Google Pixel 8a vs Sony Xperia 1 VIII
Compare Google Pixel 8a vs Sony Xperia 1 VIII side by side: Google Tensor G3 vs Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2, 64MP vs 50MP camera, 4492mAh vs 5500mAh…
Pixel 8a
$499
5categories won
Sony
Xperia 1 VIII
$1,449
11categories won
2 categories tied · 18 scored in total · add a third phone
Which one wins?
Sony Xperia 1 VIII takes the overall win
The Sony Xperia 1 VIII proves superior overall against the Google Pixel 8a, outperforming on gaming and photography. In camera testing, the Xperia 1 VIII leads with superior optics, while battery endurance leans towards the Xperia 1 VIII. Choose the Xperia 1 VIII if you want the highest performance ceiling, or opt for the Pixel 8a if its lower retail price better fit your budget.
Xperia 1 VIII takes battery honors offering 5,500 mAh alongside 45W charging.
Xperia 1 VIII provides greater sustained gaming output with its Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 and 16GB RAM.
Xperia 1 VIII takes photography with 50MP optics and 7.1x optical telephoto capabilities.
Pixel 8a provides a sharper value proposition, coming in at $499 vs $1449.
Category verdicts are computed algorithmically from verified technical specifications and hardware benchmarks. Rows where neither figure is objectively better — screen size preference, operating system choice, aesthetic build materials — are displayed for direct reference without scoring bias.
Pixel 8a vs Xperia 1 VIII: specifications compared
Display
| Specification | Pixel 8a | Xperia 1 VIII |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 6.1" | 6.5" |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400Winner | 1080 x 2340 |
| Pixel density | 431 ppi | — |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz |
| Peak brightness | 2000 nits | 2800 nitsWinner |
Performance
| Specification | Pixel 8a | Xperia 1 VIII |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Google Tensor G3 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 |
| Process node | 4 nm | 3 nmWinner |
| AnTuTu score | 1,050,000 | — |
| Geekbench multi | 4310 | — |
| Maximum RAM | 8 GB | 16 GBWinner |
| Maximum storage | 256GB | 512GBWinner |
Camera
| Specification | Pixel 8a | Xperia 1 VIII |
|---|---|---|
| Main sensor | 64 MPWinner | 50 MP |
| Rear cameras | 2 | 3Winner |
| Optical zoom | — | 7.1x |
| Ultrawide | 13 MP | 48 MPWinner |
| Selfie camera | 13 MP | 24 MPWinner |
| Max video | 4K at 60fps | — |
Battery and charging
| Specification | Pixel 8a | Xperia 1 VIII |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 4,492 mAh | 5,500 mAhWinner |
| Wired charging | 18 W | 45 WWinner |
| Wireless charging | 7.5 W | 20 WWinner |
Design
| Specification | Pixel 8a | Xperia 1 VIII |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 188 g | 192 g |
| Thickness | 8.9 mm | 8.2 mmWinner |
| Water resistance | IP67 | IP68 |
| Build | Matte aluminum frame, Corning Gorilla Glass 3 front, matte composite plastic back | — |
Software and support
| Specification | Pixel 8a | Xperia 1 VIII |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Android 14 | Android 16 |
| OS updates | 7 yearsWinner | 4 years |
| Security updates | 8 yearsWinner | 5 years |
Connectivity and value
| Specification | Pixel 8a | Xperia 1 VIII |
|---|---|---|
| 5G | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Storage expansion | None | None |
| 3.5mm jack | No | Yes |
| Launch price | $499Winner | $1,449 |
Google Pixel 8a
The Google Pixel 8a brings flagship Tensor G3 silicon, a 120Hz 2000-nit Actua OLED display, AI photo editing suite, and 7 years of full OS updates to the sub-$500 category.
- Display
- 6.1"
- Chipset
- Google Tensor G3
- Main camera
- 64MP
- Battery
- 4,492mAh
Sony Xperia 1 VIII
The Xperia 1 VIII builds on Sony cinematic heritage with continuous physical optical zoom from 85mm to 170mm, 4K LTPO OLED panel with Bravia AI remastering, and zero AI overprocessing.
- Display
- 6.5"
- Chipset
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2
- Main camera
- 50MP
- Battery
- 5,500mAh