2026 comparison

Updated Jan 7, 2026

|Sources: Amazon, Manufacturer

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL vs Google Pixel 8a

In real-world usage, this means you'll easily get through a weekend without worrying about a power outlet. .

📱 Display: 6.8" vs 6.1"🔋 Battery: 5060 mAh vs 4492 mAh⚖️ Weight: 7.80 oz vs 6.63 oz

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL

★4.4

(986)•Amazon

Operating System:Android

Software Support:7 years of OS, security, and Pixel Drop updates

Processor:Google Tensor G4

Graphics:Arm Mali-G715 MC7

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Google Pixel 8a

★4.4

(1,570)•Amazon

Operating System:Android

Software Support:7 years of OS, security, and Feature Drop updates

Processor:Google Tensor G3

Graphics:Arm Immortalis-G715s MC10

Check Amazon Price→

Key spec differences

Only the specs that differ are shown here. Winners are highlighted when the data is clear.

Winner= clear advantage

Spec

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL

Google Pixel 8a

Display2 specs

Display SizeKey

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL

6.8" (measured diagonally; actual viewable area is less)Winner

Google Pixel 8a

6.1" (measured diagonally; actual viewable area is less)

Refresh Rate

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL

1–120Hz (Adaptive)

Google Pixel 8a

60–120Hz (Smooth Display)

Performance3 specs

ProcessorKey

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL

Google Tensor G4

Google Pixel 8a

Google Tensor G3

RAMKey

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL

16GB LPDDR5XWinner

Google Pixel 8a

8GB LPDDR5X

Storage

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL

128GB / 256GB / 512GB / 1TB (UFS 3.1)

Google Pixel 8a

128GB / 256GB (UFS 3.1)

Camera2 specs

Main CameraKey

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL

50MP Wide (f/1.68, 82° FOV), Octa PD AF, OIS

Google Pixel 8a

64MP Wide (f/1.89, 80° FOV, 1/1.73"), Quad PD AF, OISWinner

Ultra-Wide Camera

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL

48MP Ultra-Wide (f/1.7, 123° FOV) with Macro Focus

Google Pixel 8a

13MP Ultra-Wide (f/2.2, 120° FOV)

Battery2 specs

Battery CapacityKey

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL

5,060 mAh (Typical)Winner

Google Pixel 8a

4,492 mAh (Typical)

Wireless Charging

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL

Up to 23W (Pixel Stand 2nd Gen); up to 12W (Qi certified); Battery Share

Google Pixel 8a

Qi Wireless Charging (7.5W)

Design2 specs

Weight

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL

7.80 oz (221 g)

Google Pixel 8a

6.6 oz (188 g)Winner

Dimensions

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL

6.4" x 3.0" x 0.3" (162.8 x 76.6 x 8.5 mm)

Google Pixel 8a

6.0" x 2.9" x 0.4" (152.1 x 72.7 x 8.9 mm)

Connectivity1 specs

Connectivity

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL

5G (Sub6/mmWave); Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be); Bluetooth 5.3; NFC; UWB; Dual Band GNSS

Google Pixel 8a

5G (Sub6/mmWave varies by model); Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax); Bluetooth 5.3; NFC

Full specs, pros, and cons

Everything side-by-side with ratings and the full spec list.

