GoKawiilRyan Haines / Android Authority
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.
Which of Google's Certified Refurbished Pixel phones is the best deal? 15 votes Pixel 8a — $339 67 % Pixel 8 — $459 7 % Pixel 8 Pro — $649 7 % Pixel 7a — $289 0 % Pixel 7 — $329 20 % Pixel 7 Pro — $499 0 %
Google’s other refurbs are questionable bargains
Ryan Haines / Android Authority
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.
The Pixel 8a has most of what makes the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro good phones.
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