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I spent a weekend with Google's $499 Pixel 8a. Here's my buying advice for 2024

The latest Pixel has proven to be just as good of an investment as any other Google phone. Just make sure you buy it at the right time.

That's because if time is not of the essence, you'll face the dilemma that many other potential Pixel 8a buyers confront: Google's frequent discounts on older but more capable models. Naturally, since launching the Pixel 8a, Google has pulled back promotions of its flagship models, rendering such a comparison less relevant. The only time I've noticed a difference between the two camera systems is in low-light environments, with the Pixel 8 capturing details in darker spots better -- but by a small margin.

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