The most overlooked Pixel just got a huge Black Friday cut — the Pixel 9a is $150 off

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With a big price cut, the Pixel 9a offers premium Pixel features without the premium cost.

All four Google Pixel 9a phones in each color (Iris, Peony, Porcelain, and Obsidian) placed artistically against or in front of a wooden display.
(Image credit: Michael Hicks / Android Central)

Black Friday is a great time to buy a new smartphone, but not everyone wants to spend flagship-level money. Many of us are totally fine with a budget phone as long as it gets the job done, and that's why I've been loving the Pixel 9a since its launch in March 2025.

The Pixel 9a brings many of the features you find on flashy flagship Pixel phones, but at a lower price, and this Black Friday, it's getting even cheaper. Right now, you can grab the Pixel 9a for $150 off, which means you can pick it up for just $349.

Google Pixel 9a
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Google Pixel 9a: was $499 now $349 at Amazon

For $349, the Pixel 9a is one of the best budget smartphones you can buy this Black Friday. With the Pixel 9a, you'll get timely software updates, a clean experience, and access to nearly all AI features found on flagship Pixel phones for a price that won't burn a hole in your pocket.

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✅Recommended if: You want a compact Pixel with a great primary camera, clean software, and reliable AI features at a price that's far lower than flagship Pixel phones.

❌Skip this deal if: You expect flagship-grade extras, since there's no telephoto lens, no high-end zoom, and the bezels around the display are fairly thick.

The best perk of owning a Pixel is the clean software and timely updates, and that's exactly what the Pixel 9a delivers. As soon as Google releases updates, the Pixel 9a gets them too. It was one of the first phones to receive Android 16, and thanks to the Tensor G4 chipset, it'll get the same seven years of OS updates as the other phones in the Pixel 9 series.

I personally use my Pixel 9a as a beta device to test new Android versions, and at this price, you might want to consider doing the same if you want the latest Android experience without risking your daily driver.

The Google Pixel 9a in Iris on a rock fixture.

(Image credit: Brady Snyder / Android Central)

Apart from that, you get great battery life as well, something we can't say about all Pixel phones. The Pixel 9a packs a 5,100 mAh battery that easily lasts a full day without reaching for a charger. Plus, you get the signature Pixel camera with consistent results in all conditions, something most budget phones simply can't match.

Sure, there are downsides to an A-series phone. For example, the bezels around the Pixel 9a's display are fairly thick, and there's no telephoto camera on the back, which means no optical zoom apart from the 2x crop on the main sensor. But these are expected limitations for a budget device.

All that said, if you're looking for a new smartphone this Black Friday without spending too much, or want to gift someone a phone without worrying about fancy flagship features, the Pixel 9a is more than good enough, especially considering it'll be supported long term.

Sanuj Bhatia
Sanuj Bhatia
Contributor

Sanuj is a tech writer who loves exploring smartphones, tablets, and wearables. He began his journey with a Nokia Lumia and later dived deep into Android and iPhone. He's been writing about tech since 2018, with bylines at Pocketnow, Android Police, Pocket-Lint, and MakeUseOf. When he's not testing gadgets, he's either sipping chai, watching football, or playing cricket.

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