Google’s Pixel “a” series has come a long way since the beloved 3a launched in 2019—and the new Pixel 9a shows just how far it’s evolved. From flagship-grade chips to top-tier cameras and displays, here’s a look back at how Google’s budget king became a fan favorite
Google took us all by surprise when it introduced the Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL at just $400 back in 2019. I remember a good friend of mine who bought the 3a and absolutely loved the phone. He was such a happy customer that he held onto the phone for five years before retiring it with grief in his heart (he still occasionally mentions it).
It’s weird to realize that the first of Google’s popular “a” series is so old now—seven years, to be exact. Fast forward to 2025, and we now have the seventh generation, the Pixel 9a.
While Google’s budget/mid-range “a” series have not been perfect per se, one could make the argument that each model has managed to hit the sweet spot between price and function that every sensible buyer is looking for. This cannot be said for many other phones out there.
With every new generation, Google has tried to offer more and more for as small of an asking price as possible. It is crazy to think that with so much time passed—and the wave of price hikes during these years—the Pixel 9a costs only $100 more than the Pixel 3a.
So, you might call this a tribute to Google’s Pixel “a” series, or you can view it as simply a retrospective look at the company’s budget-friendly line. I just think the heritage of this phone deserves a throwback and a bird’s eye view of its journey so far.
This was the start of an era. Like many other phone manufacturers at the time, Google had been focusing on more expensive flagship devices. This was all at the time when people were still going crazy about $1000 phones being too pricey. But 2019 was also the year when Google decided to bring back the spirit of its Google Nexus series—enter the Google Pixel 3a and 3a XL.
These first “a” series Pixels were more apparently budget-oriented compared to the more recent ones. They had plastic bodies, weaker processors compared to their flagship counterparts, limited storage options and more. But all of those sacrifices are maybe what enabled Google to create the Pixel 3a’s strongest selling point.
Both the Pixel 3a and 3a XL had the exact same camera of the more expensive ($800) Pixel 3! Now, it might have been a single camera instead of the double and triple camera systems that others offered, but the Pixel 3 series managed to get critically acclaimed despite that handicap.
Oh, and let’s not gloss over the fact that the 3a XL’s battery was an absolute best, lasting almost 11 hours during our battery life tests, vs the 8 hours of the Pixel 3 flagship.
So, needless to say, this was a stellar start to the “a” series timeline, the nature of which would continue with future generations.
The Pixel 4a had big shoes to fill after the 3a’s success, but somehow it still managed to impress us. Probably a big part to play in that achievement was the fact that it was cheaper! And even though it cost only $349, it came with an upgraded processor and storage (128GB standard). Google also gave the 4a a more modern edge-to-edge OLED screen with a punch-hole camera at the top left corner (which I feel is somehow less obtrusive than the current trend).
At the time, we described the 4a as “an incredible value and a triumphant addition to Google’s smartphone legacy.” These words alone should give you an idea of how we felt about the phone.
Of course, with an even lower price tag, Google had to make some notable sacrifices. The 4a still didn’t have water resistance, wireless charging and a secondary camera. Most crucially, however, the Pixel 4a did not support the new 5G mobile network that was catching on.
Later that same year, the company came out with the Pixel 4a 5G. But it did not only add 5G connectivity with this new model. It was a bigger and faster phone, with a 6.2-inch display, dual rear cameras (adding a 16MP ultra-wide shooter), and the Snapdragon 765G chip—the first time an “a” series came with a flagship chipset (the same as with the Pixel 5).
But all of these upgrades couldn’t have kept the price the same as with the non-5G model. The Pixel 4a 5G came at $499 (same as the Pixel 9a), but it was still a bargain considering how much it borrowed from the Pixel 5.
