Just catching up on this thread! NGL, I've had some issues with the fingerprint sensor on my 8a too—it's super finicky compared to the older physical ones. Unfortunately, thick glass often messes with the optical sensor.

Check out the UGREEN 20W USB C Charger Nexode GaN Mini as an alternative to the Anker. It's usually like $13 and uses GaN tech so it stays way cooler. For the screen, I actually prefer the JETech Screen Protector for Google Pixel 8a 3-Pack which is about $7. It's slightly thinner, which honestly helps the sensor read your print better.

Pro tip: Check out the "Display" settings and toggle on "Screen protector mode" to boost sensitivity.

TL;DR: UGREEN 20W USB C Charger Nexode GaN Mini ($13) + JETech Screen Protector for Google Pixel 8a 3-Pack ($7) = under $25 total. Way below your $40 limit! gl! 👍

For your situation, I'd definitely look at these two since they're super reliable and won't mess with the fingerprint sensor too much.

* **Charger:** The Spigen ArcStation Pro 27W USB C Wall Charger is solid. It's GaN tech so it stays cool, plus it handles the PD 3.0 specs perfectly for the 8a.
* **Screen Protector:** I'd go with the Caseology Capella Glass Screen Protector for Google Pixel 8a. It's usually cheaper than the big brands but feels really smooth, and they include an alignment tool which is a lifesaver.

Basically, if you grab both, you're looking at like $30-35 total. Just make sure to toggle on 'Screen Protector Mode' in your display settings after you install it... helps a ton with the sensor speed! Good luck!

basically i'd go with the Anker 312 Charger (Ace, 25W) USB C Wall Charger cuz it's super reliable and hits those 18W speeds no problem. for the screen, i'm using amFilm 3 Pack OneTouch Shield for Google Pixel 8a and the fingerprint sensor actually works fine if u just re-register your prints after putting it on! total is like $25-30 tops gl!

Building on the earlier suggestion, I honestly have to vent about the mess that is the current accessory market. It isnt just about the money, its the wasted time. It's beyond annoying that Google leaves out the brick, then uses an optical sensor that is so picky with glass. In my experience over the years, I've wasted a ton of cash on protectors that were basically garbage and messed up the biometric login. Its a huge headache for anyone trying to stay on a budget while keeping their tech safe. After testing way too many options, I finally stuck with these:

• Baseus 30W USB C GaN5 Fast Charger
• Supershieldz for Google Pixel 8a Tempered Glass The Baseus is great because it supports the PD standards perfectly without getting hot. The Supershieldz glass is thin enough to not kill the sensor response time, which is usually where most budget brands fail. Just make sure you toggle that screen protector mode in the display settings or you're gonna have a bad time.

Quick question—before I give my two cents, are you planning on using a heavy-duty case or just a slim one?? I ask cuz some screen protectors are "edge-to-edge" and might actually pop off if your case is too tight around the bezel.

I think some people overlook that, but for safety, you really want a charger that's USB-IF certified so it doesnt fry your battery. Not 100% sure on the exact specs for every budget brand, but basically:

* Look for PD 3.0 (Power Delivery) support
* Check if the glass is thinner (around 0.2mm - 0.3mm) for better fingerprint recognition
* Try to find a charger with GaN tech so it stays cooler during the summer

Iirc, some users said that toggling the "Screen Protector Mode" in the Pixel settings helps a lot with the sensor lag... but yeah, let me know about the case situation first so I can suggest something that actually fits together! 👍

tbh im not 100% sure on the exact model numbers cuz they change so fast on amazon but i usually lean toward baseus over some of the bigger names lately for chargers. i think they offer way more bang for your buck and i havent had one fail yet. for the screen protector, i heard from a buddy that the cheaper generic ones are basically the same as the name brands as long as they mention the fingerprint sensor compatibility. not sure if thats always true tho... sometimes you get what you pay for with the glass clarity. iirc people were saying the 8a is a bit pickier than the 7a was with the glass thickness so definitely check those recent reviews before you pull the trigger.

This thread is gold. Bookmarking for future reference 🔖