Google’s Pixel 8A is the kind of phone you tell your parents or your hair stylist to buy (hi, Shannon!). The interface is straightforward and clean, it offers a high level of dust and water resistance, and it’ll receive regular software updates for the next seven years. That’ll give you a lot of peace of mind recommending it to friends and family.

The cameras aren’t quite as good as what you’d get on the regular Pixel 8 or a newer Pixel 9, but they’re reliable and can even tackle some tricky scenarios, like when the northern lights sneak up on you in your own backyard. The 8A also has Qi wireless charging and a smooth-scrolling 120Hz screen — two features that you’ll be hard-pressed to find in another phone under $400.

Its full price of $499 is competitive, but marked down to $379, it’s a screaming deal. You’ll get 128GB of storage for that price, which most people will find sufficient. The 256GB version, usually $559, is down to $436 — spend a little more, and you’ll get some extra peace of mind. But the bad news is that the only color option at the higher 256GB tier is obsidian. If you want bay blue or a lovely aloe green, you’ll need to stick with 128GB.