Earlier this year, the company issued an urgent firmware update for the long-discontinued Pixel 4A to address battery overheating concerns. (The 5,100mAh battery in the Pixel 9A is the largest of any Google phone to date.) Google has also had to extended warranty coverage for display defects on the Pixel 8.

Google’s Pixel 9a doesn’t just look like a strong successor over last year’s model, it also appears to be the best phone that won’t break the bank.

Google's two most affordable phones have plenty in common, including their designs, screen sizes, and processors. Can't choose between them? Here's what sets the $499 Pixel 9a and the $799 Pixel 9 apart.