SMARTPHONE | £499 from Amazon www.snipca.com/54747
Google Pixel 9a
Straight As
The Pixel 9a is the most affordable model in Google’s current line-up of smartphones. Its release follows the same pattern we’ve seen from Google over the past few generations, with the expensive flagship phones (in this case the Pixel 9 and 9 Pro series) launching first, then the affordable ‘a’ version appearing a few months later.
The best Android phone we’ve seen in its price range
The 9a looks a little different to the other Pixel 9 phones, losing the wide camera bar across the back and replacing it with a protruding section in the top-left corner. This makes it look more like a generic smartphone than a Pixel, and with its flat sides and rounded corners, it’s reminiscent of Apple’s iPhone 16e (£599 from www.snipca. com/54407, reviewed in Issue 708).