First Update for Pixel 8a: New AI Features That Match the Pixel 8 Flagship Series

Yesterday, Google surprised everyone by releasing the mid-range Pixel 8a ahead of the scheduled Google I/O developers conference on May 14. The Pixel 8a features a 6.1-inch OLED display protected by Gorilla Glass 3, boasting an FHD+ resolution (1080 x 2400) and a refresh rate of up to 120Hz, with a peak brightness of 2000 nits.

Under the hood, it is powered by the Google Tensor G3 chipset, accompanied by 8GB of RAM and storage options of 128GB or 256GB using UFS 3.1 technology.

In terms of photography, the Pixel 8a is equipped with a 64MP main camera and a 13MP ultra-wide camera on the back, along with a 13MP front camera. It comes with a 4492mAh battery, ensuring excellent battery life. Additionally, the Pixel 8a includes the same advanced Google AI features found in the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, such as an AI wallpaper generator that creates personalized wallpapers based on keywords and themes.

Since wallpaper generation requires significant computational power, this feature will operate on Google's cloud servers, making it accessible to Pixel 8a users. According to reports, the upcoming software update (UD2A.240505.001.B1) will provide the Pixel 8a with the May 2024 security update and the AI wallpaper generation feature.

Once the update is live, users can easily access the AI wallpaper generation feature by tapping on a blank area of the screen. To do this, navigate to "Wallpaper and Style," select "More Wallpapers," and choose "AI Wallpaper" at the top of the screen.

The 128GB Pixel 8a will launch on May 14, priced at $499, or available for 24 monthly payments of $20.79. The 256GB model, offered only in Obsidian color, will retail for $559, or 24 monthly payments of $23.29. The 128GB version will be available in several colors, including Aloe, Bay, Obsidian, and Porcelain.