Deal | This $399 Pixel 9a deal gets you almost everything the Pixel 10a offers

The Pixel 10a might be Google’s newest affordable offering, but it’s strikingly similar to its predecessor, the Pixel 9a. This means you can pick up the last-generation model at a great price without missing out on much. Case in point: the Google Pixel 9a is currently $100 off for a limited time, turning this excellent mid-ranger into an even more tempting option for buyers who don’t mind a few missing perks.

Normally fetching $499, the Google Pixel 9a base variant with 128GB is currently $100 off on Amazon, bringing its price down to just $399. This doesn’t quite match its all-time low price of $349 we saw during last year’s Prime Big Deals Day, but it’s still a pretty solid deal considering you’re getting pretty much the same hardware as the newer Pixel 10a for $100 less. The only catch is that this deal is exclusive to the Peony pink colorway. If this is a deal-breaker (you can always put on a case, though), you’ll have to shell out more for other colors: $25 extra for Porcelain, $50 for Iris, and, in the case of Obsidian, a good $70. 

The Pixel 9a remains one of the best budget Android phones

We extensively reviewed the Pixel 9a here at Notebookcheck and found it to be one of the best compact Android smartphones on the market. It ticks most of the boxes for a capable, well-rounded midranger without any glaring compromises. The Pixel 9a’s 6.3-inch OLED panel is not only colorful and sharp, but it also gets plenty bright outdoors, registering a max full-screen brightness of 1,775 nits and a peak brightness of 2,653 nits (APL 18) in our testing.

Performance is handled by Google’s Tensor G4 chipset, paired with a 120Hz refresh rate display. While it won’t rival flagship phones, everyday tasks and even demanding games run just fine. The Pixel 9a also packs a generous 5,100mAh battery, supports 23W wired and 7.5W wireless charging, and carries an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance.

We were impressed with the phone’s primary 48MP shooter, which preserves a good amount of detail —you can count on it to produce impressive photos under most lighting conditions. The 13MP ultra-wide camera is serviceable for landscapes and group shots, though it doesn’t quite match the quality of the main shooter and struggles with macro shots. Both cameras support 4K video recording, but only the primary sensor can shoot 4K at 60fps.

Compared to the Pixel 10a, the older model misses out on a few perks, such as satellite connectivity, slightly tougher screen glass (Gorilla Glass 7i vs. Gorilla Glass 3 on the 9a), new AI features like Camera Coach, and an extra year of software support. However, with Google already promising seven years of updates for the Pixel 9a through 2032, those differences may not be enough to justify spending more.

Get the Pixel 9a for $100 off on Amazon