I’m gonna be in the US in the next 2 weeks and I want to get a Pixel while I’m there (pixels are cheaper there than in my country). I'm debating between:

-Pixel 9a (new, ~$400) – seems more battery-efficient, easier to sell later back home, but no telephoto.

-Pixel 8 Pro (refurb, ~$420) – has the telephoto I want, but I keep hearing the battery sucks and it gets hot because of Tensor G3.

I was also thinking about buying the 9a now, use it a bit, then sell it in Romania and buy a discounted Pixel 9 Pro later this year after the Pixel 10 drops.

Would that make sense? Or should I just grab the 8 Pro now and deal with the weaker battery?

I ordered a brand-new Pixel 9 as a gift for my dad, who only uses two apps in addition to the default apps on the phone: Facebook and Facebook Messenger. However, the phone couldn't open the apps and often got stuck in indefinite restarting loops. It also heated up dangerously. I reached out for a refund, but Google insisted I resolve the issues through their support, which turned out to be unsuccessful. By the time I followed up, it was past the 15-day refund window, and they only offered a replacement. They provided two options: the Advanced Replacement option, where I would pay for a new phone upfront and then return the faulty one for reimbursement, or the Normal Replacement option, where I wouldn’t have to pay anything upfront—I would just return the existing phone and they would send me a replacement. Unfortunately, I received a bare-bones refurbished phone without any accessories, as they said it depended on availability. I emailed them with my concerns below. Is this a fair trade, in your opinion? Why is Google conducting business like this? I am extremely disappointed.

"Hi Julia, Thank you for the update. I appreciate your clarification. However, I wish I had been clearly informed about the key differences between the two replacement options when they were initially presented to me. Specifically, I would have liked to know that the Advanced Replacement option, which requires upfront payment and later reimbursement, guarantees a brand-new phone, while the standard replacement option may provide a refurbished device. Additionally, how does Google determine "availability"? Does Google prioritize distributing brand-new phones as replacements before considering refurbished ones, or is it the other way around? If you were in my position as a rational customer, would you want to pay the price for a brand-new phone in exchange for a refurbished one that is about 30% lower in price? Not to mention the inconvenience of receiving a faulty phone which I ordered as a gift, and having to go through the hassle of getting a replacement after long conversations with Google support. How is this a fair trade? I would like to escalate this issue further, or you can agree with me on one of the following options: 1) Refund me. 2) Refund the difference between a brand-new phone and a refurbished one. 3) Send me a brand-new phone as if I had opted for the Advanced Replacement Option. Thank you,

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