Left to right: Google Pixel 5, Pixel 5a, Pixel 4a 5G
Credit: Jimmy Westenberg / Android Authority
Google made the jump to flagship pricing with the introduction of the Pixel line in 2016. The Pixel series has only gotten more expensive since then, with many clamoring for an affordable alternative. Google answered the call in 2019 with the Pixel “a” series that’s reminiscent of Google’s Nexus smartphones. The affordable series has gotten better with every iteration, with the latest one — the Pixel 5a — being an easy phone to recommend in 2022.
The Pixel 5a offers everything Google smartphones are known for. Solid performance, an excellent software experience, and some of the best smartphone cameras you can get. It also brings key improvements in build quality and battery life but is somehow cheaper than its predecessor.