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 Google Pixel 9a is on sale right now, priced at £499 in the UK, $499 in the US, or AU$849 in Australia. That maintains its year-on-year price over the previous Pixel 8a, which is great to see in today's market.