There are plenty of great phones to pick up this holiday season if you’re looking for something new. However, if you’ve been looking to get the Google Pixel experience on a budget, there’s only one device you should be looking at.

The Google Pixel 9a is an impressive piece of hardware that also delivers an awesome software experience. And while we think it’s a good phone to pick up for its retail price, we love it even more when it gets a nice discount.

And although we thought the price drop to $400 was nice, we’re now seeing it hit its lowest price ever, coming in at just $349 for a limited time.

The one most people should pick up

While the Pixel 10 gets a lot of attention, the Pixel 9a is the one most people should pick up. It offers a refined design, along with a solid in-hand feel. It also has a display that looks great, the latest Android software from Google, and will receive plenty of updates to keep it feeling fresh over the next several years.

Google got all the hardware right

The Pixel 9a features a 6.3-inch pOLED display with a refresh rate that can reach up to 120Hz. You also get a powerful Google Tensor G4 chip that’s paired with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of onboard storage.

There’s also a 5,100mAh battery that will provide all-day use for most people, and 23W wired charging for quick top ups. It has a dual camera sensor on the rear, with a 48MP main camera and 13MP ultrawide.

The phone will feel fresh for years

Android is getting to a place that feels really polished. Google constantly pumps out updates, but it feels like its just fine-tuning what’s already there, while also adding small additions here and there. Of course, that can all change, with Google committing to providing the Pixel 9a with seven years of updates.

As you can imagine, that’s a pretty big deal considering that software is what keeps aging hardware alive. While many folks will have moved on from the Pixel 9a in five years, those that keep it will be happy to know that Google will still supply it with new version of Android. This factor alone really ups the value of the phone.

The price is right

Again, while we thought it was a pretty good phone at its original price of $499, this special discount that drops it to $349 makes it a stellar purchase. Just be sure to pick it up while you can because these holiday discounts won’t be around for long.


Pixel 9a_Front_Porcelain copy

SoC

Google Tensor G4

Display type

pOLED, 120Hz

Display dimensions

6.3 inches

Display resolution

1080 x 2424

RAM

8GB

Google’s Pixel 9a takes everything that was great about the Pixel 8a and looks to modernize it. With an all-new Pixel 9-inspired look and no camera bump, this might be the best $500 smartphone we’ve seen yet.


Storage

128GB, 256GB

Battery

5,100mAh

Charge speed

23W wired, wireless charging

Charge options

USB-C wired, Qi wireless

Ports

USB-C

SIM support

Nano SIM, eSIM

Operating System

Android 15, 7 years of updates

Front camera

13MP, f/2.2

Rear camera

48MP f/1.7 OIS main, 13MP f/2.2 wide

Cellular connectivity

Sub-6 5G

Wi-Fi connectivity

Wi-Fi 6

Bluetooth

Bluetooth 5.3

Dimensions

154.7 x 73.3 x 8.9mm

Weight

186g

IP Rating

IP68

Colors

Obsidian, Porcelain, Iris, Peony

Price

$500