I tried the best new budget Android phone for 2025 – three reasons to STOP wasting hundreds on fancy, expensive mobiles

The Irish Sun

26-04-2025

IT seems 2025 is the year for budget friendly smartphones - and the Google Pixel 9a might be the best I've tried yet.
Only a couple of weeks ago, I was singing the praises of
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Things look quite different on the back of the Pixel 9a
Credit: Jamie Harris / The Sun
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Android 15 at its finest
Credit: Jamie Harris / The Sun
But now Google has come to steal some of its thunder.
I'm all for this mid-range mobile race, as prices for smartphones seem to have spiralled out of control.
As The Sun's main Android reviewer, Google's Pixel A series has always been up there as a favourite.
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This time, the Google Pixel 9a should be enough to lure more users - and hopefully make others realise you don't need to break the bank for high quality.
Now I think we've found the best budget smartphone around for 2025 so far of all brands - find out why below.
Google Pixel 9a: Look and feel
The Pixel 9a stays true to form with a consistent evolution from last year's model.
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However, there is one instantly big difference and it's a positive change.
Google has drastically slimmed down the camera set-up, ditching the huge imposing bar on the 8a so it's almost perfectly flat against the surface now.
In a world full of bulky cameras, I think this is a good step.
The body of the 9a is also a lot more rounded, which gives it a more premium feel.
So much so, I sometimes mistakenly pick it up thinking it's my main
Google has also managed to increase the display size ever so slightly too, up to 6.3-inches wide compared with 6.1-inches last year.
However, the bezel black border around the edge is a bit thicker than I'd like.
I love how light the 9a is too, coming in at 186g.
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The camera bulge has been drastically reduced
Credit: Jamie Harris / The Sun
Google Pixel 9a: Performance and features
The Google Pixel 9a runs on Android 15, which is the company's very latest version of the software.
Given that Google owns Android it means you'll be pretty much first in line to most new features and updates.
And the firm has committed to provide a whooping seven major updates - as these are usually released annually this means the 9a should last you seven years, giving you good value for money.
The best thing about having a Google made phone is getting the purest version of Android, as the creators intended it to be with little meddling and no bloatware apps you don't need.
Who offers free updates longest?
The longer you receive updates, the longer you can safely continue using your smartphone - with the latest features thrown in too for free.
Samsung
For the Galaxy S25 series, Samsung said it would provide at least seven generations of OS updates and seven years of security updates.
OnePlus
At the launch of the OnePlus 13, OnePlus committed to at least four years of Android updates and six years of security updates.
Xiaomi
Xiaomi offers four years off Android updates and five years security updates.
Google
For the Pixel 9 series, Google said that devices would receive at least seven versions, which is about seven years of support.
Google also has its own Tensor G4 chip inside to keep things smooth, which is the same as the ones found on the other, more expensive Pixel 9 models.
The key difference is that the RAM is left at 8GB instead of 12GB used on the others, but when trying it with games I had no troubles.
An under screen finger print sensor to unlock your phone fast is used once again, with the option of facial recognition if preferred.
In terms of features, there isn't anything hugely different from last year.
But with Android 15 there are some handy AI tools at your disposal such as spam call detection.
And there are some really useful AI photo features too, which I go into below.
Google Pixel 9a: Camera
Pixels have always had pretty solid cameras.
The 9a has a decent dual rear camera system, with a 13-megapixel ultrawide camera and a 48-megapixel main camera.
Google has thrown in Macro Focus for the first time on its cheaper A series Pixels too.
In terms of features, you now have Best Take to pick the perfect face in those group shots and the magical Add Me tool puts you in group shots after taking a photo.
The results are decent enough as you can see below with a portrait shot and photo from the main camera.
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Example of portrait mode in action
Credit: Jamie Harris / The Sun
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Garden shot using the main camera
Credit: Jamie Harris / The Sun
Google Pixel 9a: Battery
Google has beefed up the battery with the 9a, measuring in at 5,100mAh - bigger than its own Pixel 9 Pro XL.
However, it doesn't necessarily last longer.
I could easily get through a whole day on a single charge after fair use browsing the web, watching videos on YouTube, messaging and taking the odd photo, with some juice to spare the next day.
The Pixel 9a does support wireless charging but this will always be slower compared to wired.
When using a wire, the charging speed is 23W which is quite slow compared to rivals - expect to wait more than an hour to get a full charge from zero to 100 per cent.
Google Pixel 9a: Pricing
The Google Pixel 9a costs £499 which is vastly cheaper than most big name phones you'll find.
That's also the same price as last year's 8a, so the company hasn't increased it like others.
Google Pixel 9a: Verdict
I love the slightly revamped look of the Pixel 9a and the fact I mix it up with my existing iPhone 16 Pro Max says a lot.
Namely, that you don't need to spend more than a thousand pounds to own a decent smartphone.
The camera on the Pixel continues to impress and the performance hits the spot too.
There are fewer AI tools but the most useful ones are all there, particularly for photography.
This is my favourite budget-friendly smartphone of 2025 so far.
Rating: 5 / 5
All prices in this article were correct at the time of writing, but may have since changed.
Always do your own research before making any purchase.