Google Pixel 9a Review

A well-rounded mid-ranger

The Pixel 9a is a big phone that does nearly everything right . It offers a great design , now clear-cut from the flagship Pixel 9 collection , with improvements to an already solid tv camera offering , supercharge execution and the longest barrage fire life of any Pixel I ’ve used to date . The stocky bezel make an otherwise solid 6.3 - inch OLED presentation see ripened , however .

Pros

Cons

Key Features

Introduction

Another class means another Pixel ‘ a ’ release – but this year ’s Pixel 9a is different in a few important mode .

Most notably , the Pixel 9a is the first in the series to not closely mirror the design of the flagship Pixel , ditching the camera bar for an altogether more understated facial expression .

It also swash the best battery liveliness of any Pixel to date , let in the top - endPixel 9 Pro XL , and offers a handful of flagship AI features when much of the mid - range rivalry refuses to do so .

Google Pixel 9a

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However , the mid - scope competition is hot up up in 2025 with more tantalising , yet low-priced , options than ever .

Has Google done enough to secure the Pixel 9a ’s place as one of thebest mid - range phonechoices of 2025 ? I ’ve spent the past calendar week and a morsel with the Pixel 9a to find out .

Design

For the first time in years , Google ’s Pixel 9a does n’t fall out the design language typeset by the flagship range , in this case , the Pixel 9 – not wholly , anyway .

Yes , the Google Pixel 9a ditches the wind rear and border for flat alternative that provide way better purchase in the hand , and it does kind of feel like the Pixel 9 in - hand as a termination , but there ’s one massive skip – the camera streak .

Google decided to trench the iconic Pixel design constituent with this twelvemonth ’s Pixel 9a , or else opting for the polar opposite : a near - flush , minimize dual tv camera housing . My contiguous reaction to the reveal was a lilliputian negative , but I remember that was more of a stifle - jerk reaction to the big change .

Google Pixel 9a

Actually using the Pixel 9a , I ’ve amount to massively appreciate the more simplistic pattern . It baby-sit nigh - flat on mesa with next to no wobble , it does n’t get as I get it out of my pouch like the Pixel 9 Pro XL does , and it give me extra way for my fingers to breathe on the back . It might not have that iconic Pixel facial expression , but from a usability standpoint , it ’s a total win .

The companionship has also bolstered the earphone ’s enduringness with improved IP68 dust and water resistance , the same as you ’ll get hold on some of thebest smartphonesaround .

However , the use of the ageing Gorilla Glass 3 is a little unsatisfying to see . It ’s screen technical school that was first launched in 2013 , and we ’ve seen mid - rangers like the Poco F7 Pro with more perdurable Gorilla Glass 7i for better protection from drops and scribble .

Elsewhere , it ’s very much commercial enterprise as usual ; it propose the same combining of an aluminium material body and a plastic butt as previous entries to save on costs . It does n’t feel like tacky plastic , with a nice matte finish that hide fingerprint , though it equally does n’t feel quite as premium as the all - alloy - and - glassSamsung Galaxy A56 5G.

The enjoyment of plastic does at least keep the weight down at 186 g , making it nice to hold – especially when combined with the rather thickset 6.3 - inch screen .

The phone is also available in a range of vibrant , attractive color pick , let in the same Peony pink finish as the flagship Pixel 9 collection , along with Iris , Porcelain and Obsidian . The more colorful selection are certainly more eye - catch , but I do like the minimize tone of the all - black model sent for review .

Google Pixel 9a

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Screen

The Google Pixel 9a sports a big 6.3 - inch pOLED screen than thePixel 8a , but that does n’t end it from easy being the washy constituent of the experience overall .

It start with thoseseriouslythickdisplay bezels . Though not too out of place a few years ago , mid - range phone makers have endeavor to slim down the once - chunky smuggled bar . phone like the Samsung Galaxy A56 5 G andOnePlus Nord 4have markedly slender bezel and provide a cleaner , more immersive experience as a result .

It ’s the one constituent of the 9a ’s silver screen that I just ca n’t overleap , induce the £ 499/$499 search either loud or just dated .

Google Pixel 9a

I also imagine Google has more work to do on the adaptive refresh pace on offer ; despite being able-bodied to switch between 60- and 120Hz depending on what I ’m up to , I often ascertain myself lock to the slower 60Hz when scrolling through apps . It ’s more jittery as a result , and unlike other phones , there ’s no mode to force a changeless 120Hz . You ’re , rather frustratingly , at Google ’s whims here .

A 6.3 - in screen , though grown than its harbinger , still is n’t the best size for watching long - form content or even play , though it is one of the more pocket-size devices around , with many smartphones adopting something closer to the 6.7 - inch mark .

This makes it sluttish to use one - handed , though it ’s still a bit of a battle to reach the top of the covert with a tall 20:9 panorama proportion .

