-induced component shortages have us all paying more for tech, and with global events once again constraining supply chains, the cost of those goods doesn\u2019t seem likely to come down soon.<\/p>\n<p>Given the givens, you might be looking to save a buck on your next phone. In that case, I\u2019ve got a recommendation for you: consider picking up a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.androidauthority.com\/google-pixel-8a-refurbs-3653720\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">refurbished Pixel 8a<\/a>. Google\u2019s been selling refurbished Pixel phones for a while now, but the pricing of its secondhand options hasn\u2019t really made a good case for buying a reconditioned phone versus a brand-new one.<\/p>\n<p>That changed this week, when Google announced that you can now grab a Pixel 8a, a midranger that retailed for $499 in 2024, <a href=\"https:\/\/store.google.com\/config\/refurbished_pixel_8a\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">for just $339<\/a>. It\u2019s far and away the best deal in Google\u2019s refurb lineup \u2014 so much so, I wouldn\u2019t buy any other renewed Pixel phone right now.<\/p>\n<p>Which of Google&#8217;s Certified Refurbished Pixel phones is the best deal?<\/p>\n<p>126 votes<\/p>\n<p>Pixel 8a \u2014 $339<\/p>\n<p>55%<\/p>\n<p>Pixel 8 \u2014 $459<\/p>\n<p>14%<\/p>\n<p>Pixel 8 Pro \u2014 $649<\/p>\n<p>13%<\/p>\n<p>Pixel 7a \u2014 $289<\/p>\n<p>6%<\/p>\n<p>Pixel 7 \u2014 $329<\/p>\n<p>8%<\/p>\n<p>Pixel 7 Pro \u2014 $499<\/p>\n<p>4%<\/p>\n<p>Google\u2019s other refurbs are questionable bargains<\/p>\n<p><img class=\"e_Wg\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"  title=\"Google Pixel 8a vs Google Pixel 7a cameras close\"  alt=\"Google Pixel 8a vs Google Pixel 7a cameras close\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Google-Pixel-8a-vs-Google-Pixel-7a-cameras-close.jpg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Ryan Haines \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n<p>You can choose from six Certified Refurbished Pixel phones today: the Pixel 8a, 8, 8 Pro, 7a, 7, and 7 Pro. The 8a actually comes with the smallest discount versus its initial retail price at $160 off. The Pixel 7 Pro, meanwhile, is almost half off its launch price at $499, and both the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7a are less expensive than the 8a is.<\/p>\n<p>So the Pixel 7 series looks like a bargain at a glance, but those phones are all getting pretty long in the tooth. Released in 2022, the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro are only guaranteed five years of software updates, with Android version upgrades and security patches both stopping as soon as October of next year. The Pixel 7a, released a few months later, will get updates into 2028.<\/p>\n<p>The Pixel 8a has most of what makes the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro good phones.<\/p>\n<p>That might work for you if you intend to upgrade again soon, but the Pixel 8a was Google\u2019s first midrange phone to benefit from the company\u2019s modern update policy: it\u2019s guaranteed seven years of OS and security updates from launch, a timeline that\u2019ll keep its software current into the next decade.<\/p>\n<p>The Pixel 8 and 8 Pro are also guaranteed seven years of software support, and being flagship phones, they\u2019re naturally both a cut above the derivative, budget-minded 8a. The 8 Pro, in particular, comes with a large display (if you\u2019re into that) and a telephoto camera, two things you won\u2019t get with the 8a.<\/p>\n<p>But the Pixel 8a has most of what makes its more expensive cousins good phones: the same Tensor G3 chipset, the same 8GB of RAM, and a 1080p, 120Hz OLED display very similar to the Pixel 8\u2019s. The pricier Pixel 8 has a glass back rather than plastic, charges a bit more quickly, and offers some minor camera advantages. But having used both, the edge the Pixel 8 has over the 8a doesn\u2019t justify its $459 refurbished price tag to me \u2014 that\u2019s $120 more expensive than the Pixel 8a.<\/p>\n<p>The Pixel 8a is looking great at $339<\/p>\n<p><img class=\"e_Wg\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"  title=\"Pixel 8a Porcelain back cover 2\"  alt=\"Pixel 8a Porcelain back cover 2\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Pixel_8a_Porcelain_back_cover-2-scaled.jpg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Adamya Sharma \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n<p>The Pixel 8a can\u2019t quite go toe-to-toe with the latest flagships, but it\u2019s got ample horsepower for everyday smartphone tasks like communication, web browsing, and light gaming. At its $339 refurb price, I even think it compares pretty favorably to Google\u2019s current-generation midrange offering, the $499 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.androidauthority.com\/google-pixel-10a-review-3646672\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Pixel 10a<\/a>. The newer phone\u2019s got a beefier Tensor G4 chipset, but it\u2019s still rocking a 1080p display, 8GB RAM, and similar camera hardware.<\/p>\n<p>The refurbished Pixel 8a is the midrange deal to beat right now.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re after a decent new phone and you don\u2019t want to spend a fortune to get it, the refurbished Pixel 8a is a great deal at $339: it\u2019s snappy, it takes very good photos for the price, and if you\u2019re careful with it, it could last you into 2031. Plus, it comes in a lovely blue color. Google\u2019s refurbished phones also come with a one-year warranty, something you won\u2019t get with most third-party secondhand devices.<\/p>\n<p>For my money, the refurbished Pixel 8a is the Android deal to beat right now.<\/p>\n<p> Don\u2019t want to miss the best from Android Authority?<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/andauth.co\/AAGooglePreferredSource\" class=\"e_Dn\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer nofollow noopener\"><img class=\"e_Wg\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"  title=\"google preferred source badge light@2x\"  alt=\"google preferred source badge light@2x\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1768240152_738_google_preferred_source_badge_light@2x.png\"\/><img class=\"e_Wg\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"  title=\"google preferred source badge dark@2x\"  alt=\"google preferred source badge dark@2x\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1768240152_238_google_preferred_source_badge_dark@2x.png\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Thank you for being part of our community. Read our\u00a0<a class=\"c-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.androidauthority.com\/android-authority-comment-policy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" data-stringify-link=\"https:\/\/www.androidauthority.com\/android-authority-comment-policy\/\" data-sk=\"tooltip_parent\">Comment Policy<\/a> before posting.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Ryan Haines \/ Android Authority Consumer electronics are getting more expensive. From PCs to smartphones to game consoles,&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":512007,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[844,2305,179128,2306,86,56,54,55],"class_list":{"0":"post-512006","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-mobile","8":"tag-google","9":"tag-google-pixel","10":"tag-google-pixel-8a","11":"tag-mobile","12":"tag-technology","13":"tag-uk","14":"tag-united-kingdom","15":"tag-unitedkingdom"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/512006","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=512006"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/512006\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/512007"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=512006"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=512006"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=512006"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}