Sure looks like it.

The 8a’s are literally $200 cheaper than the 8 and $300 cheaper than 9. The CPU and memory are the same, the screen is the same with a different glass. The cameras are better. It’s ok if it’s not the phone for you, but saying it’s clearly inferior is patently false.

This is worrying but… how does this woman keep getting distractingly more beautiful with age?

It’s ergonomics, yes. I like to use the phone one handed. With a big screen you have to adjust (scoot up and down) all the time, leading to falls (of the phone) and fatigue on the hand.

I’m concerned the pop socket would make it harder to stick my phone in my jeans. I know it’s retractable, maybe I could give it a go if I didn’t find a small phone.

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Nah, it’s pretty popular. Flatpack for the things you can’t / won’t use your regular package manager is the most common behavior.