Google announced the Pixel 9a, priced at £500 for 128GB storage, with a release set for April. This week also saw the launch of Samsung’s Galaxy A56, A36, and A26 in Europe. The A56 features an Exynos 1580 chip, 5,000mAh battery, and 6 OS updates. Amazon offers it with freebies valued at £138.98. The A36, £100 cheaper, has reduced specs, and the A26 features the Exynos 1380. The Pixel 8a is now £150 less than the 9a, while the Pixel 9 offers better performance. The Apple iPhone 16e is £600, and the Nothing Phone (3a) is under £400.
This week, Google introduced the Pixel 9a, set to launch in April, with a starting price of £500 for the 128GB storage variant. This provides a great chance to delve into the mid-range market and assess the available options around the £500 price point – we will explore a bit higher and somewhat lower too.
Additionally, the Samsung Galaxy A56, A36, and A26 made their way to stores across Europe and select other regions this week. The Galaxy A56 boasts an Exynos 1580 chip featuring AMD RDNA 3 graphics, along with a substantial 5,000mAh battery that supports 45W fast charging – technology typically reserved for Samsung’s flagship devices. Software support is impressive, matching near flagship levels with 6 OS updates.
While there’s no discount available, Amazon is offering a bundle with several extras: a Galaxy Fit3, a 45W charger (which isn’t included in the box), and a silicone case, collectively valued at £138.98.
The Samsung Galaxy A36 includes the same bundle of extras but costs £100 less than the A56. However, some compromises come with the savings. It features the slower Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chipset and has UFS 2.2 storage compared to the A56’s faster UFS 3.1. Furthermore, the A36’s body is made of plastic rather than aluminum, and its ultra-wide camera drops from 12MP to 8MP. Saving £100 is appealing, but these downgrades may significantly impact your experience.
Moving £100 further down the price scale, we encounter the Galaxy A26. Note that this model does not come with the aforementioned extras. The A26 is powered by the Exynos 1380 chipset, which was also featured in last year’s A35. It offers only 25W charging compared to the 45W of its siblings and has a 50MP primary camera built around a smaller sensor, although it still includes OIS. One perk is the inclusion of a microSD slot, though it lacks a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Returning to the Pixel 9a, it starts at £500, while its predecessor, the Pixel 8a, is currently available for £150 less. The older Tensor G3 has garnered a reputation for subpar performance, particularly its modem. The 6.1” screen is also slightly smaller than the 6.3” on the 9a and lacks the same brightness levels. There are a few additional differences, including IP67 compared to IP68, 18W wired charging versus 23W, and variations in camera specifications: the Pixel 8a features a 64MP sensor compared to the 48MP on the newer model. Nonetheless, the chipset remains a primary concern.
If you go £150 up instead of down, you arrive at the Pixel 9. The Tensor G4 outperforms the Exynos 1580 in the Galaxy A56, which is expected since they are similarly priced. Both devices will receive 7 OS updates, though the Google Pixel boasts a superior ultra-wide camera (48MP vs. 12MP). On the other hand, the Galaxy A56 offers faster charging (45W versus 23W), though it is limited to wired charging.
The Apple iPhone 16e, available for £600, stands as the most expensive budget model. It features a 6.1” display, making it smaller than the Pixel 9a, but it offers some of the best performance on the market thanks to the Apple A18 chipset. Unfortunately, the single 48MP rear camera feels outdated, and while it supports wireless charging, it only uses Qi – there’s no MagSafe compatibility.
The Nothing Phone (3a) is priced under £400, even for the 12/256GB variant. It features a Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset, which outperforms the Galaxy A36’s 6 Gen 3 but trails behind the Pixel 9a’s Tensor G4. Notably, the IP64 rating is lower than the others. Nevertheless, it combines a 50MP main camera with a 50MP 2x telephoto lens and an 8MP ultra-wide camera. Charging is wired only for the 5,000mAh battery, but with a decent speed of 50W. However, Nothing has only committed to 3 OS updates which is relatively low, especially with Android 16 just around the corner.
For those interested in the flip foldable format, the Motorola Razr 50 is available for £600, but a £40 discount is applied at checkout, with an additional £35 off for Prime Students, making it nearly equal in price to the Pixel 9a. Additionally, keep in mind that the Razr offers 256GB of storage, helping to close the gap.
If you’re a Prime subscriber, don’t miss the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE deal. With a £113 discount and an additional £30 off at checkout, Prime Students can further reduce the price by another £25 (bringing it down to £532). The phone also comes bundled with a complimentary pair of Galaxy Buds FE and a Galaxy Fit3.
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