Expand

Comparison: Google Pixel 9 Pro XL vs Google Pixel 8a

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL

★4.4(986)Amazon

Google Pixel 8a

★4.4(1,570)Amazon

Criterion	Google Pixel 9 Pro XL	Google Pixel 8a
Rating	★4.4(986)Amazon	★4.4(1,570)Amazon
Operating System	Android	Android
Software Support	7 years of OS, security, and Pixel Drop updates	7 years of OS, security, and Feature Drop updates
Processor	Google Tensor G4	Google Tensor G3
Graphics	Arm Mali-G715 MC7	Arm Immortalis-G715s MC10
RAM	16GB LPDDR5X	8GB LPDDR5X
Storage	128GB / 256GB / 512GB / 1TB (UFS 3.1)	128GB / 256GB (UFS 3.1)
Display Size	6.8" (measured diagonally; actual viewable area is less)	6.1" (measured diagonally; actual viewable area is less)
Screen Type	Super Actua LTPO OLED	Actua OLED Display
Resolution	1344 x 2992 pixels (QHD+), 486 ppi	1080 x 2400 pixels (FHD+), 430 ppi
Refresh Rate	1–120Hz (Adaptive)	60–120Hz (Smooth Display)
Peak Brightness	2,000 nits (HDR) / 3,000 nits (Peak)	1,400 nits (HDR) / 2,000 nits (Peak)
Main Camera	50MP Wide (f/1.68, 82° FOV), Octa PD AF, OIS	64MP Wide (f/1.89, 80° FOV, 1/1.73"), Quad PD AF, OIS
Ultra-Wide Camera	48MP Ultra-Wide (f/1.7, 123° FOV) with Macro Focus	13MP Ultra-Wide (f/2.2, 120° FOV)
Telephoto Camera	48MP Telephoto (5x optical, f/2.8), Quad PD AF, OIS	N/A (No dedicated telephoto lens)
Optical Zoom	5x Optical Zoom (Optical quality at 0.5x, 1x, 2x, 5x, 10x)	N/A (Optical quality at 0.5x and 1x via sensor crop)
Digital Zoom	Up to 30x Super Res Zoom	Up to 8x Super Res Zoom
Video Recording	8K@30fps (via Video Boost); 4K@24/30/60fps	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Front Camera	42MP Front (f/2.2, 103° FOV), Dual PD AF	13MP Front (f/2.2, 96.5° FOV), Fixed Focus
Battery	5,060 mAh (Typical)	4,492 mAh (Typical)
Wired Charging	Up to 37W (charges up to 70% in ~30 min with Google 45W USB-C Charger)	Up to 18W (Adapter sold separately)
Wireless Charging	Up to 23W (Pixel Stand 2nd Gen); up to 12W (Qi certified); Battery Share	Qi Wireless Charging (7.5W)
Connectivity	5G (Sub6/mmWave); Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be); Bluetooth 5.3; NFC; UWB; Dual Band GNSS	5G (Sub6/mmWave varies by model); Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax); Bluetooth 5.3; NFC
USB	USB Type-C 3.2	USB Type-C 3.2
Durability	IP68 (Dust and water resistant); Gorilla Glass Victus 2 (front/back)	IP67 (Dust and water resistant up to 1m); Gorilla Glass 3 (front); Matte composite back; Aluminum frame
Dimensions	6.4" x 3.0" x 0.3" (162.8 x 76.6 x 8.5 mm)	6.0" x 2.9" x 0.4" (152.1 x 72.7 x 8.9 mm)
Weight	7.80 oz (221 g)	6.6 oz (188 g)
Biometrics	Ultrasonic Fingerprint Unlock; Face Unlock	Under-display Fingerprint Sensor; Face Unlock
Extras	Satellite SOS; Gemini AI integrated; Temperature sensor; VPN by Google One	VPN by Google One; Titan M2 security; Gemini AI integrated; Audio Magic Eraser
Pros	Industry-leading 7-year software support commitment Super Actua display is exceptionally bright (3,000 nits peak) Versatile camera system with 5x optical zoom and high-res 42MP selfie camera Deep AI integration with Gemini and exclusive features like Video Boost Premium build with uniform bezels and Gorilla Glass Victus 2	Unmatched 7-year software support commitment in the mid-range segment Bright 120Hz Actua OLED display (2,000 nits peak) Flagship-grade Tensor G3 processor brings premium AI features (Magic Editor, Audio Magic Eraser) Compact and comfortable design with a durable matte finish Includes wireless charging (rare at this price point)
Cons	8K video recording is not native on-device (requires cloud-based Video Boost processing) UFS 3.1 storage is slower than the UFS 4.0 standard found in competitors Heavy gaming performance lags behind Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 rivals Charging speed (37W max) is slower than many flagship peers Optical fingerprint sensor replaced by ultrasonic, but still requires good placement	Charging is slow (18W wired / 7.5W wireless) compared to competitors Large bezels surround the display, looking dated compared to the Pixel 8 Uses older Gorilla Glass 3 for screen protection Optical fingerprint sensor can be slower than ultrasonic alternatives Gets warm under heavy load due to Tensor G3 efficiency
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.	Check Price on Amazon→	Check Price on Amazon→

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL

Rating:★4.4(986)Amazon

Operating System:Android

Software Support:7 years of OS, security, and Pixel Drop updates

Processor:Google Tensor G4

Graphics:Arm Mali-G715 MC7

RAM:16GB LPDDR5X

Storage:128GB / 256GB / 512GB / 1TB (UFS 3.1)

Display Size:6.8" (measured diagonally; actual viewable area is less)

Screen Type:Super Actua LTPO OLED

Resolution:1344 x 2992 pixels (QHD+), 486 ppi

Refresh Rate:1–120Hz (Adaptive)

Peak Brightness:2,000 nits (HDR) / 3,000 nits (Peak)

Main Camera:50MP Wide (f/1.68, 82° FOV), Octa PD AF, OIS

Ultra-Wide Camera:48MP Ultra-Wide (f/1.7, 123° FOV) with Macro Focus

Telephoto Camera:48MP Telephoto (5x optical, f/2.8), Quad PD AF, OIS

Optical Zoom:5x Optical Zoom (Optical quality at 0.5x, 1x, 2x, 5x, 10x)

Digital Zoom:Up to 30x Super Res Zoom

Video Recording:8K@30fps (via Video Boost); 4K@24/30/60fps

Front Camera:42MP Front (f/2.2, 103° FOV), Dual PD AF

Battery:5,060 mAh (Typical)

Wired Charging:Up to 37W (charges up to 70% in ~30 min with Google 45W USB-C Charger)

Wireless Charging:Up to 23W (Pixel Stand 2nd Gen); up to 12W (Qi certified); Battery Share

