The Best Google Pixel Deals for December 2020

Google is the software company primarily responsible for Android, the world’s most widespread mobile software ecosystem, so it was probably only a matter of time until this tech giant threw its weight behind some hardware development. It did so in a big way when it threw back the curtains on its Google Pixel line, a fantastic stable of Android phones that instantly earned a spot on our “favorites” list thanks to their sleek design, unrivaled software experience, great camera modules, and excellent value.

Now in their fifth generation, Google’s Pixel smartphones are still going strong and offer one of the best price-to-performance ratios in the flagship phone market (especially if, like many techies, you’re finding the $1,000-plus prices of some of today’s devices causing sticker shock). If you’re on the hunt for smartphone deals and you want one of the best brand-name Android handsets on a budget, then read on to see all the best Google Pixel deals you can score right now.

Today’s best Google Pixel deals

Google Pixel 5

Google’s fifth-generation phone, the Pixel 5, has just landed, and the company took a clearly different approach than many other Android flagship makers. For this release, there’s only one model: the Pixel 5 — no Pixel 5 XL, 5 Plus, 5 Ultra, 5 Super, or anything else (not yet, at least) — and admittedly, it’s not as flashy or as “premium-feeling” as other flagships we’ve seen in 2020. The flip side of that coin is that the Pixel 5, which starts at $699, is not quite as expensive as devices like the Galaxy S20 or iPhone 12 Pro.

In fact, with its rounded edges and flush-sitting camera module, you’d be forgiven for confusing the Pixel 5 for the Pixel 4a at first glance. The Pixel 5 retains the excellent camera modules that Google’s phones are known for (along with some new upgrades like an ultrawide lens), and it’s a pretty handy size with a 6-inch edge-to-edge display that’s easy on the eyes. As you’d expect from the company behind the Android OS, the Pixel 5 delivers a very slick software interface, although its performance is notably less impressive than other flagship phones.

That makes the Pixel 5 tricky to recommend. If you need 5G capabilities, you might be better served with the cheaper Pixel 4a 5G, and unless you can score a good Google Pixel deal (by taking advantage of one of the many carrier offers that are always available, perhaps), then you can arguably get more phone for your money with another brand. That said, there’s no denying that the Pixel 5 is a solid 5G-capable smartphone — but we definitely suggest holding out for a bargain.

Google Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL

The Google Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL dropped last October and are available from pretty much all smartphone retailers. Our review team had great things to say about its quick performance, superb OLED display, and solid camera module (despite the notable lack of a wide-angle lens, something that was thankfully corrected with the Pixel 5), but the Pixel 4 didn’t reinvent the wheel. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but given that the Pixel 4 — while certainly a great phone — isn’t quite the upgrade we wanted, you’ll have to choose for yourself if buying a new one is worth it with the Pixel 5 now available. The Pixel 4a also gives you more bang for the buck at the moment if you don’t explicitly need a flagship phone.

If you have to have one of the newer Android flagships, though, then you can do much, much worse than the Pixel 4, and plenty of them are going to be on sale following the release of the Pixel 5. We’ll keep our list updated with the latest Google Pixel 4 deals that pop up, and it’s no secret that if you’re going to score a discount on one, it’s going to be during the upcoming seasonal sales.

Google Pixel 4a

It didn’t take long for people to start speculating about the Pixel 4a once the Pixel 4 was released, and in August 3, we finally got our hands on it. It’s every bit as impressive as its predecessors, the Pixel 3a and 3a XL, despite some relatively minor cut corners (like a lack of any IP-rated water resistance) — and the notable absence of a larger brother in the Pixel 4a XL. For better or for worse, those who are looking to get their mitts on Google’s latest mid-ranged flagship alternative only have the standard 5.8-inch model to choose from at the moment.

That said, Google’s choice to focus on releasing just one Pixel 4a device could have streamlined production enough to cut down costs, because this thing is shockingly cheap with a launch price of just $350. That’s around the same sale prices we’ve seen for the last-gen Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL, and we expect to see it for even cheaper soon thanks to ongoing carrier offers and seasonal sales. If you’re after the cheapest new Pixel money can buy (and don’t need a plus-sized screen), the Pixel 4a is an incredible — one might even say unbeatable — value.

Google Pixel 3

The third-generation Pixel smartphones were released in 2018 and quickly earned a top spot among our favorite Android mobiles. In fact, the Google Pixel 3 and its larger sibling, the Pixel 3XL, are in the running for the best Androids of 2018 overall owing to their vibrant touchscreens, snappy hardware performance, and super-slick software interface — after all, if the Android operating system is your tool of choice, then it’s not likely to get much better than a device from the company who wrote the book on that mobile OS in the first place.

The Google Pixel 3 wasn’t a bad deal for a premium phone even at its original price, but you can naturally find them for even cheaper now, making this one perhaps the best value to be found in an Android flagship right now aside from the Pixel 4a. If you don’t plan on shelling out the extra cash for the Pixel 4 or Pixel 5 but still want something that’s quite recent (a 2018 model can hardly be considered “old”), then the Pixel 3 offers a lot of bang for your buck.

Google Pixel 3a

In May of 2019, Google added the first non-flagship Pixel devices to its smartphone lineup. The Google Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL were introduced as cheaper alternatives to the pricier flagship models, following the growing popularity of midrange phones (like Motorola’s Moto G series, to name one popular example) that offer much of the performance of premium phones with pared-down hardware and a much smaller price tag. The gamble paid off, and the Pixel 3a and 3a XL proved to be two of the best values to be found in an Android smartphone if you’re not fussy about premium touches like all-metal construction.

Following the release of the Pixel 4, rumors immediately started circulating about the possibility of a new Pixel 4a — and it finally landed in August. We’re already seeing some deals for those and they might be a better buy in 2020 if you’re looking for an affordable flagship alternative, but we’d be remiss if we didn’t include some Pixel 3a and 3a XL deals for you in the meantime.

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