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Looking to upgrade your smartphone on the cheap? Or do you have an older kid or teen asking for their first smartphone? The Google Pixel 10a is an excellent, budget-friendly option that still offers a ton of cool features, a ruggedized build, and great battery life. And right now at T-Mobile, new and existing customers can get up to four for free, plus a free pair of Pixel Buds 2a.

Also: Google Pixel 10 vs. Google Pixel 10a

Of course, as is the case with all "free" phone deals, there are some conditions: New and existing T-Mobile customers will see the discount applied as 24 monthly credits to their bill, so you're still paying for the phone, but getting paid back in full over time. Your account must be kept active and in good standing the entire 24 months, or T-Mobile reserves the right to charge you the full retail price of the Google Pixel 10a and Pixel Buds 2a. New and existing customers can receive up to four free Pixel 10a smartphones per account, but only one pair of free Pixel Buds 2a.

The Google Pixel 10a normally retails for around $500, making it much easier on the wallet than the flagship offerings from Samsung and Apple. And just because it's a budget model doesn't mean you have to sacrifice features and durability. The Pixel 10a has an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance and features a display made with Corning Gorilla Glass for protection against scratches, chips, and cracks. The 6.3-inch OLED Actua display has a maximum brightness of 3,000 nits for better visibility in bright rooms and direct sunlight. It also features HDR support for better detailing and contrast while streaming or making video calls.

More: Google Pixel 10a review

With more than 30 hours of use on a full charge, you can talk, text, stream, and scroll all day before you need to think about plugging in. And when you do need to top up, the Pixel 10a uses fast charging technology to give you up to 50% battery in as little as 30 minutes. You can also enable the Extreme Battery Saver mode to stretch the battery up to 120 hours, making it perfect for camping, hiking, and travel.

Read more: Google Pixel Buds 2a review

The Pixel Buds 2a are a midrange wireless earbud option with active noise cancellation, a water-resistant design, and up to a 20-hour battery life with the included charging case. The earbuds themselves offer up to 7 hours of battery life, making them perfect for commutes and casual listening. And with just 5 minutes of charging, you'll get up to an hour of listening time.

To take advantage of this deal, new T-Mobile customers have to set up a new line on an Experience Beyond, More, or Essential plan or a Better Value plan with up to 3 lines. Existing T-Mobile customers must add a new line to their current plan or trade in a qualifying device. To get your free pair of Pixel Buds 2a, you simply have to add them to your cart along with the Pixel 10a, and the T-Mobile website will automatically apply the discount.

How I rated this deal 

A free smartphone is already a very tempting deal, but getting a free pair of Google Pixel Buds 2a on top of it makes it that much sweeter. With 128GB of storage, a 30-hour battery life, and scratch resistant screen, you can talk, text, and stream all day without worrying about plugging in or damaging your phone. The Pixel Buds 2a offer active noise canceling and a 20-hour battery life, making them perfect for everything from work and school commutes to workouts and chores. That's why I gave this deal a 5/5 Editor's rating.