Google's $499 Pixel 9A Gets an April 10 Release Date

Google's Pixel 9A will start arriving in stores on April 10, with an initial release in the US and the UK. Google confirmed the release date for the $499 phone on its Pixel 9A support page Friday. Additional European territories will get the phone on April 14, followed by a launch in Australia on April 16.

The Pixel 9A was first revealed last week, but at the time its release period was labeled simply as early April. Following the pattern of the prior Pixel 7A and Pixel 8A, the Pixel 9A includes the Tensor G4 processor and many of the same software features available on the $799 Pixel 9. The 9A does depart from its pricier siblings with its design, which lacks the wide camera bar seen on other Pixel phones -- the back of the phone is completely flat. It also includes a bigger 5,100-mAh battery than what's included in the more expensive Pixel 9 phones.

We're looking forward to testing the Pixel 9A to see just how close this year's more affordable Pixel stacks up. Still, historically the Pixel A line includes enough of the same features to make it a compelling value option. This includes Google's seven-year commitment to software and security updates, and access to all of the Gemini AI features that will eventually fully displace the Google Assistant on Android phones.

Google also lists a Japan release as "coming soon," which is notable because the Pixel line has historically sold quite well in that country. According to Counterpoint Research, in 2023, the Pixel 7A's popularity helped the overall Pixel line become the top-selling Android brand in Japan. The delayed release might help Google prepare to support sales in that territory. 

The Pixel 9A also arrives just over a month after Apple debuted its $599 iPhone 16E, which is that company's slightly cheaper alternative to the iPhone 16. 

Watch this: First Look: Google's Pixel 9A Gets a Large Battery and New Design

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