Google Pixel 8a
The Pixel 8a is Google’s 2024 mid-range phone and the most compact model in this group, with a 6.1-inch 120 Hz OLED screen and a weight of 189 g. It runs the Tensor G3 chip with 8 GB of RAM, has a 64 MP main camera and a 13 MP ultrawide, and carries an IP67 rating. It was the first A-series Pixel with a seven-year promise, so Google’s updates run until May 2031.
That long window is why it still works as a private phone. GrapheneOS, CalyxOS, LineageOS and iodéOS all support it officially, and /e/OS offers a community build. GrapheneOS and CalyxOS install from a browser and relock the bootloader, which keeps verified boot working. Google Wallet will not work on GrapheneOS, but some bank apps and Curve Pay (UK/EEA) still support tap-to-pay.
The trade-off is age against price. The newer Pixel 9a launched at the same $499, with a bigger battery, IP68 and support to April 2032. The 8a makes sense if you want the smaller size or find it noticeably cheaper. Charging is slower too, at 18 W wired.
Google Pixel 8a tech specs
| Released | May 2024 |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.1-inch OLED, 1080 × 2400, up to 120 Hz, up to 2,000 nits peak |
| Chip | Google Tensor G3 |
| RAM | 8 GB LPDDR5x |
| Storage | 128 GB or 256 GB (UFS 3.1) |
| Rear cameras | 64 MP wide (f/1.89) + 13 MP ultrawide (f/2.2) |
| Front camera | 13 MP (f/2.2) |
| Battery | 4,492 mAh typical (4,404 mAh minimum) |
| Charging | Up to 18 W wired; Qi wireless |
| Water/dust rating | IP67 |
| Weight | 189 g (6.7 oz) |
| Size | 152.1 × 72.7 × 8.9 mm |
| Headphone jack / microSD | No / No |
| Security chip | Titan M2 security coprocessor |
| SIM | Nano SIM + eSIM |
| Bootloader unlock | Yes on unlocked (non-carrier) units, via OEM unlocking |
| Launch price | $499 (128 GB, US) |
| Codename | akita (used on OS download pages) |
Strengths and drawbacks
Private operating systems for the Google Pixel 8a
4 private systems officially support this exact model (codename akita), plus one community build or port that works with less polish and slower fixes. The table compares them on the things that matter day to day; the install guides below walk through each one.
| System | Support | Privacy | Effort | Apps and Google |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GrapheneOSGrapheneOS 2026100600 (Android 17) | Official | 10/10 | Easy · web installer, ~20 min | Sandboxed Google Play, optional |
| CalyxOSCalyxOS 8.0.4.21 (Android 17) | Official | 8.5/10 | Moderate · official flasher | microG, optional |
| iodéOSiodéOS 7 (LineageOS 23, Android 16) | Official | 7.5/10 | Easy · official installer app | microG + built-in tracker blocker |
| LineageOSLineageOS 24.0 (Android 17) | Official | 7/10 | Advanced · fastboot and recovery | No Google unless you add it |
| /e/OS/e/OS Android 16 community build | Community build | 7.5/10 | Easy · installer app, or preinstalled | microG built in + App Lounge |
- GrapheneOS: Fully supported; GrapheneOS lists May 2031 as Google's minimum support end for the 8a.
- CalyxOS: Listed as a modern device with updates planned to May 2031; relocks the bootloader.
- iodéOS: On iodé's official list with installer support and a relockable bootloader.
- LineageOS: Official builds are current (October 2026); bootloader stays unlocked.
- /e/OS: Listed on the /e/OS device page as a community build (userdebug); bootloader not lockable.
Not available for this model
- Ubuntu Touch: Not on the Ubuntu Touch device list.
- Nura (postmarketOS): postmarketOS wiki page says it does not boot.
- Sailfish OS: Sailfish OS is not offered for Pixel phones.
Privacy scores and effort levels are explained in how we score each system; the feature-by-feature OS table goes deeper.
Unlocking the bootloader on the Google Pixel 8a
Yes. Unlocked Pixel 8a units unlock with the OEM unlocking toggle and a fastboot command; carrier-locked units may not unlock.
- Update the stock OS, connect to the internet, then tap Settings > About phone > Build number seven times.
- Turn on Settings > System > Developer options > OEM unlocking.
- Power off, then hold Volume Down + Power to reach the bootloader.
- Connect to a computer and unlock with a web installer or fastboot flashing unlock.
- After installing GrapheneOS, CalyxOS or iodéOS, relock the bootloader.
- Unlocking wipes the phone.
- Carrier variants, especially Verizon, block OEM unlocking.
- Remove your Google account before flashing CalyxOS, or Factory Reset Protection can lock you out of OEM unlocking.
- Don't relock with LineageOS or /e/OS installed.
How to install a private OS on the Google Pixel 8a
Short versions of each project's official guide. Always keep the official page open while you work: it has the exact files for your model and changes faster than any summary.
Installing GrapheneOSEasy · web installer, ~20 min
What you need: A computer with a Chromium-based browser (Chrome, Edge or Brave), a good USB-C cable, about 20 minutes. Installing erases the phone, so back up first.
