Newsletter
The Google Pixel 8a is finally here. The smartphone was announced this morning, and it has a lot going for it, including a sharp OLED display that refreshes at 120Hz. Additionally, the device is powered by the company’s flagship processor and can be snagged at a wallet-friendly price of $499. Having said that, one feature that might fly under most buyers’ radar is the Pixel 8a’s Audio Emoji feature, which is making its debut with the smartphone.
Audio Emoji is a soundbox for your smartphone’s dialer app
The Pixel 8a supports a host of AI features, including the famed Circle to Search gesture that lets you find anything on your phone without switching apps. Moreover, the smartphone is equipped with AI call assistance features such as ‘use hold for me’. This feature enables the Google Assistant to take over your call when you’re put on hold. The Assistant will notify you promptly when you are taken off hold.
While these features can be construed as useful, Google’s Audio Emoji feature is purely for fun. To get you up to speed, the feature lets users play one of six sound effects like an ‘Applause’ or a ‘Drum roll’ when they’re on a call. Users can access the feature from the primary calling interface. That said, there is an option to disable it, too.
As things stand, Google hasn’t confirmed if the Pixel 8a will support the feature out of the box. Additionally, it’s anyone’s guess whether the feature will make it to other Pixel devices. Regardless, the feature builds up on the Pixel 8a’s impressive spec sheet and will surely interest some prospective buyers. To recap, the Google Pixel 8a is powered by the Tensor G3 processor. The smartphone sports a 6.1-inch Full HD Actua Display that refreshes at 120Hz.
More notably, the screen can get quite bright and boasts a peak brightness of 2,000 nits. The Pixel 8a is available in two storage options: 128GB and 256GB. The device is priced at $499 for the former and $579 for the latter.