The new Pixel 8a is likely to support display output soon

What you need to know

• Mishaal Rahman’s new findings indicate that Pixel 8a also supports display output.
• While the mid-range phone’s hardware supports the feature, it is locked with a software flag.
• The upcoming June update will likely open up the functionality on the Pixel 8a alongside the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro models.

We just witnessed the launch of Google’s new mid-range handset, Pixel 8a, a few days ago. Mishaal Rahman’s latest finding now hints at a possible new feature buried somewhere in the Pixel 8a handset.

Just like the Pixel 8 series from last year, the Pixel 8a can support display output through a USB Type-C port, notes Rahman via Android Authority. While the hardware is definitely capable, Google needs to enable it software-wise, which is likely to happen with an update sometime in June.

Google previously took a similar approach with its flagship Pixel 8 series, which is built on a Tensor G3 chip and features a USB controller that supports the DisplayPort Alternate Mode signal.

The search giant disabled it during the launch, and some workarounds, such as rooting the Pixel 8 Pro, helped the device connect to an external monitor. However, with the release of Android 14 QPR3 Beta 2, Google enabled DP Alt mode that allowed Pixel 8 devices to connect to external displays.