Google Pixel 9a price just leaked — and it's way cheaper than iPhone 16e

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It looks like the newest Pixel will match the pricing of its predecessor.

Google Pixel 9a render
(Image credit: @Sudhanshu1414 on X)

With inflation and talk of incoming tariffs pushing up the cost of technology, it’s a worrying time for tech buyers on a budget. So we’re happy to report that the follow-up to our top pick of the best cheap smartphones, the Google Pixel 8a, looks set to stick with its competitive pricing in 2025.

A new report from Android Headlines claims to have pricing information on the Google Pixel 9a, and it appears to be completely unchanged across multiple territories.

Google Pixel 8a.

(Image credit: Future)

All signs point to a phone that’s going to absolutely justify the $499 cost of entry. We’re expecting the handset to be powered by the same Tensor G4 processor from the Pixel 9, backed by 8GB RAM and, on the cheaper version, 128GB of internal storage. A 5,100mAh battery should keep most users happy, too — a small upgrade from the 4,492mAh cell on the Pixel 8a, but a welcome one.

Design-wise, leaks of the phone have shown it doing away with the camera bar that’s been a calling card of Google phones since the Pixel 6. In its place is a small oval containing a dual-camera setup, expected to comprise a 48-megapixel main lens and a 13-megapixel ultrawide lens. That’s actually a surprise drop from the 64-megapixel sensor on the Pixel 8a, but it’s tipped to have a wider aperture, so results may end up being better.

Crucially, there’s still no telephoto lens. While that isn’t unusual for budget phones, the upcoming Nothing Phone 3a series is tipped to include one, which could give Google some stiff competition if Nothing doesn’t price itself out of the market in the process. We’ll find out on March 4 when it’s set to be unveiled at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

The Pixel 9a shouldn’t be far behind. While we had to wait until May for its predecessor’s reveal at Google I/O, this time around Google is tipped to be launching it early, and it could be available for preorder in less than a month.

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Alan Martin
Alan Martin

Freelance contributor Alan has been writing about tech for over a decade, covering phones, drones and everything in between. Previously Deputy Editor of tech site Alphr, his words are found all over the web and in the occasional magazine too. When not weighing up the pros and cons of the latest smartwatch, you'll probably find him tackling his ever-growing games backlog. He also handles all the Wordle coverage on Tom's Guide and has been playing the addictive NYT game for the last several years in an effort to keep his streak forever intact.

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