The leaves are turning and pumpkin lattes have begun their assault on taste buds everywhere. But fear not, deals are also in the autumn air, including one great deal on our favorite Android phone of 2019. So far, at least.
Google’s Pixel 3A (9/10, WIRED Recommends) is anomalous in the Android world. It’s fairly powerful, has an amazing camera, charges quickly, has a headphone jack, and doesn’t cost a fortune. It feels like a premium phone without the premium price tag. And right now it’s on sale for $349.
If you want a larger screen, the Pixel 3A XL is also on sale. The 3A XL has a 6-inch display—larger than the 5.6-inch standard 3A. Other than screen size, the Pixel 3A and 3A XL are identical. They have the same camera, button layout, and insides.
On October 15, Google is poised to launch the Pixel 4 series, so this might not be the best deal if you tend to suffer from gadget FOMO. We don’t know if the 3A will be replaced, but even if it is, the new phone likely won’t be all that different. The Pixel 3A will still be a good deal next week.
The Google Pixel 3A costs $349 ($50 off) at Amazon
The Google Pixel 3A XL costs $429 ($50 off) at Amazon
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Is the Pixel 3A for You?
Be sure to check out our Best Android Phones to see how the Pixel 3A stacks up against the rest. Here’s what we like and dislike about the Pixel 3A.
WIRED: The Pixel 3A brings nearly all of what’s great about Google’s flagship Pixel 3 phone to a much less expensive package. You get the same great camera, including the stunning Night Mode, which turns out some of the best after-dark images you’ll get from any phone.
Inside, you get the Qualcomm Snapdragon 670 processor, 64 gigabytes of storage, and 4 gigabytes of RAM. The Snapdragon 670 isn’t a top-tier chip like the 855 you’ll find in the most expensive phones this year, but it’s speedier than anything you’ll find in other phones in the $400 range and fast enough that you probably won’t notice the difference.
Unlike some of our other favorite cheap phones, the Pixel 3A also has the new Google Maps AR, which makes using Google Maps while walking much nicer.
TIRED: There are a few sacrifices to be made when you step back from a high-end phone. The Pixel 3A’s screen doesn’t stretch to the very edge (or wrap over) like many flagship phones. It’s not waterproof, and there’s no wireless charging. It’s also made of polycarbonate. For us, that’s actually a point in its favor, since polycarbonate is more durable. But if you like fragile glass-backed phones, you’ll want to look elsewhere.
