Screenshot : Google In the past, Pixel phones weren’t always the easiest to procure, especially at launch due to limited retailer support and notoriously short pre-order supplies. The newly announced Pixel 3a and 3a XL, however, are available from just about every major carrier and outlet in the US, and all of them are offering additional perks or extra savings. Below is an overview of the newest additions to the Pixel smartphone line, and all the places you can buy them. Advertisement Pixel 3a and 3a XL specs and pricing The Pixel 3a and 3a XL are leaner, more affordable versions of the premium Pixel 3 and 3 XL smartphones that launched last year. Both the 3a and 3a XL come with similar specs, including: Memory: 4GB RAM 4GB RAM Internal storage: 64 GB 64 GB Chipset Qualcomm Snapdragon 670 Qualcomm Snapdragon 670 OS: Google-based Android OS Back camera: 2.2-megapixel, f/1.8 lense 2.2-megapixel, f/1.8 lense Front camera: 8-megapixel 8-megapixel Integrated headphone jack Battery: 3,000mAh (Pixel 3a); 3,700mAh (Pixel 3a XL) 3,000mAh (Pixel 3a); 3,700mAh (Pixel 3a XL) Screen size: 5.6 inches, 2220x1080 resolution (Pixel 3a); 6 inches, 2160x1080 resolution (Pixel 3a XL) 5.6 inches, 2220x1080 resolution (Pixel 3a); 6 inches, 2160x1080 resolution (Pixel 3a XL) Price: Pixel 3a: $400; Pixel 3a XL: $480 While the 3a versions aren’t as capable as the premium Pixel 3 handsets—due to slower processors, no waterproofing, and no wireless charging feature—they do share one important aspect: Their cameras. These are some of the best smartphone cameras available, with current features like Night Sight, Portrait Mode, and Top Shot. They’ll both be receiving the upcoming Time Lapse mode, as well. Where to buy the Pixel 3a and 3a XL Previous Pixel phones were exclusive to Verizon, Google Fi, and select retailers, but you can grab a Pixel 3a or 3a XL from almost all the major US mobile carriers—except for AT&T, unfortunately, though AT&T will support the phone on its network, meaning customers can buy one elsewhere then slot in an AT&T SIM card to activate it on their account. All 3a and 3a XL purchases include 3 months of free YouTube Music premium (normally $10 per month) regardless of where you bought it or what network it’s on—though you can’t be a current subscriber to either YouTube Premium or YouTube Music Premium in order to qualify for the extra perk. We’ve also listed any other special offers or pricing options from the various retailers below. Buy a Pixel 3a or 3a XL unlocked Advertisement Buy Pixel 3a or 3a XL from carriers<doc-sep>Google’s newest phone brings the camera prowess of the Pixel 3 and 3 XL to a more acceptable price. It’s called the Google Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL, and while the new phones may compromise on build materials and internal components a little, it still has what everyone loves about the Pixel range: Supersmart camera tech, Google Assistant, and a range of other clever software features. You may be wondering where you can get the Google Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL for yourself. Thankfully, there are a range of options. You can buy the phone unlocked and use it on your preferred carrier, or you can get it straight from your carrier, which might mean good deals and payment plans. Here’s everything you need to know about buying the Google Pixel 3a or Pixel 3a XL. Unlocked The Google Pixel 3a and 3a XL are available unlocked straight from Google, and that’s good news for those that simply want to own their phone outright. The device is relatively affordable too — you will pay $399 for the standard Google Pixel 3a , or a slightly more expensive $479 for the Google Pixel 3a XL. The phones can be bought directly from the Google online store — and if you buy them from Google, you’ll get a $100 gift card to the Google Store. You have to be signed in to your Google account when you make the purchase to get the gift card, which will expire on August 31, 2019. Google isn’t the only one offering $100 gift cards to customers. For example, if you buy from B&H Photo, you’ll get a $100 gift card to the B&H Photo store, and if you buy from Best Buy, you’ll get a $100 gift card to Best Buy. The offers end on May 18. Carriers Unlike previous Google Pixel phones, the Google Pixel 3a and Google Pixel 3a XL are both available from a number of carriers. In fact, there’s really only one major carrier that the Pixel will not be available on — AT&T (but it will work on the network). Here’s everything we know about carrier availability of the Google Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL. AT&T As mentioned, AT&T is the only major carrier that’s not offering the Google Pixel 3a or 3a XL. That said, you can buy the phone unlocked and use it on AT&T — so if you’re on AT&T and want the device, that’s what you’ll have to do. Sprint Sprint will be offering the Google Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL both online and in stores, with availability beginning on May 8. Pricing for the phones on Sprint can be found below. Google Pixel 3a: $31.07 per month, including $11.07 per month for the phone itself on a Sprint Flex lease, and $20 per month for Sprint’s Unlimited Basic plan. $31.07 per month, including $11.07 per month for the phone itself on a Sprint Flex lease, and $20 per month for Sprint’s Unlimited Basic plan. Google Pixel 3a XL: $34.40 per month, including $14.40 per month for the phone itself on a Sprint Flex lease, and $20 per month for Sprint’s Unlimited Basic plan. T-Mobile T-Mobile is offering the the Google Pixel 3a and Google Pixel 3a XL starting at 9 p.m. PT. The phones will be available both online and in-store. Pricing for the Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL on T-Mobile is as follows. Google Pixel 3a: $400, or $16.67 per month for 24 months. $400, or $16.67 per month for 24 months. Google Pixel 3a XL: $480, or $20 per month for 24 months. Verizon Verizon is offering the Google Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL both online and in stores. Pricing for the Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL can be found below. Google Pixel 3a: $400, or $16.66 per month for 24 months. $400, or $16.66 per month for 24 months. Google Pixel 3a XL: $480, or $19.99 per month for 24 months. Verizon also has a deal going for the Pixel 3a and 3a XL — for a limited time, you’ll get $100 off a new Pixel 3a if you add a new line or switch to Verizon. US Cellular US Cellular is offering the Google Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL online, and the phones are both now available. Pricing for the Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL can be found below. Google Pixel 3a: $400, or $13.30 per month for 30 months. $400, or $13.30 per month for 30 months. Google Pixel 3a XL: $480, or $15.96 per month for 30 months. Visible Visible will be offering the Google Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL online, but the phones won’t be available from Visible until June. Pricing for the phones is as follows. Google Pixel 3a: $408, or $17 per month for 24 months. $408, or $17 per month for 24 months. Google Pixel 3a XL: $480, or $20 per month for 24 months. Visible has also said that it will be sharing more information about deals and savings on the Pixel 3a closer to the release date. Updated on May 7, 2019: Google, Best Buy, and B&H are offering $100 gift cards to customers. Editors' Recommendations<doc-sep>Google’s Pixel 3a is not a breakthrough when it comes to gee-whiz features or design, but it is a breakthrough in terms of sheer value. Starting at $399, this phone delivers the same high-quality camera features as the Pixel 3 in a device that’s half the price of the top flagship phones. The Pixel 3a XL starts at a cheap $479, and the Pixel 3a is an even lower $399. Sure, Apple has the iPhone XR, but that starts at $750. And the Galaxy S10e costs anywhere from $650 to $750. The 5.6-inch Pixel 3a is hundreds of dollars less. The 6-inch Pixel 3a XL costs $479, which is also a lot less than the most “affordable” new phones from Apple and Samsung. More important, the Pixel 3a is not a Verizon exclusive like the Pixel 3. You can buy it from Sprint and T-Mobile, too, though AT&T is not part of the mix for some reason. (As with earlier Pixels, you can buy the 3a unlocked and use it on AT&T's network.) “Google's Pixel phones have stood out for clean and updated software and incredible camera capabilities, but they have always been expensive, minimally marketed, and not sold widely,” said Avi Greengart, founder and lead analyst for Techsponential. “The Pixel 3a keeps its key differentiators while solving some of the problems, and it should sell a lot better than previous versions.” MORE: Pixel 3a vs. Pixel 3a XL: What's Different? Google itself has admitted that it has struggled to sell the more premium Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL, and part of that challenge is competing in a premium segment that has been dominated by the Apple-Samsung duopoly. By delivering a mid-range phone with solid features and performance, Google could woo many consumers who simply don’t want to pay top dollar for a Samsung phone. “The biggest threat would be to take valuable users who would have gone for a Galaxy S model or a Huawei P model.” - Carolina Milanesi, Creative Strategies. To be fair, the Pixel 3a trims some premium features like water resistance and wireless charging. But it's very possible that someone walking into a carrier store or Best Buy will find that the Pixel 3a is simply “good enough” for what they want to do with their phone. “The biggest threat would be to take valuable users who would have gone for a Galaxy S model or a Huawei P model,” said Carolina Milanesi, an analyst with Creative Strategies. The Purple-ish Pixel 3a stands out versus other Android phones. Samsung will respond to the Pixel 3a threat when it reportedly brings its own mid-range Galaxy A series of phones to the U.S. later this year. While nothing formal's been announced, prices will allegedly range from $200 to $500. MORE: Google Pixel 3a Hands-on Review: A $399 Steal On the surface, Apple would seem to be immune from any competition from the Pixel 3a. iPhone users tend to stick with Apple’s ecosystem. And you can get a cheap iPhone like the older iPhone SE for $249 or the iPhone 7 for $449. However, those dated phones have smaller screens and lackluster cameras compared to the Pixel 3a, not to mention half the storage of Google’s phone. The Pixel 3a can pull off the same Portrait mode that the Pixel 3 can. “While the Apple threat is there, it requires a change in OS that some users are not prepared to make so a less direct threat than for Android makers,” said Milanesi. “What I do think is interesting though is that