Google’s latest smartphone hits the shelves today as retailers begin shipping out the new Pixel 9a. It marks the latest release in Google’s Pixel 9a series, following the standard 9 and the 9 Pro, which launched last year.
The 9a is touted as being a more budget-friendly edition of the standard Pixel 9, with some networks offering it from £13 per month. But even with its lower price tag, the new model has a 6.3” Actua display, 128GB storage, a dual rear camera with 48MP wide and 13MP ultrawide lenses, countless AI features and the same processor as the rest of the Pixel 9 series.
The phone officially launches today with a variety of deals from retailers including Sky Mobile, Mobiles.co.uk, Amazon, EE, Vodafone and O2. We’re covering the launch live and will have all the information you need to find the best deal on the Google Pixel 9a.
Keep up to date with the Google Pixel 9a launch by following our live blog below. If you have any questions contact jake.hackney@reachplc.com.
With our favourite Google Pixel 9a deals covered, we’re going to bring our live coverage to an end. You can scroll down to find our round-up of the latest deals, or follow the links below to buy the phone today.
O2’s contracts also look pretty enticing with its inclusive O2 extras, made famous by the one and only Sean Bean. O2 customers can choose from a variety of benefits including free Disney+ Standard or Amazon Prime, with the length of the extra dependent on the contract you choose.
Opting for the 25GB Classic plan at £30.69 and £30 upfront comes with three months of Disney+ or Amazon, while the 15GB Plus plan comes with six months. Each option also includes varying levels of inclusive EU roaming, making O2 another one to consider for those frequent travellers.
Now onto EE’s prices, which on the surface do look more pricey, but you also get plenty of bang for your buck. Opting for EE’s Unlimited All Rounder contract will cost you £47.01 each month and £30 upfront, which, while much more than the deals we’ve flagged from the likes of Sky and Mobiles.co.uk, also comes with a lot more.
As well as unlimited data, minutes and texts, this option includes free EU roaming, unlimited data for a smartwatch and an inclusive extra like Netflix Standard – which now costs £12.99 when signing up direct.
This more expensive plan may not suit everyone, but if you’re someone that often finds themselves on the continent, it could be worth considering. EE also offers trade-in discounts, which can knock hundreds off the overall cost.
In checking out what other tech experts are saying about the Google Pixel 9a, it’s hard to find any glaring negatives. However, the guys at Tom’s Guide did find one aspect of the phone that may fall short compared to premium rivals.
On the performance offered by the Pixel 9a’s Tensor chip, Tom’s Guide said: “Google’s move to its own Tensor silicon has been crucial to supporting all those AI-powered features. But the Tensor doesn’t offer a lot of performance muscle, and that’s not likely to change with the Tensor G4 powering the Pixel 9a.
“It doesn’t keep pace with the Snapdragon 8 Elite or Apple A18 silicon powering some of our top picks for the best phones. The Pixel 9a figures to handle everyday tasks well, but if you depend on a lot of power-intensive apps, you’re probably going to want to look elsewhere.”
The Pixel 9a has plenty to shout about, offering some of the best aspects of more premium handsets at a lower cost. As well as its 6.3″ AMOLED screen, AI-powered software and the same Tensor G4 processor found in the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro, it also comes with seven years of software updates.
According to Daily Express tech expert Henry Burrell, this is a joint industry-best promise, matching the rest of the Pixel line up and certain flagship phones from Samsung and Honor. Ahead of its launch, Henry argued that the Pixel 9a is a ‘no brainer’ compared to its pricier models.
He said: “With an aluminium frame, glass back, full IP68 dust and water resistance, fingerprint and face unlock and all the Pixel software features you’ll find on pricier models, the Pixel 9a looks like it will be a no brainer compared to the regular Pixel 9. The 9a could further prove some of the best phones available aren’t the most expensive.”
Vodafone is also giving away a whopping trade-in discount of up to £292, including a £150 bonus to rival Sky’s deal. This is only available with select handsets, so check Vodafone’s Trade-in Tool here to see what you can get.
The network is also offering some pretty tempting Pixel 9a contracts, such as the £18 per month plan. Usually priced at £34, this comes with 5GB data and a low upfront cost of £20.
Keep in mind though that any trade-in discounts can be used to reduce the monthly cost even further, so it’s worth checking out.
Now to Sky Mobile, which is giving customers a £150 trade-in bonus when handing in an old phone. Until Monday, anyone taking out a Pixel 9a contract and trading in their old handset will receive an extra £150 on top of the trade-in value of their old device.
Sky’s Pixel 9a prices start at £16 per month, but keep in mind it must also be paired with a Sky data SIM. These range from £0 for 100MB, all the way to £20 for unlimited, while the £10 50GB deal is a great middle-of-the-road option
Shoppers happy to pay a little more can bag themselves a free Google Pixel Watch 3 in another Mobiles.co.uk deal. The cheapest option is the £14.99 per month, 100GB iD Mobile contract.
This version comes with a £209 upfront cost – £80 more than the Pixel buds deal – but there are a range of options with lower upfront costs for those preffering to spread the cost.
One deal that really caught our eye is from Currys-owned retailer Mobiles.co.uk, which is offering the Pixel 9a for £14.99 per month. This comes with 100GB of data on a 24-month iD Mobile contract, and a set of free Pixel Buds A Series to sweeten the deal.
Now, there is a £129 upfront cost with this plan, taking the total cost over the life of the contract to £506.76. However, this is only £7.76 more than buying the phone outright at £499, and it comes with data and earbuds.
The Google Pixel 9a is the latest budget smartphone to hit the market, following Apple’s new iPhone 16e (£599) and Samsung’s Galaxy A55 (£439).
But what about the monthly deals…
Google’s Pixel 9a is designed as a more affordable sibling to the Pixel 9 and 9 Pro, which hit the shelves in August and September last year. The new model comes in at a considerable price difference than the standard 9, but without scrimping on quality.
At launch, the standard 9 would’ve set you back £799, whereas the new 9a costs £499 from retailers like Amazon or Carphone Warehouse.
Welcome to our live blog. As mobile networks and retailers start handing out the Google Pixel 9a, our team is on hand to round up the best offers to help shoppers get the best deal.
We’ve got our eye on all the major retailers – and one or two lesser-known ones – as the Pixel 9a launches in the UK.
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