Following within the footsteps of the Pixel 9 lineup, Google has ultimately launched the budget-minded Pixel 9a. This new mannequin trims right here and there to ship a cellphone that’s nonetheless constructed round a good Tensor G4 chipset and a brilliant OLED show whereas costing simply $499. It’s a cute cellphone, however the methods Google has pared it again are pretty obvious. And other than a seven-year replace promise, the Pixel 9a isn’t fairly pushing the boundaries of what a mid-range cellphone will be fairly like others, such because the OnePlus 13R. And contemplating I’ve seen the Pixel 9 go on sale for $549 not too long ago, the Pixel 9a might have a tough time promoting itself.
Google Pixel 9a – Design and Features
Google’s efforts to cut back worth on the A-series present themselves most clearly within the design. The Pixel 9a doesn’t look unhealthy, however subsequent to its full-fat siblings, it doesn’t stack up fairly as properly. Notably, the black bezels bordering the show are girthier, and although they’re pleasingly even throughout, they nonetheless stick out greater than these on the Pixel 9.
I can’t knock the plastic again of the Pixel 9a, because it truly feels surprisingly glassy and will show far much less vulnerable to shattering than glass. Google ditched the signature digicam bar for a smaller and easier digicam bump housing the 2 rear cameras. While this improves the thinness and pocketability of the cellphone, it offers it a extra bland look. Dropping the digicam bar additionally didn’t profoundly impression the scale of the cellphone, because it finally ends up bigger throughout than the Pixel 9.
At least Google went in for splashy colours, with the Peony colorway examined right here providing a vibrant attraction and an identical body. Google additionally noticed match to bump up the protections on the Pixel 9a, giving it upgraded water resistance in comparison with final yr’s mannequin. It now boasts an IP68 ranking to face up to dunks below water. That ought to assist the Pixel 9a to raised survive the seven years it would obtain software program assist.
Though Google makes no be aware of this, the Pixel 9a is curiously interested in magnets. The cellphone isn’t Qi2 licensed, however that will not cease it from working with Qi2 chargers. I discovered a Mag Safe pockets snapped onto the again of the Pixel 9a properly sufficient. It was slightly weak and slid round too freely due to the graceful again of the cellphone. But you probably have a stationary bedside MagSafe charger with a powerful magnet and grippy floor, it might in all probability work.
The show solely will get a Gorilla Glass 3 cowl. It hasn’t scratched or cracked in my restricted time testing, but it surely’s very seemingly not going to face up to as a lot because the Gorilla Glass Victus 2 overlaying the entrance of the Pixel 9. That show is in any other case similar to what you’ll see within the Pixel 9. It measures 6.3 inches, has a 1080×2424 decision show, and hits peak brightness of 1800 nits in HDR content material and 2700 nits for small highlights. It’s an excellent trying show and straightforward to see in most circumstances, but it surely misses out on a few of the benefits provided by LTPO OLED shows discovered within the likes of the OnePlus 13R, like the power to drop right down to 1Hz for further battery financial savings.
The show is paired with first rate audio system. They get sufficiently loud to take heed to at a distance in a quiet room. They’re not terribly distorted at max quantity both, although they do duck slightly so it’s higher to keep away from max quantity for music, because the EQ might be inconsistent.
To unlock the Pixel 9a, you should utilize a fingerprint scanner beneath the show or facial recognition. The latter works shortly, however I’ve had extra frequent points with the fingerprint scanner failing to acknowledge my finger.
While the Pixel 9a is a correct 5G cellphone, its assist isn’t as full as its siblings. The Pixel 9 and 9 Pro fashions can assist mmWave for ultra-fast connections in sure areas, however the Pixel 9a is proscribed to 5G Sub-6. This can nonetheless be quick, and it reached over 200Mbps in my testing, but it surely’s simply not as quick.
Google Pixel 9a – Software
The Pixel 9a comes operating Android 15 and might be supported for seven years from its launch with software program and safety updates. Like the opposite Pixel telephones, Google’s customizations create a quite simple software program expertise. Google streamlines consumer customization choices, and avoids overcomplication, however this additionally limits the liberty to set the gadget up the way you prefer it. I’ve been a long-time opponent of the adjustments to the fast settings menu on Pixels given how little info you may get at a time, and there’s no getting round it. Google additionally limits the homescreen app grid to 5×5 or smaller. Thankfully, there’s nothing too egregious concerning the software program – aside from perhaps the Google app, which lives to the aspect of the house display, together with ads. It’s an general good expertise. And in the event you’re after AI capabilities, the Pixel 9a helps an excellent a lot of these coming from Google.
Google Pixel 9a – Gaming and Performance
One of the large guarantees of the A sequence is that they don’t skimp on efficiency in comparison with the primary variations. The Pixel 9a comes operating on Google’s Tensor G4, the identical chip discovered even within the top-tier Pixel 9 Pro. For on a regular basis efficiency, that is greater than up-to-snuff, with the cellphone switching between apps, looking the net, and working easily throughout.