I might vocalise like I ’m constantly bop the screen , but there are constituent to apprize . A supercharge 2700 nits peak luminousness means the Pixel 9a can get plenty bright , making it a dreaming to use even on brilliant cheery days , and it also translates to a much safe experience when playing HDR subject on the like of Netflix and YouTube .

You ’ve also got the fundamental characteristic of OLED screen tech , intend that blacks are inky fateful and colours look vivacious . Paired with a fairly elaborate FHD+ resolution , day - to - mean solar day role is all right – you ’ve just got to look past those chunky bezel to apprize it .

Cameras

Google did n’t just redesign the Pixel 9a ’s camera housing and give it at that ; for the first time in a few years , there ’s also fresh camera hardware to apprise . Well , where the primary sensor is touch on anyway .

While the drop in megapixel enumeration from 64MP to 48MP might lead you to believe that it ’s a downgrade , it ’s certainly not the case . The size of the sensing element has increase from 1/1.73 in to 1/2.0 in for a ecumenical boost to lightsome , detail and colour fascinate , along with a wider f/1.7 aperture to further ameliorate clear intake .

Combined with Google ’s frankly excellent image processing that delivers exceptionally precise results , peculiarly in terms of colours and skin tones , the Pixel 9a is a howling little snapper . It does n’t quite have the leg to compete with the flagship Pixel 9 Pro XL , but in the mid - range securities industry , it stands out .

Google Pixel 9a

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Even when light grade start to drop , the Pixel 9a ’s main camera retain to extradite . Compared to the likewise priced Samsung Galaxy A56 5 G , the Pixel 9a has more accurate tones ( the Galaxy had an odd purple chromaticity to dispirited - lightness shots ) and more item – though it does seem to endure from lens burst out a little more than Samsung ’s choice .

The accompanying ultrawide crystalline lens has n’t had any TLC , however , sporting the same spec as that of the Pixel 8a .

As such , it ’s a respectable snapper that can enamor vivacious shot with an almost identical colour palette to the master sensor . It ’s not quite as capable in low - illumination environments , however , with a comparatively narrow f/2.2 aperture and the lack of OIS for those pin - knifelike long exposures .

Google Pixel 9a

I do keen the lack of a dedicated rapid growth lens , especially with cheaper mid - rangers like theNothing Phone 3aandNothing Phone 3a Prooffering telephoto and periscope zooms , severally .

Google ’s digital - based option is solid , with less artefacting at 8x than contend mid - ranger , but it ca n’t compete with the high levels of soar from Nothing ’s periscope - base shooter .

Flip the sound over and you ’ll find the same 13MP f/2.2 ultrawide sensor as previous generations in the ‘ a ’ serial publication . It ’s all right for the occasional selfie and video call , but for any serious photography , I ’d recommend stick to the rearward lense – and the primary lens in particular .

Performance

remain the tendency of Google ’s ‘ A ’ serial devices sporting flagship chipsets , the Pixel 9a sports the sameTensor G4as the flagship Pixel 9 collecting .

As notice in ourPixel 9 Proreview , the Tensor G4 is n’t what we ’d draw as a performance - concentre chipset , with Google shunning all - out performance gains for improved AI smartness – but more on the latter a little later on .

As such , the Tensor G4 is n’t quite on the same level of performance as the likes of theSnapdragon 8 Eliteor Apple A18 Pro in the benchmark section , with issue not that much unspoiled than last year ’s Pixel 8a in many trial . It ’s still competitory for a mid - commando , but the gap is n’t as wide as it should be .

Google Pixel 9a

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However , as with the flagships , you would n’t be able to tell this in everyday manipulation , even with 8 GB of RAM compare to the 12 GB you get from the premium models .

This phone absolutely flies , whether you ’re simply scroll through TikTok videos or doing something a small more processing - sullen , like AI exposure editing or wed together videos in CapCut .

I ’ve not experience a single stutter or any lag over the past week or so of role , including playing games like Archero 2 and Call of Duty Mobile – though the latter can make the sound to get a lilliputian hot to the speck , particularly if I zigzag up the texture calibre .

Google Pixel 9a

If you are a consecrated gamer , more public presentation - focused telephone with good cooling – like the Poco F7 Pro orPoco X7 Pro – would better suit your pauperism , but what the Pixel 9a offers is more than enough for a free-and-easy game every now and again .

Connectivity is also top - notch for a mid - Texas Ranger . It might not offer Wi - Fi 7 like the flagship models do , but it ’s still a very unexampled monetary standard , and I doubt many would be able to make usage of it anyway . That allege , the combination tri - band Wi - Fi 6e , Bluetooth 5.3 , GPS , NFC and eSIM connectivity should n’t leave you wanting for more .

Software & AI

If there ’s one understanding beyond camera performance to choose for the Pixel 9a over other mid - rangers , it has to be the company ’s combination of package and AI .

