Google’s budget Pixel 9a smartphone is now available to pre-order in the UK – and we’ve picked out the offers worth looking at
Those in need of a mobile upgrade don’t have to go for the swankiest ‘Ultra’ or ‘Pro’ version of a device to get quality features. Apple now has its iPhone 16e, there’s the Samsung S24 FE, and Google’s new Pixel 9a – all budget variations of the latest ranges to help save shoppers extra pennies.
Google lifted the lid on its Pixel 9a smartphone a few weeks ago, and it’s finally available to buy in the UK, as retailers launch a variety of upfront deals and pay-as-you-go offers – some with standout freebies, including wireless earphones. EE, Mobiles.co.uk O2, and Three Mobile have revealed pre-orders, along with Sky Mobile’s £16 per month Pixel 9a plan.
Like its previous Pixel 8a smartphone, the 2025 Pixel 9a offers the best of Google’s Pixel 9 range features but is watered down into a cheaper handset, ideal for those on a tighter budget. It has a 6.3-inch actua display, a faster AI Gemini, and standout cameras considering its £499 price.
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But where’s best to buy? It all depends on if you’re looking to buy it outright or go for a contract plan. As we dig out the plans worth considering. Both Sky Mobile, Mobiles.co.uk, and Three Mobile stand out.
The iD Mobile plans at Mobiles.co.uk stand out with shorter 24-month contract lengths and the free accessories available – including a choice of Pixel Bud earphones and Pixel smartwatch if you scroll down.
Three Mobile has the biggest discount on Pixel 9a
On its site, Three Mobile is seemingly offering the biggest trade-in deal for those who pre-order the Pixel 9a. On its main homepage it says ‘save up to £431 when you trade-in’, a huge jump in comparison to Sky, Mobiles.co.uk, and O2 trade-in price of up to £150. The retailer’s prices depend on the repayment plan picked at checkout – with four different options, and even a 12-month plan.
The £431 saving, when digging into it, comes from a combination of a up to £150 trade-in discount, up to £240 off with select airtime plans, and a £41 saving on the cost of device with the pre-order deal – so, not purely down to the trade-in as the homepage confusingly points out (a downside for us).
Sky Mobile offers £150 off with trade-in
Sky has seemingly gone early with its Google Pixel 9a plan, as it’s available to ‘add to cart’ today. It offers the Pixel 9a for a device price of £16 per month which is spread across a 36-month plan. The eye-catching part comes with its launch offer – that’s harder to find at other providers.
It’s offering up to £150 off the price of the Pixel 9a to anyone who trades in an older phone, cutting the price of the device. Similar to how Samsung’s trade-in, offers the price will differ for each model as it depends on the age and run ability of the old phone, which Sky says the value is ‘determined after checkout’.
Get free wireless Pixel Buds earphones at Mobiles.co.uk
Mobiles.co.uk is also offering a trade-in offer for anyone looking to ditch their old mobile, with the same up to £150 discount as Sky, but it’s going a step further by offering a pair of Pixel Buds Pro 2 for shoppers.
The retailer scours mobile plans from iD Mobile and Vodafone. However, the earbuds deal isn’t available on all of its Pixel 9a plans, so shoppers need to be careful which one they pick (if they want the free earphones that is). The plan to choose is the iD Mobile Pixel 9a device and 500GB data one – priced at £14.99 per month, with a £149 upfront cost, the only thing we don’t like with the deal.
There are two reasons why this beats Sky Mobile – firstly, it’s a much shorter 24-month contract (compared to Sky’s 36-month plan) and the price includes data, and a decent 500GB of it. Overall, the plan comes to £508, so cheaper than Sky’s device-only rate too.
Other Google Pixel pre-orders
Pre-orders lift next week on April 10, when the device will be added to ‘buy now’ stock at retailers. As with any big tech launch, the pre-order window allows shoppers to secure a handset in fear of potential stock issues and catch the rare free accessory deals we’ve highlighted above (which usually end as the on-sale starts).
There are other options for shoppers, pre-orders are also available at Three Mobile, O2, EE, and Vodafone. For on of the best device contracts, Vodafone is a good pick as it’s one of the closest to Google’s outright price – at £416 overall with data to add on top.
O2 is also matching the up to £150 trade-in discount, although its prices are slightly above the rest – starting at £27.69 per month (with 5GB of data) and a £30 upfront fee. However, it does offer a full variety of colours with all Iris, Porcelain, Peony, and Obsidian in stock.
EE’s monthly device cost is £11.01 on the 36-month contract length or £16.51 when on the 24-month plan split. Like many other providers, its data is an added cost, and it starts from £25 per month.
If you’re a Google Pixel fan but not sure if the budget Pixel 9a is for you, then the standard Pixel 9 or Pixel 9Pro are good alternatives. The Google Pixel 9a is a mid-range option with many of the features of the Pixel 9, while the Pixel 9 stands out with a bigger RAM storage and camera upgrades.