Well, we have a Pixel 9a release date now. The phone launches in the U.S., U.K. and Canada on April 10 before rolling out to 23 European countries on April 14. In Australia, you'll be able to get the Pixel 9a on April 16, with the phone eventually coming to Japan. (Google didn't list a date for that country.)

The Pixel 9a, like the Pixel 8a, is the final smartphone in its series. As a new budget-friendly option, it won’t feature all the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro capabilities. However, it includes many appealing elements, making it an excellent choice for many users.

And finally, the Pixel 9a has the more water and dust resistant design thanks to its IP68 rating — whereas the Pixel 7a has an IP67 one. That means the Pixel 9a can be submersed deeper in water without an issue.

As with the other A-series devices, this is to become the most affordable model in the current generation. Today we have with us Google's

The new Google Pixel 9a directly competes with iPhone 16e, which debuted last month as a budget-friendly model in Apple's iPhone 16 series

The Pixel 9a costs $300 less compared to the Pixel 9 and still carries some of the same flagship specs. But because of its limited RAM, it can't perform some of the flagship level AI operations that the Pixel 9 can.

Here's a specifications comparison between the Google Pixel 9a and OnePlus 13R to help you make the correct choice when purchasing a smartphone.

Google's latest flagship smartphone, the Pixel 9 Pro, is currently $300 off for Amazon's Big Spring Sale event.