The Pixel 9a ships with stock Android 15 out of the box that Android purists will be sure to do it , free of the conventionalized interface , additional features and confusing scheme that often come with custom Android skins like Xiaomi ’s HyperOS . It ’s Android as Google intended , with a scattering of Pixel - exclusive features to seal the deal .

These chain of mountains from small feature article , like the telephone ’s power to constantly agnise and list songs you hear in the background throughout the twenty-four hours , to bigger AI feature that are still fair rarefied on mid - range phones .

There ’s nothing novel here that we have n’t already seen from the flagship Pixel 9 range , but the fact that it ’s even in the same conversation is telling ; Samsung ’s compete Galaxy A56 5 gibibyte does n’t offer any Galaxy AI - branded features at all .

That said , this year ’s additions include Add Me and Google ’s pass Gemini experience – including the power to experience share your screen with the helper – alongside recall deary like Magic Eraser , automatic recording arranging and the ever - popular Google Circle to Search .

It does miss out on the ability to swear out voice , images and videos on - gimmick from the flagships , but most of the major features are present and accounted for . Whether these AI feature film will really make a difference or not is totally pendant on how you employ your phone , but it ’s certainly nice to have from a economic value perspective .

Google Pixel 9a

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That experience is typeset to continue to improve over time too , with Google committing to the same seven years of oculus sinister upgrades as its flagship orbit . That ’s practically unheard of in the mid - range market , and essentially mean that the earpiece will finally get the Android 22 update – and , going by Google ’s racetrack disk , in passably decent metre too .

Battery life

In a rather left turn of consequence , the Pixel 9a does n’t just feature better battery aliveness than the Pixel 8a with a bigger 5100mAh battery , but it ’s honorable than the flagship Pixels too – per Google ’s estimates of 30 + hr of charge compared to 24 + minute from other Pixel gadget , anyway .

I ’ve found that to be on the money in routine use too . With other Pixels , including the big - filmdom Pixel 9 Pro XL , I never feltquitealleviated of my stamp battery anxiety in the style that phones like theOppo come up X8 Prohad . The Pixel 9a , on the other manus , just kept on cash in one’s chips , surpass every stamp battery prediction I made during my week ’s use .

For good example , after a day of clear use , I noticed that the Pixel 9a still had 42 % billing at around midnight . I went to bottom shortly after without charging the phone , look it to be near - dead by the time I heat up the next day .

Google Pixel 9a

Even with two time of day of music playback – hey , I like to heed to white noise , okay – the earphone only dropped by six percent over eight hours . In fact , it keep give out past lunch and only gave up at around 4:30pm that good afternoon .

That ’s not something I could say about any Pixel until this point , and it ’s amazing to me that it ’s from the most affordable Pixel in the cooking stove .

As excellent as the Pixel 9a ’s battery life is , charging is n’t quite as exceptional . It ’s faster than the Pixel 8a by a whole 5W , from 18W to 23W , with the latter still way behind what you ’ll get from mid - Ranger like the 45W Samsung Galaxy A56 5G.

That read to sometimes frustratingly slow charge speed . The telephone set carry off only 40 % in 30 transactions and a full charge in 1 hour and 48 second , one of the slowest in its cost peak .

The Pixel 9a does win some point back with financial backing for Qi radio receiver charging , but at 7.5W , it ’ll be way slower to charge your phone in a speck .

Should you buy it?

From swell tv camera performance and AI smartness to all - Clarence Day barrage life , the Pixel 9a offers much of what consumers require from a mid - range smartphone .

The Pixel 9a is countenance down by rather thick bezels , even when compared to more low-priced phones . The adaptive refresh rate also needs some optimisation , reverting to 60Hz when not necessary .

Final Thoughts

The Pixel 9a is a great phone that does well-nigh everything good . It offer a gravid aim , now distinguishable from the flagship Pixel 9 collection , with betterment to an already solid camera offer , boosted public presentation and the longest battery living of any Pixel I ’ve used to date .

Then there ’s also Google ’s approaching to package and AI , offering stock Android 15 with a handful of flagship Pixel AI features and functionality and the same manufacture - leading seven year of type O upgrade to boot . That ’s much unheard of in the mid - range space in both respects .

However , the competition is heating up in the mid - range space , and as exceptional as the Pixel 9a is , shortcomings – particularly in the screen department with buddy-buddy bezels and hit - and - miss adaptive refresh pace technical school – mean it ’s not theverybest smartphone in all respects .

Google Pixel 9a

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And , as good as Google ’s AI Super Zoom tech is , the Pixel 9a really want a rapid climb lens to continue competitive in the tv camera space , with cheaper headphone now come with consecrated telephoto and periscope snappers .

Still , you ’re acquire exceptionally dependable value overall , and that ’s key for thebest mid - range telephone set .

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