Joe Mark / Android Authority
In the world of writing about Android phones on the Internet, big flagship – Google Pixel 9 profession, Samsung Galaxy S25 ultrason, and the world’s One Plus 13s is very easy to focus. These are the phones that have the best and fastest fours, and they often have the most fun to talk.
But so important, if not high, there are more cheap handsets. Expensive flagships may be interesting, but they are not the phones that everyone is buying.
For the past several months, after using One Plus 13 as my departing Android phone (especially, the version of which is $ 1,000), I recently see how the experience will be. Ryan called it a “best $ 500 phone” which he had ever used in our Pixel 9A review, but coming directly from the more expensive phone, how would I go with it?
As it turns out, beautiful drain is fine.
What do you think is the best affordable Android phone in 2025?
1827 votes
Google Pixel 9A
50 %
Nothing phone 3a/3A Pro
9 %
MotoG Styls (2025)
6 %
One Plus 13 r
26 %
Samsung Galaxy A36 5G
5 %
Other (tell us in the comments)
4 %
Pixel 9A fixes almost everything
Joe Mark / Android Authority
My journey with Pixel 9A was straightforward. I had been using One Plus 13 since January, but in May, I converted my SIM from OnePlus 13 to Pixel 9A and started using it as a smartphone. And throughout this time, I have been most impressed about Pixel 9A how smooth the $ 500 change from $ 1,000 phones is smooth.
One of the things standing in front of me was Pixel 9A’s hardware. This is the cheapest phone of Google’s current pixel lineup, but you will not be able to say that at the time of holding 9A. Aluminum frame, dense (not too heavy) between weight, supersh buttons, and beautiful matte finish, Pixel 9A looks like a phone and feels that instead of reducing costs.
There is something about the camera collision – or, but also lacking. This design caught a lot of flak that reached the release of Pixel 9A, but has been living with it for a few months, I think it is fantastic. Having a phone with a competent camera system that puts a flat on the table is not something we often face in 2025, and has been treated with Pixel 9A to return to this life.
Joe Mark / Android Authority
Pixel 9A feet and beyond the finish, the rest of its hardware has been equally impressive. The polyard panel, while the display on OnePlus 13 is not as technically as technically, is still good. I can use a little more brightness, but the pixel 9A screen is sharp, colorful and absolutely fluid, thanks to its 120 herts refresh rate. For a $ 500 phone, it’s more than enough.
Daily performance is also solid. I have seen that after prolonged use, Pixel 9A has heated twice, as can be expected with a Google phone with tanker chip. But all my apps open and run without any problem, multi -tasking works without interruption, and Gemini is as accountable as I expect.
What about the cameras? They are good! It is a pixel camera and through it and with the pixel style provides permanent, HDR heavy images you expect from Google phones over the past years. When I pick up Pixel 9A to take the picture, I can always guarantee that I will find a good look (if not a jaw -falling picture), and it’s very incredible for a $ 500 phone.
I knew that I was well received in my time with the Pixel 9A phone, and Google provides permanently with its Pixel A series. So when I can’t say that I was surprised that I enjoyed Pixel 9A as much as I did, it is still commendable that Google impressed me a lot – especially directly from a phone that costs about double.
What I missed about One Plus 13
Joe Mark / Android Authority
All this said, a phone is as cheap as Pixel 9A has to do Something One Plus 13 compromises compared to a phone, and this happens.
One of the most about One Plus 13 I missed is his battery life. Google Pixel 9A easily takes me into use for a whole day before I need to find a charger, and in light days, I can squeeze some battery in two days in the morning. This is good tolerance, though it is not compared to the two -day battery life in which I permanently go out of One Plus 13.
Similarly, the Blating Fast of OnePlus has been equally disappointing to go to Google’s minor 25W rate with the 80W wired charge, if not much. Pixel 9A takes more than 90 minutes to recharge from 0-100 %, while the OnePlus 13 is compared to about 30 30 minutes.
Not only do I have to charge the pixel 9A more times, but it has to be significantly more plugged in. There is something special about being able to use your phone for two days at a time and then put the whole battery again in just half an hour, and Pixel 9A does not offer too much experience.
Ryan Hans / Android Authority
Finally, the camera. As good and reliable as the Pixel 9A camera system may be, it lacks better versatility that comes with more expensive Android phones. Google’s primary and ultra -wide sensors are both solid, but they do not cope with the absence of a telephoto camera. This is one of the most notable areas where the low cost of Pixel 9A is felt, especially as someone who likes to zoom in forest life on the path of nature.
and 500 Android phone really you need
Joe Mark / Android Authority
Do I wish I had a long life of a battery in Pixel 9A? Would it be good if it was charged faster? Do I think the telephoto camera would be great? For all of them.
However, it is worth noting that these minor complaints are relatively minor complaints in the great scheme of things. Out of this nutrition, the daily experience of the use of Pixel 9A, sometimes, is not separated from a much more expensive flagship.
Pixel 9A, sometimes, is not separated from a very expensive flagship.
Pixel 9A is a well -enjoying Android phone in almost every series. This is a device about which I really spent more than the last two months, even with $ 1,000 One Plus 13. If I didn’t have to switch to any other phone to review soon, I would gladly use Pixel 9A for a while, and I’m not sure I can appreciate it better.
The flagship phones are still enjoying, but at the end of the day, phones like Pixel 9A are proof that you don’t really need them.
Google Pixel 9A
Google Pixel 9A
Built -in Gemini • incredible camera • all day battery
All pixel accessories for less.
The Google Pixel brings up to seven years of built -in Gemini, an incredible camera, a whole day battery, and Seven for less than 500.
