It is a very common occurrence to see a manufacturer create a version of a smartphone that is virtually one-to-one with the flagship devices, but with lesser specs. The Google Pixel 9a is exactly one of those devices, except this time around, there isn’t that much of a difference between it and the Google Pixel 9. So, you might be asking, “If that’s the case, why wouldn’t I just get a better, more superior phone?”. The simple answer would be money; you want to save money and still get most, if not all, of the bells and whistles.
To say the absolute least, we live in very interesting times, and it’s in our best interests to save money wherever possible. Having a close-to-affordable option for a brand-new smartphone is a very attractive option, especially if you are familiar with the brand. The Pixel line of phones has stood on its own for a very long time and has consistently offered up the best in class when it comes to the visuals, camera, as well as the overall performance. The Google Pixel 9a delivers on all fronts, and it is for sure a very strong contender to be one of the best smartphones on the market for its price point.
Right out of the box, the Google Pixel 9a looks like a carbon copy of the Google Pixel 9 with one very big difference and a couple of very small ones. The biggest and most noticeable difference is that this iteration of the phone removes the iconic pixel camera bump for a sleek-looking lens that is now flush to the body. I wasn’t entirely mad at this, as I’ve never been a fan of it.
A couple of the other changes to this phone are that it’s slightly bigger and slightly lighter. I honestly don’t think anyone would notice these subtle changes, but I do think it was a nice design choice. Being a more simplified version of the Pixel 9, we do have some changes that are pretty drastic.
We now move to a standard Gorilla Glass screen instead of the more premium Gorilla Glass Victus 2 that was present on the Google Pixel 9. The in-hand feel of the Pixel 9a does feel like you are holding the Pixel 9, but as mentioned, the newer phone is slightly lighter and the weight difference is very subtle. You’re really not going to notice unless you are holding both phones in your hands at the same time.
So let’s get to the fun part, and possibly the reason why this device is best in class at its price point. The Google Pixel 9a used the exact same chipset, but a slightly lesser GPU than the Google Pixel 9. For those catching up on all things Pixel, the Google 9a and 9 have the Google Tensor G4 chipset, the same Octa-core (1×3.1 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3×2.6 GHz Cortex-A720 & 4×1.9 GHz Cortex-A520) CPU and Mali-G715 MP7 GPU.
“The Google Pixel 9a delivers on all fronts, and it is for sure a very strong contender to be one of the best smartphones on the market for its price point.”
In short, they changed the body and kept the soul of the phone intact. For that reason alone, this is an absolute no-brainer as to why this phone has been hyped up leading into its launch this year. Multitasking on the Google Pixel 9a smartphone is a breeze. I was able to edit videos using CapCut while simultaneously having eight or nine other active apps running in the background without the phone chugging or overheating. For memory, this phone has the same options as the Pixel 9, where you’re able to have internal storage of 128 GB or 256 GB.
The big difference between the Pixel 9a and the Pixel 9 is that the Pixel 9 gives you 12GB of RAM, whereas the Pixel 9a only allows for 8 GB. Truthfully, this isn’t a deal breaker, but seeing how the phone is only priced at $499 USD, you really can’t complain. With the slightly bigger frame, Google was able to fit in a bigger battery, too. The new battery is now a Li-Po 5100 mAh with wireless charging capabilities, which is always a plus for me. I was to go on long walks with my dog, hotspot to my other devices while I was out and still end the night with my battery sitting around 40%.
This is the point in the review where some may become somewhat detail-oriented, and for valid reasons, so let’s discuss the camera. The Google Pixel series has traditionally been known for its superior camera quality, and considering this, along with the fact that the A-branded line generally offers fewer features than the flagship models, where does the Google Pixel 9a stand in terms of its camera capabilities?
There is a bit of a trade-off here, as the two rear lenses are now 48 MP and 13 MP, compared to the 50 MP and 48 MP cameras on the Pixel 9. On the positive side, the front camera has been upgraded to 13 MP, compared to the 10.5 MP front camera on the Pixel 9. I can confidently say that the front camera still captures excellent photos in natural and low-light conditions.
Features such as Pixel Shift, Panorama, Best Take, and Ultra HDR are still available; however, the single-zone laser autofocus is absent. Video recording capabilities include 4K at 30/60fps and 1080p at 30/60/120/240fps. Considering the price point, this remains a very solid offering for a smartphone. So, is this camera a deal-breaker? Definitely not. The camera on the Google Pixel 9a remains highly capable and will serve well for capturing a variety of moments.
The Google Pixel 9a is a device that deserves all the flowers that its flagship counterpart received. It’s an affordable option if you’re in the market for a new smartphone, and it will make you feel like you have a top-of-the-line premium device. Though the camera isn’t on par with the Google Pixel 9, you will still be able to take amazing videos and photos.
The Pixel 9a is for the consumer who doesn’t want to break the bank but also doesn’t want to cheap out on a device. I’ve been using the Pixel 8 Pro XL since launch, and truthfully, it was pretty refreshing to go to a smaller phone that also ran laps around my daily driver. With all the subtle changes from the Google Pixel 9 to the Pixel 9a, I’m very curious to see how the next flagship device from Google will fare, and I cannot wait.
- Google Pixel 9a is engineered by Google with more than you expect, for less than you think; like Gemini, your built-in AI assistant[1], the incredible Pixel Camera, and an all-day battery and durable design[2]
- Take amazing photos and videos with the Pixel Camera, and make them better than you can imagine with Google AI; get great group photos with Add Me and Best Take[4,5]; and use Macro Focus for spectacular images of tiny details like raindrops and flowers
