Like someone mentioned, those retail deals are already starting to look amazing! I'm so hyped for BF this year because you can save a literal ton of cash if you play it right. Honestly, just go with Google and you cant go wrong, tbh. Their software is just so smooth and the cameras are kinda fantastic for the price point. If you're trying to be smart with your money, definitely check the trade-in values. Sometimes they give you like way more than the old phone is actually worth which is basically free money lol. You really cant go wrong with any of the newer ones from the brand... just grab whatever fits your budget and enjoy the clean software. You're gonna love it!

Late to the party here, but I've been extremely satisfied with the Google Pixel 8a 128GB Charcoal since I grabbed it. Honestly, the hardware works well and I have no complaints about the performance for the price point. Before giving my full recommendation, could you clarify if you're looking for an unlocked model or if you're willing to go through a carrier like Verizon or Fi? It makes a huge difference in how much you'll actually save in the long run. If you're strictly budget-focused, here are a few things I've noticed:

• The 8a gets seven years of updates, while the Google Pixel 7a 128GB Sea is already a year into its much shorter cycle.
• Check the trade-in promos on the Google Store directly; they often give better value for older tech than the big retail stores do.
• Compare it against the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G 128GB if the Google deals aren't hitting your target price, tho the Pixel software is way cleaner. I'm pretty happy with my choice to go with the 8a over the older model just for the longevity alone.

Amazon already has it for $100 off right now.

This ^

Black Friday deals are often just a way to move hardware with known issues. I fell for the hype on a previous mid-range release and regretted it. The software was advertised as clean, but it was full of minor bugs that never got patched. I spent weeks in forums trying to find workarounds for basic features like reliable GPS. The seven-year update promise is mostly marketing. In my experience, the processors in these budget-friendly versions don't have the headroom to handle OS updates four or five years down the line. I've started buying older flagships and doing my own repairs. Replacing a screen or a battery myself is cheaper and gets me better hardware than settling for these hyped-up mid-rangers. Everyone talks about the value, but the real cost is the time spent dealing with hardware compromises.

I bought one from Best Buy for $499 last week.