Considering this, it ought to come as little shock that its efficiency is in the identical ballpark because the Pixel 9 and 9 Pro. Across Geekbench and 3DMark benchmarks, the Pixel 9a carried out inside just some share factors of the opposite two. The solely exception was the Pixel 9 Pro’s higher single-core efficiency and the Pixel 9a’s higher Geekbench 6 GPU efficiency. That latter win was evidently simply the results of newer working software program that Android Authority reported boosted GPU efficiency (an replace the Pixel 9 and 9 Pro weren’t aware of on the time of testing). With the Pixel 9 up to date, it truly noticed its Geekbench 6 GPU efficiency leap again forward of the Pixel 9a, although 3DMark checks have been largely unchanged.
Despite the plastic again, the Pixel 9a additionally manages its thermals pretty properly. It can get slightly heat, however I’ve by no means felt it threaten to sear my hand and even show uncomfortable to carry, even after downloading Wuthering Waves and compiling shaders – a frightening job for any cellphone. And in 3DMark’s Steel Nomad Light stress check, the Pixel 9a solely noticed its efficiency sink by 19.7%. That’s proper according to the efficiency vary and throttling of the Pixel 9 and 9 Pro, but it surely’s additionally sufficient to hinder efficiency in video games. The cellphone struggled to maintain up efficiency taking part in Wuthering Waves maxed out at 60fps when it had warmed up, exhibiting frequent stutters. But dialed again right down to balanced graphics settings, it managed smoother gameplay.
While the efficiency is nice, it’s not wonderful. Putting this into perspective. The iPhone 16 comes near doubling the Pixel 9a’s Geekbench 6 CPU scores, practically triples its GPU rating, and has a dramatic lead throughout all the 3DMark benchmarks. The Tensor G4 is not any beast. On the Android aspect of the fence, the Pixel 9a can be completely proven up by the OnePlus 13R, with Google providing 20 to 50 % much less efficiency in our benchmark suite.
The Pixel 9a can function and recreation properly sufficient. But cellular video games have seen their calls for develop shortly. A cellphone that may play Genshin Impact and Wuthering Waves right this moment could also be dropped at its knees by no matter video games supplant them in a few years. Google additionally solely included 8GB of reminiscence on the Pixel 9a. This continues to be sufficient for on a regular basis operation, however with AI functions counting on reminiscence, it may show a tough barrier for bigger fashions.
Keeping the social gathering going is a 5,100mAh battery – an improve over what you’ll discover in even the Pixel 9 Pro XL. That offers the Pixel 9a loads of juice for all-day use, and in the event you’re a lightweight consumer, don’t be shocked if you can also make it by means of two full days with no need to recharge. Running the cellphone at 50% brightness and streaming a film over Wi-Fi, the battery dropped by solely 4%, making it a strong possibility for marathon streaming periods.
Google Pixel 9a – Cameras
The Pixel 9a doesn’t get the identical suite of sensors that the Pixel 9 did. Instead, it will get a barely lower-quality 48MP major sensor and a way more fundamental 13MP large sensor. Around entrance, it has a higher-resolution 13MP selfie digicam. Here’s a better have a look at the small print:
- 48MP large, f/1.7, 1/2”, OIS, EIS
- 13MP ultrawide, f/2.2, 1/3.1”, 120-degree FoV
- 13MP Selfie, f/2.2, 96.1-degree FOV
For what it’s price, the Pixel 9a’s downgrades don’t make it a foul digicam system. The major sensor is certainly the star of the present, although. It captures a great deal of mild, can get a beautiful bokeh in the proper circumstances, and brings out a ton of element. Its colours are pure, for higher or worse. That can imply practical, lifelike photographs typically, although that additionally means images taken on chilly, overcast days are going to look as lifeless as they do in actual life. The digicam can punch in for barely digital zoom and macros, but it surely’s not very spectacular. It gained’t maintain a candle to optical zoom, like what you’ll discover on the OnePlus 13R.
The ultra-wide retains constant colour and lighting with the primary sensor, which is at all times a plus. But it could wrestle extra readily with noise if it’s not taking pictures in brilliant circumstances. It’s a serviceable complement to the primary digicam, however I wouldn’t use it for way more than well-lit landscapes
The Pixel 9a isn’t at all times good about selecting its taking pictures modes. While making an attempt to snap a photograph of my cats in a dim setting, it converted to nighttime mode, as an illustration. While that would let in additional mild, it additionally ensured the cats have been a blur. In different instances, it swapped over to the macro taking pictures mode and ended up with worse focus than it might need had in any other case. The major sensor proves itself completely able to some close-up photographs.
The selfie digicam on the entrance is a superb little snapper. It can wrestle to determine the way it’s going to shoot in low-light, however even then it’ll get an honest shot. With higher publicity, it captures nice particulars.
