Google's $499 budget phone shares many similarities with the pricier baseline Pixel 9. Here's what you'll get -- and what you won't -- for that lower price.

Google’s upcoming base Pixel 10 might come with primary and ultrawide cameras that match the hardware recently introduced in the budget Pixel 9A, which aren’t as good as the cameras on the Pixel 9, Android Authority reports. However, the new phone may get a telephoto camera, which the Pixel 9 and other base Pixels haven’t had.

The Google Pixel 9a can be pre-ordered right now and Sky has a tempting offer for Brits looking for a midrange mobile

With the Pixel 9a, Google introduces the “Battery life optimization” function to increase battery life. A similar function is already available on the Pixel 4a.

To minimise the impact of time on the battery, the Battery Health Assistance feature on Pixel 9a will adjust the battery's maximum voltage in stages which start at 200 charge cycles and continue gradually until 1000 charge cycles. Google says it will help stabilise the battery performance as well as its ageing.

Notably, the Google Pixel 9a is more affordable than Apple’s iPhone 16e and runs on Android 15.  Now, Google has officially announced the sale date for the Pixel 9a in the country. The smartphone will be available for purchase from April 16 onwards.