Google's budget-friendly Pixel 9a offers seven years of updates, but its hardware specs are unlikely to keep up with future features.

Google just announced the Pixel 9A, surprising nobody because it’s been leaked to all heck. The camera bump is gone, it has a bigger screen, a Tensor G4 processor, and better water resistance, and it still starts at $499. It’s all looking like a pretty good deal, especially considering what Apple is charging for its new entry-level phone.

The most obvious difference between the Google Pixel 9a and Pixel 9 is the price. At $499, the Pixel 9a is the lowest priced of Google's current Pixel line of phones. In comparison, the Pixel 9 base model starts at $799.