The Google Pixel 9 Pro was one of my favorite phones last year. How's it holding up in 2025? It's complicated.

The Pixel 9a goes on sale at some point in April — Google will give a specific date later on. And the phone promises some notable changes, including a whole new design. And as you'd imagine, the improvements touch on camera performance and AI — two major reasons to pick up a Pixel phone.

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.