The Google Pixel 3a is the mid-range king and the best phone you can get, in my opinion, for under $500. The Pixel 3a has arguably the best camera for a smartphone on the market today, and it has flagship performance for a good price. Yes, it has a mid-range processor, the Snapdragon 670, but the Snapdragon 670 has very similar benchmarks to the Snapdragon 835.
When the Pixel 3a released, it released to a plethora of great pre-order deals. Most retailers were offering $100 gift cards if you pre-ordered a Pixel 3a. Perhaps you are a person who missed out on that deal, and you’re still looking to get a good deal.
Currently, if you buy an unlocked version of the Pixel 3a from Best Buy, and “activate today” with your carrier, you can get the phone for $350 (if you are with AT&T or Verizon) and you can get the phone as low as $300 if you are with Sprint. Your carrier may charge you an activation fee if you activate the phone this way, but even then, you will still save some extra money, and you won’t have to worry about paying off the phone on your monthly bill.
As an added bonus, they are currently giving away a Google Home Mini as a free gift with the purchase, a $50 value! Don’t want a Google Home Mini? You should be able to sell it on eBay, or the facebook marketplace for roughly $25 or $30 (the going rate online). Either way, that is another way to save some extra money. This deal is good through June 29th, so make sure to jump on it quick!
The Pixel 3a is not water-resistant, and there are a few minor differences between the 3a and the Pixel 3, but the Pixel 3a has better battery life than the Pixel 3, and it has a headphone jack, which many phones do not. It has been very smooth as my day to day phone and for $350 or less, I would highly recommend it.
Click here to view the Google Pixel 3a at Best Buy.