Apps: Sandboxed Google Play, optional: runs as an ordinary app with no special access. Bootloader: Yes, the installer relocks the bootloader.
- Update the stock Android first, then turn on OEM unlocking: Settings → About phone, tap Build number seven times, then Settings → System → Developer options → OEM unlocking (the phone needs internet once for this).
- Restart into the bootloader: turn the phone off, then hold Volume Down while pressing Power.
- Open the web installer on your computer, connect the phone, and click Unlock bootloader. Confirm on the phone with the volume keys and Power.
- Click Download release, then Flash release, and leave the cable alone until it finishes.
- Click Lock bootloader and confirm on the phone. Start it up, and turn OEM unlocking back off in Developer options.
- Optional: install sandboxed Google Play from GrapheneOS's own App Store if you need banking or other Play-only apps.
Installing CalyxOSModerate · official flasher
What you need: A Windows, macOS or Linux computer, a USB-C cable, and the CalyxOS device flasher plus the factory image for your exact model. Installing erases the phone.
Apps: microG, optional: a free re-implementation of Google services for push and maps. Bootloader: Yes on supported devices; the flasher locks it at the end.
- Download the device flasher for your computer and the factory image for your model from calyxos.org.
- On the phone, turn on Developer options and OEM unlocking (some brands need an unlock code first, see the bootloader section above).
- Restart into the bootloader (fastboot) mode and connect the phone.
- Run the flasher and follow its prompts. It unlocks the bootloader, flashes CalyxOS and locks the bootloader again.
- During setup, choose whether to turn on microG. You can change your mind later.
Installing iodéOSEasy · official installer app
What you need: A Windows, macOS or Linux computer, a USB cable and the iodé installer app. Installing erases the phone.
Apps: microG, plus a built-in tracker and ad blocker you can tune per app. Bootloader: On some devices; check iodé's device list.
- Check that your exact model is on iodé's supported device list.
- Download the iodé installer for your computer.
- Turn on Developer options, USB debugging and OEM unlocking on the phone, then connect it.
- Follow the installer step by step; it downloads the right build and flashes it.
- Set up the phone and look at the blocker settings in the iodé app.
Installing LineageOSAdvanced · fastboot and recovery
What you need: A computer with Android platform-tools (adb and fastboot) installed, a USB cable, and an evening. Follow the install page for your exact codename. Installing erases the phone.
Apps: No Google services by default; you add microG or Google apps yourself if you want them. Bootloader: Usually no: the bootloader stays unlocked on most devices.
- Find your phone's page on the LineageOS wiki by its codename and read the whole install guide once before you start.
- Make sure the stock firmware is the version the guide asks for, then unlock the bootloader the brand's official way.
- Flash the partitions the guide lists (such as boot, dtbo or vendor_boot) and boot into Lineage Recovery.
- In recovery, choose Factory reset → Format data, then Apply update → Apply from ADB, and run adb sideload with the LineageOS zip.
- Reboot. Add F-Droid for apps; skip the optional Google apps package if you want to stay degoogled.
Installing /e/OSEasy · installer app, or preinstalled
What you need: For a phone you already own: a Windows, macOS or Linux computer and a USB cable. The Easy Installer covers many models; others use a command-line guide on the device's page. Installing erases the phone.
Apps: microG built in, plus the App Lounge store that shows each app's trackers. Bootloader: stays unlocked with this build.
- Look up your exact model on the /e/OS device list and check whether it supports the Easy Installer.
- Download the Easy Installer (or the build and guide from the device page) on your computer.
- Turn on Developer options, USB debugging and OEM unlocking on the phone, and connect it.
- Follow the installer's screens: it unlocks, flashes /e/OS and, where possible, relocks the bootloader.
- Set up the phone. A Murena account is optional; you can skip it.
Who the Google Pixel 8a is for
A buyer who wants a smaller Pixel with long support and every major private OS, and who finds the 9a too big. Worth it mainly if it costs clearly less than a 9a.
Want the long version? Read our full write-up on this phone.
Google Pixel 8a questions, answered
Does GrapheneOS support the Pixel 8a?
Yes. The Pixel 8a (akita) is on GrapheneOS's official supported list with current Android 17 releases. Google's minimum support ends May 2031.
Pixel 8a or Pixel 9a for a degoogled phone?
Both support the same OSes. The 9a gets eleven more months of updates, a 5,100 mAh battery and IP68; the 8a is smaller and lighter.
How long does installing GrapheneOS on the Pixel 8a take?
GrapheneOS doesn't publish a time estimate. The web installer downloads the release, flashes it and asks you to relock the bootloader; download speed and your computer decide most of the wait.
Sources
- Google Pixel Help — Pixel phone hardware tech specs (Pixel 8a)
- Google Pixel Help — Pixel update schedule
- GrapheneOS FAQ — supported devices and support dates
- GrapheneOS web install guide
- CalyxOS install / device list
- CalyxOS device support timelines
- LineageOS wiki — akita
- /e/OS — akita
- iodéOS official supported devices
- GSMArena — Pixel 8a launch price $499 (fallback, Google post not retrieved)
Every fact on this page comes from the maker or the OS project's own pages, checked October 14, 2026. We don't claim hands-on testing. Found something out of date? Report a correction.
