Optus almost has the cheapest Pixel 6a plan thanks to a pre-release discount

Pre-orders are officially open for Google’s Pixel 6a and Optus is coming in hot with a $150 discount straight off the bat.

Without the discount, the Pixel 6a retails for $749 but if you get it on a plan with Optus then that price comes down to $599.

The discount is split up over your monthly repayments, so if you go for a 24-month plan you’ll pay $6.25 less per month, or $4.16 less on a 36-month plan. While you can leave the plan early and pay out the remaining cost of the phone, any remaining discount won’t be credited so the outright cost will go back up. Say you were on a 24-month plan and decided to pay it out after 12 months, then you’d only end up with a $75 discount.

Even with this discount however Optus doesn’t have the cheapest plan - although it does draw the line pretty close. If you’re looking for the basement price then Vodafone is the way to go. While the telco isn’t offering any discounts on the Pixel 6a, it does have the most affordable SIM plans out of the providers ranging the new Google device. This makes Vodafone cheaper by around $2 per month on a 24-month plan or $5 across 36-months.

Vodafone’s price can come down even further if you trade-in an eligible device in Good Working Order. On top of the usual trade-in credit you’d get for trading in your phone to upgrade, Vodafone is offering an additional $200 to go towards your Pixel 6a plan. If you were to trade in the Pixel 4a in Good Working Order for example, you’d get the $105 credit for the device + an extra $200. This $305 credit would be split up across the duration of your repayments saving $12.70 per month over 24-months or $8.47 over 36.

Every device has a different trade-in value, but you can check how much they’re worth here.

Telstra is also taking $100 off Pixel 6a’s when you get one on a plan, but even with this discount the telco’s prices are still significantly higher than both Optus and Vodafone. 36-month plans start at $76.02 per month as opposed to $60.80 per month with Vodafone. Still, if you prefer the Telstra network the $100 discount is available until August 29, 2022. Terms and conditions on this offer are similar to Optus’ - you’ll need to stay connected for the full term in order to reap the whole discount. Just keep in mind that Telstra will almost certainly raise its SIM plan prices again in July next year, so your plan will likely get a bit pricier as you move into the second year.