Google Pixel 9a just got biggest all-time price drop on Amazon — now under $400

Google Pixel 9a held in the hand with lowest badge nearby. — (Image credit: Future)

After I’ve reviewed the Pixel 9a earlier this, it made me wonder why Google continued to offer the Pixel 9. Now thanks to Amazon, I can reiterate that you’re better off buying the Pixel 9a because it’s down to its all-time lowest price.

For a limited time, Amazon’s offer a $100 off instant discount on the Pixel 9a — effectively bringing its price from $499 to $399. Even though it calculates to about a 20% off discount, the cost is so much better than the $799 cost of the Pixel 9. That’s a difference of $400 between the two phones, which is pretty substantial.

When you look at the side-by-side specs of the Pixel 9a vs. Pixel 9 below, you’ll see how they share a lot of things in common. From leveraging the Tensor G4 chip, to their displays, these two phones pack almost the same hardware. Given the price margin between the two right now, there’s a lot more incentive to go with the Pixel 9a.

They both feature 6.3-inch Actua Displays. While they have the same sharp details, the Pixel 9a in my testing has the brighter display — making it much more suitable outdoors with the sun out. In fact, the Pixel 9a achieves a peak brightness of 2,076 nits while the Pixel 9 comes up a little short at 1,769 nits. You won’t notice the difference indoors, but you’ll certainly see it outside while trying to watch videos.

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Pixel 9a vs. Pixel 9: Specifications
	Pixel 9a	Pixel 9
Display	6.3-inch Actua pOLED (2424 x 1080)	6.3-inch (1080 x 2424) OLED
Refresh rate	60-120Hz	60-120Hz
Chipset	Tensor G4	Tensor G4
RAM	8GB	12GB
Storage	128GB, 256GB	128GB, 256GB
Rear cameras	48MP (f/1.7) main, 13MP (f/2.2) ultrawide	50MP main (f/1.68), 48MP ultrawide (f/1.7)
Front camera	13MP (f/2.2)	10.5MP (f/2.0)
Battery size	5,100 mAh	4,700 mAh
Charging speed	23W wired	27W wired
Size	6.1 x 2.9 x 0.4 inches	6.02 x 2.83 x 0.33 inches
Weight	6.6 ounces	6.98 oz

Battery life is also another area where the Pixel 9 excels in because it actually comes close to matching the more expensive Pixel 9. In our testing, the Pixel 9a averaged 13 hours and 8 minutes — while the Pixel 9 averaged 13 hours and 18 minutes running the same test.

I also like the camera setup of the Pixel 9a, which has a flush design that makes the phone’s chassis uniformly the same. At the same time, it has a lot of the Pixel 9’s camera features, like Magic Editor, Auto Frame, Reimagine, Photo Unblur, and Pixel Studio.

For the $400 difference, you should absolutely get the Pixel 9a over the Pixel. It simply makes the best cheap phone around even cheaper to own. And lastly, you should know that the Pixel 10 is tipped to be announced at the next Made by Google event on August 10. That’s just another reason why you shouldn’t be getting the Pixel 9.

John’s a senior editor covering phones for Tom’s Guide. He’s no stranger in this area having covered mobile phones and gadgets since 2008 when he started his career. On top of his editor duties, he’s a seasoned videographer being in front and behind the camera producing YouTube videos. Previously, he held editor roles with PhoneArena, Android Authority, Digital Trends, and SPY. Outside of tech, he enjoys producing mini documentaries and fun social clips for small businesses, enjoying the beach life at the Jersey Shore, and recently becoming a first time homeowner.

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