Pixel 10a may see a price increase, but the Pixel 9a for $299 is a steal right now

Deals
By published

It's down to its all-time lowest cost

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

Google could be prepping its next budget Pixel in a matter of weeks, as Pixel 10a rumors hint at a possible launch in March. But considering how the RAM crisis could be driving margins down for many new gadgets, it’s very possible we might see a more expensive Pixel 10a — and that’s exactly why you should look at the Pixel 9a.

Older phones end up getting $100 price cuts when a newer device comes out, but the Pixel 9a for $299 courtesy of Best Buy right now is a steal you shouldn’t overlook. Normally it costs $499, which on its own makes it super affordable against flagship models that often exceed $1,000. This deal essentially gives it a 40% off discount, making it the all-time lowest I’ve seen for an unlocked Pixel 9a. (Note: You'll need to activate your phone on Verizon or AT&T to get this price).

Google Pixel 9a
Google Pixel 9a: was $499 now $299 at Best Buy

The Pixel 9a offers the complete package with its versatile dual-camera system, incredibly bright 6.3-inch AMOLED display, and a slew of Google AI features that take complex tasks and streamlines them to save you time. Its design is also worth mentioning because it's one of the few phones out right now that have a flush camera design. In order to get its price down to $299, you need to select the option to have it activated on Verizon or AT&T.
Price check: $399 @ Amazon

View Deal

Prior to this, the cheapest I’ve seen the Pixel 9a was $299 during Black Friday. Even though Mint Mobile brought it down to $199, that deal required you pay for a year’s worth of unlimited cell phone service upfront — making the total cost at checkout come out to $379. Best Buy’s deal on the Pixel 9a is for an unlocked model and ends up costing $299 when it’s activated on either Verizon or AT&T.

Even though I anticipate the Pixel 10a to still be a best cheap phone contender once it’s released, this year’s budget Pixel could end up costing more due to the RAM crisis. Many companies are already forecasting narrower margins because of pricing concerns for components.

That’s why this Pixel 9a deal is hard to pass up on, especially when it shares many of the new features found with the newer Pixel 10 lineup. For example, the AI-assisted Ask Photos feature that allowed me to create complex photo edits by simply describing them was exclusive to the Pixel 10, but it has since gone on to be a standard feature within Google Photos.

Speaking of photos, the Pixel 9a’s dual cameras offer the utility I crave to capture most things. In my 200 photo shootout between the Pixel 9a and iPhone 16e, Google’s phone came out on top — with stronger performances in low light and macro mode. At the same time, it also lasted longer on our battery test. For all of these reasons, this is why you should still get the Pixel 9a.

John Velasco
John Velasco
Senior Channel Editor for Phones

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.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.