The Google Pixel 9a is the best $500 phone that I’ve ever tested

Google Pixel 9a It might look streamlined and understated, but the Pixel 9a is Google at its very best. It packs the right mix of features and flexibility with a simplified design that no longer picks up dust on its way in or out of your pocket. Pair that with long-term updates and a battery that goes and goes, and it's hard to find another phone worth recommending as much as this one at the same $499 price. Everyone loves a good flagship phone — they get the best cameras, the fastest charging, and the best materials that an (increasingly large) pile of money can buy. I’m no different. I love to keep a Pixel 9 Pro or an iPhone 16 in my pocket, and I try to spend a few months of the year with a foldable phone as my primary device. The rest of the time, though, I hop from one budget or mid-range phone to the next, trying to find out how much you can get without breaking the bank. Sometimes, I’m let down by the experience, but other times, I am ready to recommend a cheaper phone to almo ... Read full article.