Smartphones & Tablets | May 4, 2024
Google has published the first advertisement featuring its new Pixel phone ahead of time, and its features have also been leaked.
The launch of the Pixel 8a is just around the corner; we know this not only because of the large number of unofficial leaks but also because Google itself has let it slip on a couple of occasions.
For example, that time when a Google engineer confirmed that a new feature would be exclusive to the Pixel 8a and later models, angering Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro users. And now, the company has made another mistake by using the new device in an advertising campaign ahead of schedule.
The ad briefly appeared on YouTube, where some users were able to see it and take a screenshot; at the time of writing these words, it seems that the marketing department has realized the mistake and has removed the ad, but it was too late.
Interestingly, the ad was not for the mobile phone but for Google Fi Wireless, the internet service that Google offers in some cities in the United States. But what should interest us is that the mobile used in the ad is a Pixel 8a.
We know that the mobile in the picture is a Pixel 8a because it does not match any of the known models. Although it looks a lot like the conventional Pixel 8, an important clue is that this mobile does not have the microphone hole in the same place; on the Pixel 8, right next to the flash, there is a small point where the microphone is housed, which is not present on this device (presumably, it would be located elsewhere).
But perhaps the best indicator that this is not a current model is in the colors and textures of the two models shown. The two mobiles that appear in the ad use colors that are not available for the basic Pixel 8 and are exclusive to the Pixel 8 Pro; but we know it is not that model because of the camera setup with only two sensors. In addition, these devices seem to have a matte finish, while the Pixel 8 has a glossy finish on the back.
Shortly after this image was published, the technical details of the Pixel 8a were leaked on X (Twitter). Some of the technical features were already known, such as the use of the same Tensor G3 processor as the Pixel 8, and a 6.1-inch OLED screen at 120 Hz.
Perhaps the most striking detail is the battery, which would have a capacity of 4,500 mAh and compatibility with fast charging of 27 W; both aspects would be improved compared to last year’s model.
