There aren't a lot of truly amazing deals through Cyber Monday. Yes, you can get some things for free, and some nice discounts on big-ticket items, but most people will find only a few things they're truly happy with during the shopping holiday.
The $299 Pixel 3a is such a deal for me.
The Google Pixel 3a is one of those budget phones that feels more expensive than it is. Made with high-quality plastic that resists breaks, it's got incredible performance and a category-leading camera. At $299 for Cyber Monday, this is an absolute steal.
$299 $399 $100 off
The Pixel 3a is a good old-fashioned budget smartphone that just gets the job done. It's made of hardened plastic that won't break when you drop it, and its processor doesn't push the envelope of speed and efficiency.
Yet when you use it, you forget about all of that. That plastic actually looks nicer than the metal used on other Pixel phones, especially in the Purple-ish color that I've grown to love, and that mid-range processor keeps things super fluid and maintains excellent battery life.
I think the Pixel 3a and 3a XL are Google's best phones of the year — yes, over the Pixel 4.
Yes, unlike the flagship Pixel phones of the past few years, the battery life on the Pixel 3a series is outstanding — with a 3000mAh cell I get just over a full day on the Pixel 3a. The same can't be said about the new Pixel 4, which has disappointed me to no end in terms of its battery life.
The Pixel 3a also shares the same fundamental camera architecture as the Pixel 3 series, which means it shoots intelligently in every lighting condition. It's got a reliable rear fingerprint sensor that can be used as a notification gesture, too, which is handy.
And finally, and perhaps most importantly, it will get updates as quickly as the Pixel 3 and 4 — in fact, the Pixel 3a received the November 2019 update before my Pixel 4, which is saying something.
I'm a big fan of the Pixel 3a series, and think it's Google's best phone of 2019 — and that includes the Pixel 4. At its regular $399, it's a good deal; at $299 for Cyber Monday, it's a must-buy. You can even save another $50-100 if you buy the Pixel 3a from Best Buy and activate on a carrier right away.
If you're looking for something a bit bigger, with a larger 3700mAh battery and a massive 6-inch display, the Pixel 3a XL is the way to go. It's just $379 for Black Friday, which is also a $100 discount — so not quite as cheap, but definitely just as compelling. And because of its bigger battery, it lasts nearly two days on a single charge.
The Google Pixel 3a XL is the larger, longer-lasting version of the Pixel 3a, and it's just $379 for a limited time on Black Friday. If you have the extra cash, it's a great upgrade pick that still offers an incredible value.
$379 $479 $100 off