Connectivity:5G (Sub6/mmWave); Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be); Bluetooth 5.3; NFC; UWB; Dual Band GNSS

USB:USB Type-C 3.2

Durability:IP68 (Dust and water resistant); Gorilla Glass Victus 2 (front/back)

Dimensions:6.4" x 3.0" x 0.3" (162.8 x 76.6 x 8.5 mm)

Weight:7.80 oz (221 g)

Biometrics:Ultrasonic Fingerprint Unlock; Face Unlock

Extras:Satellite SOS; Gemini AI integrated; Temperature sensor; VPN by Google One

✓ Pros:

• Industry-leading 7-year software support commitment
• Super Actua display is exceptionally bright (3,000 nits peak)
• Versatile camera system with 5x optical zoom and high-res 42MP selfie camera
• Deep AI integration with Gemini and exclusive features like Video Boost
• Premium build with uniform bezels and Gorilla Glass Victus 2

✗ Cons:

• 8K video recording is not native on-device (requires cloud-based Video Boost processing)
• UFS 3.1 storage is slower than the UFS 4.0 standard found in competitors
• Heavy gaming performance lags behind Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 rivals
• Charging speed (37W max) is slower than many flagship peers
• Optical fingerprint sensor replaced by ultrasonic, but still requires good placement

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Check Price on Amazon→

Google Pixel 8a

Rating:★4.4(1,570)Amazon

Operating System:Android

Software Support:7 years of OS, security, and Feature Drop updates

Processor:Google Tensor G3

Graphics:Arm Immortalis-G715s MC10

RAM:8GB LPDDR5X

Storage:128GB / 256GB (UFS 3.1)

Display Size:6.1" (measured diagonally; actual viewable area is less)

Screen Type:Actua OLED Display

Resolution:1080 x 2400 pixels (FHD+), 430 ppi

Refresh Rate:60–120Hz (Smooth Display)

Peak Brightness:1,400 nits (HDR) / 2,000 nits (Peak)

Main Camera:64MP Wide (f/1.89, 80° FOV, 1/1.73"), Quad PD AF, OIS

Ultra-Wide Camera:13MP Ultra-Wide (f/2.2, 120° FOV)

Telephoto Camera:N/A (No dedicated telephoto lens)

Optical Zoom:N/A (Optical quality at 0.5x and 1x via sensor crop)

Digital Zoom:Up to 8x Super Res Zoom

Video Recording:4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps

Front Camera:13MP Front (f/2.2, 96.5° FOV), Fixed Focus

Battery:4,492 mAh (Typical)

Wired Charging:Up to 18W (Adapter sold separately)

Wireless Charging:Qi Wireless Charging (7.5W)

Connectivity:5G (Sub6/mmWave varies by model); Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax); Bluetooth 5.3; NFC

USB:USB Type-C 3.2

Durability:IP67 (Dust and water resistant up to 1m); Gorilla Glass 3 (front); Matte composite back; Aluminum frame

Dimensions:6.0" x 2.9" x 0.4" (152.1 x 72.7 x 8.9 mm)

Weight:6.6 oz (188 g)

Biometrics:Under-display Fingerprint Sensor; Face Unlock

Extras:VPN by Google One; Titan M2 security; Gemini AI integrated; Audio Magic Eraser

✓ Pros:

• Unmatched 7-year software support commitment in the mid-range segment
• Bright 120Hz Actua OLED display (2,000 nits peak)
• Flagship-grade Tensor G3 processor brings premium AI features (Magic Editor, Audio Magic Eraser)
• Compact and comfortable design with a durable matte finish
• Includes wireless charging (rare at this price point)

✗ Cons:

• Charging is slow (18W wired / 7.5W wireless) compared to competitors
• Large bezels surround the display, looking dated compared to the Pixel 8
• Uses older Gorilla Glass 3 for screen protection
• Optical fingerprint sensor can be slower than ultrasonic alternatives
• Gets warm under heavy load due to Tensor G3 efficiency

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Check Price on Amazon→

Which one is better?

Grab the Pixel 8a if you're looking to save some cash and still want solid performance in a compact package.

Who should buy each?

Choose the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL if: you need a long-lasting battery for all-day use, you want the best display brightness at 3000 nits, or you shoot a lot of photos with its versatile camera system.
Choose the Google Pixel 8a if: you want a budget-friendly option, you prefer a lighter phone at 6.6 oz, or you watch media on the go with a solid 120Hz display.

Conclusion

We hope this comparison helps you buy with confidence. Both products are dependable; the right one depends on how you will use it.

Frequently Asked Questions

+Which has better value?

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL excels if you value industry-leading 7-year software support commitment. Google Pixel 8a is better if you prioritize unmatched 7-year software support commitment in the mid-range segment. Pick based on your budget and daily use.

+Is this an independent review?

Yes. We use affiliate links for monetization, but recommendations are research-driven and unbiased.

+Do newer models exist?

Check release timelines from the manufacturers and compare pricing before you buy. We refresh this page when major updates land.

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