Google recently unveiled the Pixel 8a after months of leaks and rumors. The Pixel 8a has a bunch of AI features that make it a good phone for anything at the price. However, the Pixel 8 lineup, which includes the Pixel 8, 8 Pro, and now the new Pixel 8a, doesn’t come with display output over USB-C out of the box.
All of these devices have hardware support for display output via USB-C ports. However, according to a new report from Android Authority, Google quietly enabled the display output via USB-C function on the Pixel 8 in the latest Android beta update, and the recently launched Pixel 8a is expected to get the feature with the next update.
It should be noted that the Pixel 8, 8 Pro and Pixel 8a are all powered by the Tensor G3 chipset, which confirms that all these devices share a lot of internal components, including the USB port. Although the USB-C port on these devices comes with DisplayPort support, it has reportedly been disabled by Google via a software flag.
people b Android Authority Managed to enable the “persist.vendor.usb.displayport.enabled” system property on these Tensor G3 powered phones, which is responsible for USB-C display output support. When this flag is set to 0, then the DisplayPort is disabled. This flag was set to 0 Until the latest version of Android 14 QPR3 Beta 2, where it was changed 1, Enable DisplayPort for everyone by default for Pixel 8 series users enrolled in the Android beta program.
The DisplayPort is still disabled on the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro because the latest stable update is based on Android 14 QPR2, while the upcoming June update is based on Android 14 QPR3. So, Pixel 8 and 8 Pro users who aren’t enrolled in the beta program will get the display output support with next month’s stable update.
Speaking of the Pixel 8a, whose latest software version is build UD2A.240505.001.B1 based on Android 14 QPR2, it will get the feature in next month’s update because the June stable update, which is under review, has the DisplayPort settings set to 1, enabling the feature by default. Until the feature arrives, connecting your Pixel 8 phone to a screen via a USB-C cable will only mirror your screen.