yo, congrats on the new phone! honestly, i've tried many chargers over the years, and for your Pixel 8a, you really wanna grab something with PPS. basically, it lets the phone talk to the brick so it doesn't get too hot while fast charging.

In my experience, here's how they stack up:

* Google 30W USB-C Power Adapter: the safest bet. it's what I use mostly because it's literally made for Pixels. no overheating issues at all.
* Anker 711 Charger Nano II 30W: super tiny and highkey great for travel. it's got PPS so it hits that 18W speed easily.
* Ugreen Nexode 30W USB C GaN Charger: cheaper than the official one but feels really solid.

I'd go with the official Google one if you want zero stress, but the Anker is a close second! hope that helps gl

Seconding the recommendation above! Honestly, you dont need to spend a fortune to get that 18W speed. I spent way too much time obsessing over PPS when I got mine, and I found some great budget gems that work just as well as the official stuff.

Sooo, if you want to save some cash, here is what I have tried:

* Samsung 25W USB-C Wall Charger with PPS vs Spigen ArcStation Pro 20W GaN Wall Charger: The Samsung one is actually a total steal if you find it on sale. It has PPS and hits the full 18W on the 8a effortlessly. The Spigen is way more compact, which I love for travel, but it doesnt have PPS—still, it charges fast enough using standard PD without getting too hot tbh.

Basically, the Samsung is the safer bet for battery health cuz of that PPS support, but the Spigen is just so tiny and convenient. Ngl, as long as you get a reputable brand and avoid those $5 gas station plugs, ur gonna be fine! gl!

Just sharing my experience: I went through this last year and actually made a bit of a mess with my old chargers.

1. Honestly, stay away from those cheap unbranded plugs or old USB-A ones... they literally just waste power as heat.
2. I learned that without PPS support, the charging curve is super inefficient, which highkey degrades ur battery over time.
3. Basically, I found that even 'fast' PD chargers can get crazy hot if they don't communicate right with the Pixel hardware.

I eventually switched to a more technical setup from brands like Belkin or the official Google one just to be safe!

Had a second to think on this... definitely go with GaN tech if you are worried about heat. I have seen some older bricks basically turn into space heaters when they are pushed. You might want to consider the Anker 511 Charger Nano 3 since its super tiny and has the safety sensors to stop it from cooking your battery. Just be careful with random brands that claim PPS support but dont actually deliver the right voltage curve properly. Honestly, I would suggest looking at the Baseus 30W GaN5 Fast Wall Charger too. Its usually a bit cheaper than the big names but the build quality is surprisingly legit and it handles the Pixel handshake perfectly. One quick tip: dont cheap out on the cord either. A bad cable can bottleneck even the best charger and make the whole thing run hot for no reason. Using a Anker 543 USB-C to USB-C Cable Bio-Braided or similar will save you some headaches long-term.

Seconding the recommendation above! Honestly, you really gotta prioritize PPS support like the others mentioned. I'm still kinda new to all these specs, but basically, I've learned that PPS is the secret sauce for keeping things cool. I was sooo worried about frying my battery long-term, so I spent a while looking into the safety side of things.

I ended up just sticking with a charger from Belkin and it's been a total mood—super reliable and it doesn't get hot at all even when I'm fast charging. Honestly, you can't go wrong with anything from Google or even Spigen either. Just make sure whatever you pick is certified... *safety first* right?? I've been super satisfied with the speeds I'm getting without it feeling like a hand warmer lol. But yeah, just get any PD 3.0 plug with PPS from a big brand and you're golden! gl!

Just saw this thread and figured id chip in. If you want something a bit different, the Satechi 30W USB-C GaN Wall Charger is a beast. Its built really well and doesn't feel cheap like some others, though it is a bit pricier. Another decent option is the Baseus 30W GaN5 Fast Charger which is super small and honestly works just as good for a lot less cash. The Satechi is nicer for the desk, while the Baseus is my go-to for throwing in a bag. I actually ended up building my own custom charging dock out of some scrap walnut this weekend because I was tired of cables sliding off my nightstand. Spent way too long sanding the edges and trying to get the tolerances right for the USB-C tips to poke through perfectly. It turned into this whole thing where I had to bust out the wood router and everything... basically spent five hours on a project that should have taken one, but hey, the cable management is finally clean. My wife thinks im crazy for obsessing over it but it was kinda therapeutic lol. Anyway, those bricks should serve you well for the 8a.