Google pleased fans of its Pixel Android phones last month when it unveiled the Pixel 9a, a £499 handset that, on paper, doesn’t seem to lose too much compared to the £799 Pixel 9 that came out last year.
But, unusually for Pixel launches, Google did not immediately put the Pixel 9a up for pre-order. The firm then revealed that the phone was not ready yet due to a “component quality issue”, with no release date set.
That’s now changed, as Google has confirmed the Pixel 9a is going on sale in the UK on April 10, 2025.
That’s also when the phone will go on sale in the US and Canada, with many European countries getting access to the device on April 14, followed by Australia, India, Singapore, Taiwan, Malaysia on April 16. Google has not yet confirmed when Japanese fans will be able to buy the Pixel 9a.
If you’re on the hunt for a new Android phone but don’t want to shell out a grand, the Pixel 9a could be well worth a look. We’ve yet to get hands-on with the device, but the specs on paper look promising, with a 6.3-inch 120Hz AMOLED screen, the same Tensor G4 chip that’s found in the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro, 8GB RAM and 128GB storage, dual cameras fronted by a 48MP main sensor and a slew of AI-powered software tools such as Magic Editor to tune your photos and Photo Unblur, which does what it says on the tin.
Best of all for longevity, Google promises seven years of software updates for the Pixel 9a, a joint industry-best promise that matches the rest of the Pixel line up and certain flagship phones from Samsung and Honor. It means from the Pixel’s April 10 launch, you can expect Android updates and security updates until 2032. You might need to replace the battery in the phone before then, but the long support could mean you don’t need another phone until next decade.
With an aluminium frame, glass back, full IP68 dust and water resistance, fingerprint and face unlock and all the Pixel software features you’ll find on pricer models, the Pixel 9a looks like it will be a no brainer compared to the regular Pixel 9 that costs £300 more. It’s very difficult to justify that extra spend when the Pixel 9a is only £499.
The Pixel 9 Pro costing double at £999 also looks like a stretch despite its more premium metal design, supposedly better main camera and addition of an optical telephoto lens. The Pixel 9a could further prove some of the best phones available aren’t the most expensive.
Express.co.uk recently heaped praise on the Nothing Phone 3a, a phone that costs just £329 but packs in great performance, top design and capable triple cameras.
We are aiming to put the Pixel 9a through its paces as soon as possible to see if it’s the mid-range smartphone to beat, or if Nothing, Samsung or Motorola have got one up on Google this year.
