Pixel 8a supports USB-C display output but its hidden and locked for now

The Google Pixel 8a appears to support USB-C display output. However, the feature is currently hidden and locked behind a software flag, which could be unlocked in an upcoming update.

Is the Pixel 8a capable of supporting USB-C display output?

Google announced the Pixel 8a last week. The mid-range Android smartphone has a surprisingly attractive price tag of $499. As it falls under the Pixel brand, Google will offer the latest Android OS and security updates for the Pixel 8a, well before other brands.

The Google Pixel 8a currently runs the Android 14 QPR2 update. It is powered by Google’s Tensor G3 SoC (System on a Chip). Interestingly, it has the same USB controller, which is embedded inside the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro.

The advanced USB controller is capable of supporting an external display connected to the USB-C port on the smartphone. Its presence inside the Google Pixel 8a implies the mid-range smartphone too should be capable of supporting USB-C display output.

However, the Pixel 8a, with its current Android OS version, lacks the feature. This means Google may have restricted USB-C display output on the Pixel 8a.

Google to unlock the display output feature soon?

The Pixel 8a has the same SoC that powers the Pixel 8 which launched last year. Interestingly, Google has locked the feature. The company could enable the feature via an OTA (Over-The-Air) update for the entire Pixel 8 series.

Mishaal Rahman, over at Android Authority, discovered the Pixel 8a supports “DisplayPort Alternate Mode signal.” In other words, the latest mid-range Pixel smartphone can send a display signal over its USB-C port.

Google appears to have disabled and locked a software flag inside the Android OS powering the Pixel 8a. Specifically speaking, a system property dubbed “persist.vendor.usb.displayport.enabled“, is set to 0.

Google is likely to enable this feature soon, Rahman observed. This is because the same flag has been set to 1 in the Android 14 QPR3 Beta 2 release.

Currently, the Pixel 8a is running the Android 14 QPR2 (with May security patches). It should receive the Android QPR3 soon. What this means is that the Google Pixel 8a is reportedly set to support USB-C display output via a future Android OS update.