Best Deals on the Google Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL
How to save on the latest Google phones
Got your eye on Google’s newest smartphone? It's hard to argue with the price. Starting at $400, the Pixel 3a costs half as much as last year’s Pixel 3—and you don't even have to pay the full amount for it.
The Pixel 3a and larger Pixel just hit the market this week, so our labs haven’t had a chance to see how they measure up against others. But on paper, it appears that Google is packing in a lot at discount prices.
Retailers
Google Store
Buy your new phone directly through Google and you'll get $100 to spend on other stuff in the store. The money will come in the form of a credit on your Google Pay account.
If you’re interested, better hurry. The deal runs through May 18. And the $100 promotion expires on Aug. 31.
If you’re looking to save even more, Google is offering cash back for trade-ins. The amount will depend on the model and condition of your phone. But as of Thursday, Google was offering $495 for an iPhone XS Max with 64GB of storage, and $275 for a Samsung Galaxy S9.
Google will give you an estimate when you buy your 3a or 3a XL, then send you a trade-in kit along with your new phone. Use that to mail your old phone to Google, and once the company verifies its value, you’ll get a credit on your credit card.
Best Buy
You can get a $100 Best Buy gift card with the purchase of one of these phones. You can buy the phone either unlocked or set up for Verizon or Sprint’s networks.
The free gift card will be delivered via email within two business days. The offer expires May 18.
And if you choose to buy unlocked—which gives you the freedom to switch among carriers without buying a new phone—Best Buy will give you an extra $50 off if you set your phone up Verizon or AT&T service, or $100 off if you set it up for Sprint.
The $100 off offer also applies to locked phones set up exclusively for Sprint. And in all of these cases, you need to set up a new line of service to qualify.
The Carriers
Sprint
The carrier is offering $100 if you buy from it and switch your service to Sprint. The discount comes in the form of a $5.56-per-month credit that’s spread over an 18-month lease.
Once that period is up, you can turn in the phone and upgrade or pay the phone off (either right away or over another six months) and keep it. Cancel early and the remaining balance is due.
T-Mobile
The carrier will give you a Pixel 3a free with an eligible trade-in. In this case, that includes phones such as iPhones dating back to the 7 and Samsung Galaxy phones as old as the S8. The Google Pixel 2 phones and a handful of other models are also acceptable.
But your “free” phone will come in the form of a monthly credit spread over the 24 months you’re required to finance it. Cancel early and you’ll lose your discounts, and your remaining balance will be due.
Verizon
The carrier will give you $50 off if you have a line that’s ready for an upgrade, or $100 off if you set up a new line of service. The discount will come in the form of a monthly credit spread over 24 months.
As a result, you’ll have to finance the phone, interest-free. Cancel your Verizon service before the two years are up and you’ll be on the hook for the balance.