as users use more and more Google services on iPhone the change in OS might seem less daunting that it might have seem years ago. Google Assistant in the home might also drive some people to switch to have it on the phone.” Milanesi added that camera features like Portrait Mode and Night Sight make the threat to the iPhone XR a bit stronger. Based on our face-offs, Apple’s cameras have indeed fallen behind the competition. The biggest challenge for Google could simply be getting the word out about the Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL — and in educating shoppers that they won’t be skimping on quality if they go the mid-range route. “U.S. consumers have not been interested in mid-tier phones,” said Greengart. “Consumers either buy budget phones because they don't have a lot of money/good credit, or they buy super-premium phones using free financing plans from carriers. Google will need to spend heavily on marketing and merchandising if it wants to change that.” Based on our initial hands-on time with the Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL, Google could have two winners on its hands. And both Samsung and Apple have two big reasons to be looking over their shoulders. Photos: Tom's Guide<doc-sep>
Google announced the release of two mid-range smartphones this week, the Pixel 3a and 3a XL for $399 and $479, respectively. The 3a handset duo are by far the most affordable phones Google has ever released. Adding to the good news for Google, Pixel 3a reviews note the mid-range phones meet the standards set by their flagship counterparts. The best news that arrived during their Google I/O debut on Tuesday is that the Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL are now available from more carriers than any other Pixel before them. The Pixel 3a and 3a XL make good on Google’s guiding principle to put a combination of software, hardware, and artificial intelligence in the palms of as many people as possible. They pack the same software that powers the Pixel 3 and 3 XL with a few hardware downgrades, like using “Dragontrail glass” instead of the sturdier “Gorilla glass” and opting for the Qualcomm Snapdragon 670 instead of the snappier Snapdragon 845. All of the carriers the Pixel 3a and 3a XL will be available on. Google Here’s how to get your hands on the Pixel 3a on every cellular carrier, even the ones Google isn’t partnering with. Verizon has partnered with Pixel since Google launched its first handset back in 2016. Users can purchase both phones on the carrier by either paying the full retail price or opting for the monthly payments. Both include a one-time activation fee of $40, but you can cut that down to $20 if you buy the phones using Verizon’s site or the My Verizon App on iOS or Android. For the 3a monthly option, there will be 24 monthly payments of $12.50, which comes out to $300. whereas the 3a XL is available for 24 monthly payments of $15.83 a month, adding up to $379.92. Both of these options are cheaper than buying out the phone and don’t come with any interest charges. Verizon For the first time ever, T-Mobile customers are able to shop for a Pixel phone through the cell carrier. Much like Verizon, shoppers can opt to pay off the phone immediately or sign up for a year’s worth of monthly payments. T-Mobile charges 24 monthly payments of $16.67 for the 3a and 24 monthly payments of $20 for the 3a XL. These both come out to be the full retail price for the phone and come with interest payments if users don’t have what T-Mobile considers “awesome credit.” But interested customers can trade in their old phone to get a big discount on the one-time payment option if they don’t want to deal with interest. Here’s a list of all old phones T-Mobile is taking for credit: T-Mobile The Pixel 3a and 3a XL will also be the first time Sprint offers a Google phone. Both phones can be purchased for a one-time payment, paid off in full over six months, or they can be leased with the carrier’s “Sprint Flex 18-month lease” option. All of these options include interest payments that are determined by the purchaser’s credit score. The 18-month Flex plan lets customers pay $11.07 per month for the 3a and 14.40 per month for the 3a XL. The catch is, at the end of the payment period, customers need to return the phone and upgrade to another device plan. All of these plans can be made cheaper if users switch from their current carrier to Sprint. Here are the following discounted rates: Sprint Naturally, Google will be offering deals for its new phones on its wireless carrier division. Customers can pay for them upfront or opt for a year-long payment plan of $16.63 per month for the 3a and $19.96 per month for the 3a XL. Google requires customers to show their credit, so interest could apply for some shoppers. Just like T-Mobile, Google is offering trade-in deals for up to $610 of credit if you turn in Pixel, Apple, Samsung, LG, Huawei, or Motorola devices. Visit Google Fi’s store to get an estimate for how much your old phone could net you. Google Fi Buying a Pixel 3a or 3a XL on the Google Fi store could also let you save $100 on your monthly cellular bill. The terms are listed above. Google Pixel 3a and 3 XL on US Cellular Finally, Google announced that US Cellular would also begin offering its Pixel 3a and Pixel 3 models. However, the company has yet to update its cite to offer 3a or 3a XL deals.