Get the new Pixel 9a for $250 off

Two women in the back of a car looking at a Pixel 9a

The Google Pixel 9a was released last week, and you can already get it at a $250 discount if you purchase it on a plan from Telstra, Optus or Vodafone.

The 128GB variant of the Pixel 9a is retailing for $849 (the same price as last years model), but you can save with a mobile phone plan from any of the major telcos. Telstra will give you the discount when you sign up for a 12-, 24-, or 36-month term, while the 12-month option isn't eligible for a discount with Optus and Vodafone.

The discount is applied over the course of the repayment term. That works out to be a saving of around $6.95 per month on a 36-month term or $10.42 per month when you stay connected over a 24-month term.

If you leave early, you'll lose the handset discount for any months remaining in your term when you pay out the cost of the Pixel 9a.

The one catch is that you'll need to stay connected to Optus for the entire 36-month or 24-month term you sign up for. If you leave early, you'll forfeit the handset discount on any remaining months left in your term when you pay out the remaining value of the Pixel 8a.

Here's how Pixel 9a (128GB) plans compare:

36-month plans
24-month plans

$74 Basic Upfront Mobile Plan

50GB data
Telstra 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices
36 mths device payments
Deal: Get $10 off for first 12 months on new Upfront Basic Mobile Plan with code PROMO. New services only. Ends 02.11.26

$86.19/mth

Min. cost $862.84

Link not supplied

$86.19/mth

(plan + phone)

Min. cost $862.84

Link not supplied

$84 Essential Upfront Mobile Plan

180GB data
Telstra 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices
36 mths device payments

$106.19/mth

Min. cost $882.84

Link not supplied

$106.19/mth

(plan + phone)

Min. cost $882.84

Link not supplied

$99 Premium Upfront Mobile Plan

300GB data
Telstra 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices
36 mths device payments

$121.19/mth

Min. cost $897.84

Link not supplied

$121.19/mth

(plan + phone)

Min. cost $897.84

Link not supplied

$74 Basic Upfront Mobile Plan

50GB data
Telstra 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices
24 mths device payments
Deal: Get $10 off for first 12 months on new Upfront Basic Mobile Plan with code PROMO. New services only. Ends 02.11.26

$97.29/mth

Min. cost $862.96

Link not supplied

$97.29/mth

(plan + phone)

Min. cost $862.96

Link not supplied

$84 Essential Upfront Mobile Plan

180GB data
Telstra 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices
24 mths device payments

$117.29/mth

Min. cost $882.96

Link not supplied

$117.29/mth

(plan + phone)

Min. cost $882.96

Link not supplied

$99 Premium Upfront Mobile Plan

300GB data
Telstra 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices
24 mths device payments

$132.29/mth

Min. cost $897.96

Link not supplied

$132.29/mth

(plan + phone)

Min. cost $897.96

Link not supplied

The three telcos are also selling the 256GB variant of the Pixel 9a with the same discount and conditions. Here's how the Pixel 9a (256GB) plans compare:

36-month plans
24-month plans

$74 Basic Upfront Mobile Plan

50GB data
Telstra 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices
36 mths device payments
Deal: Get $10 off for first 12 months on new Upfront Basic Mobile Plan with code PROMO. New services only. Ends 02.11.26

$90.36/mth

Min. cost $1,012.96

Link not supplied

$90.36/mth

(plan + phone)

Min. cost $1,012.96

Link not supplied

$84 Essential Upfront Mobile Plan

180GB data
Telstra 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices
36 mths device payments

$110.36/mth

Min. cost $1,032.96

Link not supplied

$110.36/mth

(plan + phone)

Min. cost $1,032.96

Link not supplied

$99 Premium Upfront Mobile Plan

300GB data
Telstra 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices
36 mths device payments

$125.36/mth

Min. cost $1,047.96

Link not supplied

$125.36/mth

(plan + phone)

Min. cost $1,047.96

Link not supplied

$74 Basic Upfront Mobile Plan

50GB data
Telstra 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices
24 mths device payments
Deal: Get $10 off for first 12 months on new Upfront Basic Mobile Plan with code PROMO. New services only. Ends 02.11.26

$103.54/mth

Min. cost $1,012.96

Link not supplied

$103.54/mth

(plan + phone)

Min. cost $1,012.96

Link not supplied

$84 Essential Upfront Mobile Plan

180GB data
Telstra 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices
24 mths device payments

$123.54/mth

Min. cost $1,032.96

Link not supplied

$123.54/mth

(plan + phone)

Min. cost $1,032.96

Link not supplied

$99 Premium Upfront Mobile Plan

300GB data
Telstra 5G Network in selected areas with 5G devices
24 mths device payments

$138.54/mth

Min. cost $1,047.96

Link not supplied

$138.54/mth

(plan + phone)

Min. cost $1,047.96

Link not supplied

If you want to get the Pixel 9a on a phone plan and maximise your savings, then Vodafone is the obvious choice. Getting the Pixel 9a (128GB) with Vodafone's cheapest postpaid plan on a 36-month term will keep your monthly repayments the lowest at $55.63 per month. It works out to be $15.99 less per month than the equivalent plan from Optus or $26 less per month than Telstra's.

It's worth keeping in mind that even with the discount, you'll end up paying more long-term for the Pixel 9a on a plan than you would if you bought it outright and paired it with a SIM-only plan from a smaller telco.

In our Pixel 9a review, Google continued to impress. The Pixel 9a delivers with an excellent camera and battery life — our reviewer called it the "Master of the mid-range". It's not without fault, however, with wireless charging on the slower side, and Google's suite of AI tools are still a mixed bag.

Telstra's offer is available until May 19, Optus' discount is sticking around until May 25, while Vodafone's offer will be available until withdrawn.

Looking for a new NBN plan?

These are the most popular NBN 50 plans with WhistleOut users this week:

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Dylan Crismale

Digital Content Editor

Dylan Crismale is a Digital Content Editor at WhistleOut, has been writing for almost a decade across a variety of Australian publications. He previously worked as a writer at Finder covering energy, internet and mobile plans. Dylan is passionate about finding the best deals to save people money and educating people about tech. When he's not sat at his desk Dylan loves working out, bingeing TV and hanging out with friends.

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