We’ve been big fans of the Pixel series over the years but there are a few reasons why I might struggle to recommend the Pixel 8a.

As someone who tests phones for a living, I get a lot of friends and family (and random people) ask me what phone they should buy. A Google Pixel is often on the shortlist, especially the ‘a’ series models for the value for money they provide.

The Pixel 8a has arrived as expected, but there are a number of red flags that I’ve spotted that make me concerned about this year’s mid-range handset.

Pass me my sunglasses

Let’s talk about the colours to start and of course, this is subjective, but I’m personally not a fan of this selection of colourways – not at all.

Black (Obsidian) is boring, though I will often opt for it to avoid less appealing options, and I’ve always disliked white technology products. This is ‘Porcelain’ but it’s still boring.

The interesting 8a colours are Bay and Aloe. They’re a sight to behold… just not in a good way. The blue (Bay) is similar to the Pixel 8 Pro and is somewhat insipid, while the Aloe green physically hurts my eyes.

I would personally be quite happy if Google just carried on offering the gorgeous Sage colour from the Pixel 6a every year.

Capacity conundrum

While it’s good news that Google is offering the Pixel 8a in a larger 256GB capacity option for those who want it, there’s a problem.

This model will only be available in Obsidian black. Bad news if you do happen to love that shocking green colour but want more storage space.

A pretty penny

Google is not obliged to keep the price the same as the Pixel 7a, but price rises feel all the more jarring these days with the economic situation – including the cost of living crisis.

This year, you’ll have to pay £50 more for the Pixel 8a compared with its predecessor at launch in the UK. However, its $499 starting price in the US is identical to last year.

Of course, the newer model comes with advancements over the 7a but that model now being even more affordable than when it first launched (just £329/$349 at the time of writing) makes it hard not to recommend saving the money.

Granted, the Pixel 8a comes with Google’s impressive seven years of software updates promise but the 7a is still good to go for years to come with its five-year (from launch) support.

I haven’t got all day

This is no surprise and something we bang on about in many phone reviews, but Google (and Samsung) just isn’t keeping up with the latest charging speeds.

The wired speed remains at 18W and Google doesn’t supply a charger so you’ll have to factor that in, though I’m not complaining about the environmental benefit to this. It’s not the slowest speed around but when you compare it to the wider market it’s decidedly sluggish.

Rivals such as the Nothing Phone (2), OnePlus Nord 3 and Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro+ offer 45-, 80- and 120W respectively.

When battery life tends to be similar across the board, topping up quickly becomes a big differentiator.

Will it still be a good buy?

Of course, I am somewhat playing devil’s advocate here and highlighting the negative points about the 8a which are more plentiful than usual for Google’s mid-range handsets.

However, there is a lot to like about the phone, including the fact it has the latest Tensor G3 chip from the Pixel 8 range, a brighter screen that’s been bumped to a 120Hz refresh rate, a more durable and eco-friendly design, the inclusion of Gemini Nano AI and what Google calls the “best camera under $500”.

I’m expecting a sample to arrive any day now so look out for the full Pixel 8a review for our final verdict soon. It may still be good enough to replace the Pixel 7a as the best mid-range phone you can buy.