# Google Pixel 9a Hacker Approved page: https://hackerapproved.com/p/google-pixel-9a/ 19 people recommended Google Pixel 9a in Hacker News comments, 3 had mixed feelings and 7 criticized it, November 2025 to October 2026. It was recommended in 11 of 12 months, in 24 threads. It meets the Hacker Approved badge rule. **Verdict:** Pixel 9a is a cheap, well-supported Android phone with strong security features, popular for running GrapheneOS. Critics mostly note the missing 3.5mm headphone jack. Summary written by Claude from 45 comments. ## Why people recommend it - Good value for the price (9 comments in the sample): "You can get a new Pixel 9a here in europe for around 350€ and it will be supported at least until April 2032" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48758178)) "you could buy a 9a for little more than $300. That is extremely good value compared to any iThing" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47053746)) "Pixel 9a on sale <$400 and Graphene is free, still (much) cheaper than the latest gen spiPhone." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46556858)) - Runs GrapheneOS well (6 comments in the sample): "A Pixel 9a or 10a running Graphene for everyday use plus a cheap Android phone that stays are home are still considerably cheaper" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47092008)) "a perfectly fine way to start out with GrapheneOS - it still has years of support in it" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47452642)) "The second is a Pixel 9a with Graphene OS for daily use, routing and internet access." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46556643)) - Long software update support (2 comments in the sample): "It's cheaper, faster, more reliable and better supported." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49344739)) "Look at pixel software support, its really good" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49360226)) - Strong built-in security features (2 comments in the sample): "it still has better device security (separate secure enclave, MTE, etc.) than pretty much any other phone besides iPhone and other Pixels" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47950530)) "even Pixel 9a has all the security functions of the flagship that many other Android phones do not have" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48081653)) ## What people warn about - Concerns about update support (3 comments in the sample): "I had assumed this was just Google effectively "ending support" for my 9a by forcing some AI thing into my lowish RAM." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49941882)) "Google hasn't fulfilled their update commitment for the Pixel 6 through Pixel 9a" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49370121)) "Google then arbitrarily declared they were no longer AOSP reference devices" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49760790)) - No 3.5mm headphone jack (2 comments in the sample): "No phone jack but otherwise a very competent modern device." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47130655)) "since the Pixel 9a has no 3.5mm jack" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47376010)) - Not much better than predecessors (2 comments in the sample): "It's fine, I don't love it or hate it, but it's not doing anything I care about better than my last phone." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46775081)) "it just isn't as good, IMO" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49377834)) ## Other smartphones people recommend - [Apple iPhone](https://hackerapproved.com/p/iphone/): 438 recommend, 190 mixed, 789 criticize - [Fairphone](https://hackerapproved.com/p/fairphone/): 110 recommend, 42 mixed, 94 criticize - [iPhone 13 mini](https://hackerapproved.com/p/iphone-13-mini/): 105 recommend, 32 mixed, 44 criticize - [Apple iPhone Pro](https://hackerapproved.com/p/iphone-17-pro/): 90 recommend, 45 mixed, 138 criticize ## Where to get it - [Official site](https://store.google.com/product/pixel_9a?hl=en-US) - [See price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Google+Pixel+9a) ## The badge A product earns the Hacker Approved badge when at least 10 people recommend it, recommenders outnumber critics at least 2 to 1 (mixed feelings count toward neither side), it was recommended in at least 4 of the 12 months and in at least 5 different threads, and no single thread supplies more than half of the people who recommend it. Health and money products are never badged. ## Cite as Hacker Approved, "Google Pixel 9a", https://hackerapproved.com/p/google-pixel-9a/ (19 recommend, 3 mixed, 7 criticize; Hacker News comments, November 2025 to October 2026). Counts updated 2 Nov 2026, with data through October 31, 2026.