Pixel 8 Pro vs Phone (3a) Pro
It depends
Too close to call outright
These two are within 2 points overall, so it depends on you: keep phones for years → Phone (3a) Pro (supported until Mar 2031); want maximum speed → Pixel 8 Pro (Google Tensor G3).
Value Score: Pixel 8 Pro 69 · Phone (3a) Pro 71 — methodology
The lifespan decider
When specs are close, support length decides it — this is what each phone costs per month of safe use.
Category by category
Both displays are effectively the same class.
The Pixel 8 Pro's Google Tensor G3 is simply the faster chip.
Camera systems are comparable on paper — pick by sample photos.
Battery capacities are close enough not to decide this.
The Phone (3a) Pro is supported until Mar 2031 — 5 months longer than the Pixel 8 Pro.
Pound for pound, these two are equally good deals.
Full spec table
| Spec | Pixel 8 Pro | Phone (3a) Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Price (street) | $480 | $429 |
| Display | 6.7-inch Super Actua LTPO OLED, 1–120Hz, up to 2400 nits peak | 6.77-inch AMOLED, 1080×2392 (FHD+), up to 120Hz, 3000 nits peak |
| Chipset | Google Tensor G3 | Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 |
| RAM | 12GB | 12GB |
| Storage | 128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB | 256GB |
| Battery | 5,050 mAh | 5,000 mAh |
| Charging | 30W wired, 23W wireless | 50W wired, no wireless |
| Rear cameras | 50MP main, 48MP ultra-wide, 48MP 5x telephoto | 50MP main, 50MP periscope telephoto 3x, 8MP ultra-wide |
| Dimensions | 162.6 × 76.5 × 8.8 mm | 163.52 × 77.50 × 8.39 mm |
| Weight | 213 g | 211 g |
| Water resistance | IP68 | IP64 |
| Supported until | Oct 2030 | Mar 2031 |
Scores and verdicts are computed from our verified database — see exactly how. Specs from manufacturer documentation; prices reflect major US retailers.