Pixel 8, 8 Pro and 8a screen protectors: three sizes, one optical fingerprint sensor

• Pixel 8: 6.2-inch screen, 150.5 × 70.8 × 8.9 mm body.
• Pixel 8a: 6.1-inch screen, 152.1 × 72.7 × 8.9 mm body.
• Pixel 8 Pro: 6.7-inch screen.

The Pixel 8 and 8a look close on paper, but the 8a’s body is taller and wider and its screen is smaller, so a protector for one will not sit correctly on the other. None of the listings we checked claims to fit both.

All three read your fingerprint with an optical sensor that lights your finger with the display and photographs the reflection. Slightly thicker glass is usually fine; privacy filters, tinted glass and heavy matte finishes are what cause failed reads, because they block or scatter that light.

This is the opposite of the Pixel 9 and later, which moved to ultrasonic sensors. Our Pixel fingerprint sensor guide explains both.

After fitting any protector, delete your saved fingerprints and enrol them again with the glass on.

Privacy protectors for all three models are widely sold. Expect a dimmer screen and a higher chance of failed fingerprint reads on these optical sensors. Face unlock is an alternative if fingerprint unlock becomes unreliable.

• GSMArena: Google Pixel 8
• GSMArena: Google Pixel 8 Pro
• GSMArena: Google Pixel 8a
• 9to5Google: Pixel 9 ultrasonic fingerprint sensor