Club Benefits
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
Want to add more newsletters?
Daily (Mon-Sun)
Tom's Guide Daily
Sign up to get the latest updates on all of your favorite content! From cutting-edge tech news and the hottest streaming buzz to unbeatable deals on the best products and in-depth reviews, we’ve got you covered.
Weekly on Thursday
Tom's AI Guide
Be AI savvy with your weekly newsletter summing up all the biggest AI news you need to know. Plus, analysis from our AI editor and tips on how to use the latest AI tools!
Weekly on Friday
Tom's iGuide
Unlock the vast world of Apple news straight to your inbox. With coverage on everything from exciting product launches to essential software updates, this is your go-to source for the latest updates on all the best Apple content.
Weekly on Monday
Tom's Streaming Guide
Our weekly newsletter is expertly crafted to immerse you in the world of streaming. Stay updated on the latest releases and our top recommendations across your favorite streaming platforms.
Join the club
Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.
The Google Pixel 8a isn't even on sale yet, but it's looking like it'll gain Google's AI wallpaper generation feature in its first software update, according to findings by Android expert Mishaal Rahman, writing for Android Authority.
Rahman points to a Verizon support page (screenshot below) as proof. This mentions a "B1" version of the current software running on the Pixel 8a units given to journalists, an update which will bring the latest Android security update as well as AI wallpaper.
It's quite a coup for the Pixel 8a to gain access to AI wallpaper. It's currently only seen on the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, as well as a few other Android 14-powered phones in slightly different guises.
Since this is effectively a post-launch update, there's no guarantee we'll see AI wallpapers directly mentioned in any hands-ons or reviews of the Pixel 8a. But we'd assume it'll behave exactly like the Pixel 8 series' system, using a fill-the-blanks approach with several pre-set prompts to then deliver a few cloud AI-generated options for you to choose from. We've got instructions on how to use it here if you want to study prior to your own Pixel 8a arriving.
You can learn more about the Google Pixel 8a in our recent hands-on with the phone. With it offering a whopping seven years of updates, a new design, a new chipset and the same low price, it's safe to say we're quite impressed with it so far. It's a strong upgrade to the outgoing Pixel 7a, which is number 1 on our best cheap phones guides, at least for now.
If you're craving more Google announcements than just the Pixel 8a, then you're in luck. We should hear more at Google I/O next week (May 14th), which we hope include details of Android 15, the Pixel 9 series and the Pixel Fold 2.
More from Tom's Guide
- 200 photos with the Galaxy S24 Ultra vs Galaxy S23 Ultra — here's the winner
- Apple's first-ever foldable just tipped to launch next year
- Galaxy Z Fold 6 leak confirms the biggest design changes Samsung has planned
