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

Consumer electronics are getting more expensive. From PCs to smartphones to game consoles, 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’t seem likely to come down soon.

Given the givens, you might be looking to save a buck on your next phone. In that case, I’ve got a recommendation for you: consider picking up a refurbished Pixel 8a. Google’s been selling refurbished Pixel phones for a while now, but the pricing of its secondhand options hasn’t really made a good case for buying a reconditioned phone versus a brand-new one.

That changed this week, when Google announced that you can now grab a Pixel 8a, a midranger that retailed for $499 in 2024, for just $339. It’s far and away the best deal in Google’s refurb lineup — so much so, I wouldn’t buy any other renewed Pixel phone right now.

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.

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.

That might work for you if you intend to upgrade again soon, but the Pixel 8a was Google’s first midrange phone to benefit from the company’s modern update policy: it’s guaranteed seven years of OS and security updates from launch, a timeline that’ll keep its software current into the next decade.

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

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’s. 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’t justify its $459 refurbished price tag to me — that’s $120 more expensive than the Pixel 8a.

The Pixel 8a can’t quite go toe-to-toe with the latest flagships, but it’s 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’s current-generation midrange offering, the $499 Pixel 10a. The newer phone’s got a beefier Tensor G4 chipset, but it’s still rocking a 1080p display, 8GB RAM, and similar camera hardware.

If you’re after a decent new phone and you don’t want to spend a fortune to get it, the refurbished Pixel 8a is a great deal at $339: it’s snappy, it takes very good photos for the price, and if you’re careful with it, it could last you into 2031. Plus, it comes in a lovely blue color. Google’s refurbished phones also come with a one-year warranty, something you won’t get with most third-party secondhand devices.

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