# Google Pixel 8a Hacker Approved page: https://hackerapproved.com/p/google-pixel-8a/ 14 people recommended Google Pixel 8a in Hacker News comments and 1 criticized it, November 2025 to October 2026. It was recommended in 9 of 12 months, in 14 threads. It meets the Hacker Approved badge rule. **Verdict:** People recommend it as a cheap used phone with strong security and long update support, and it runs GrapheneOS well. Critics say its smooth, rounded body is hard to grip. Summary written by Claude from 18 comments. ## Why people recommend it - Strong security and long updates (6 comments in the sample): "A used Pixel 8a is a very affordable device with great overall security nearly as good as a Pixel 10" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49495384)) "still meets all the current era security standards and still has over 4.5 years of updates remaining" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50047570)) "Pixel 8 and later have 7 years of support from launch instead of 5 along with MTE." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49493889)) - Cheap when bought used (3 comments in the sample): "Last year though the Pixel 8a was selling for 350€ and I got one." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47940378)) "you can easily buy an 8a for like 250 euros used" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48566618)) "A used Pixel 8a tends to be the cheapest option." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48945878)) - Fast and pleasant to use (2 comments in the sample): "i got a pixel 8a just to amuse myself and i was again totally surprised how fast and easy the typing was" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47008495)) "My pixel 8a is a phenomenal computer if ignore the hype monster." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48624787)) - Would buy again (1 comment in the sample): "If i had to change today i would go again for a Pixel 8A" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47518371)) ## What people warn about - Slippery and hard to hold (2 comments in the sample): "it appears to be designed to be as slippery as possible. Every edge is round and there's nothing to grip" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48462231)) "If you have dry hands, it's nearly impossible to hold on to." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50247032)) ## Other smartphones people recommend - [Apple iPhone](https://hackerapproved.com/p/iphone/): 438 recommend, 190 mixed, 789 criticize - [Fairphone](https://hackerapproved.com/p/fairphone/): 110 recommend, 42 mixed, 94 criticize - [iPhone 13 mini](https://hackerapproved.com/p/iphone-13-mini/): 105 recommend, 32 mixed, 44 criticize - [Apple iPhone Pro](https://hackerapproved.com/p/iphone-17-pro/): 90 recommend, 45 mixed, 138 criticize ## Where to get it - [Official site](https://store.google.com/category/phones?hl=en-US) - [See price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Google+Pixel+8a) ## The badge A product earns the Hacker Approved badge when at least 10 people recommend it, recommenders outnumber critics at least 2 to 1 (mixed feelings count toward neither side), it was recommended in at least 4 of the 12 months and in at least 5 different threads, and no single thread supplies more than half of the people who recommend it. Health and money products are never badged. ## Cite as Hacker Approved, "Google Pixel 8a", https://hackerapproved.com/p/google-pixel-8a/ (14 recommend, 0 mixed, 1 criticize; Hacker News comments, November 2025 to October 2026). Counts updated 2 Nov 2026, with data through October 31, 2026.