The above features, alongside the annual hardware upgrades, make the Pixel 9a a big deal, literally and figuratively. The newcomer's under-$500 starting price has remained unchanged, suggesting that it could be an even better bang for the buck than the Pixel 8a it replaces.

Android lovers who just want a mostly clean version of the OS with a full feature set and good battery life probably don’t need to look anywhere else. For now, the Pixel 9a is the budget smartphone to beat in 2025.

The iPhone 16e benchmarks better and the Galaxy S24 FE has more flexible cameras, but the Pixel 9a has the perfect mix of both... and it's cheaper.