Google Pixel 9a Review: One of the Best Deals in Smartphones

Every twelvemonth , Google ’s Pixel A - series reminds me that I did not have to pay all that cash for thePro variantto live a secure life . ThePixel 9amay havebeen delayedcoming out of the logic gate , but it remains one of the best deals in the commercial enterprise . For $ 500 , you get a bona fide Pixel twist in two optional stunning colorways , the same Tensor processor as the relaxation of the Pixel 9 batting order , wireless charging , and entree to Google ’s legion AI tricks . One feature that ’s notably overleap is a television camera zoom capacity . However , the absence of that on most devices at this price is a reminder that it ’s not an essential pauperization for a smartphone .

See Pixel 9a at Amazon

It ’s interesting to liken the Pixel 9a toApple ’s iPhone 16e , which claim to offer a similar “ essential ” flagship experience but for the walled garden crowd . The iPhone 16e seemed model after Google ’s formula with the A - serial publication over the last six generations , and correctly now both have a lot of small AI lineament that are meant to be big selling points .

The Pixel 9a in Iris. Is it purple or blue? My eyes can’t decide.© Florence Ion / Gizmodo

Google Pixel 9a

With affordable headphone like this , who needs flagship ? The Pixel 9a is all the requirement packed into a friendlier price point .

professional

© Florence Ion / GizmodoThe Google Pixel 9a’s backside (top right) compared to the Pixel 9 Pro (front) and the Pixel 9 (far left).

Cons

But sorry , iPhone fans : Google did with the Pixel 9a what you wish it did with the iPhone 16e . The machine comes in four colorways , including white , smuggled , a stark pink holler Peony , and a insidious majestic - blue called Iris , the color of our brushup unit . I ’m seek to win over myself it ’s imperial in the ignition in my home position , but it ’s blue to my naked eye . It skewed violet moreso when I was in Google ’s housechecking the phone out , which shows that the inflammation environment bear on the Pixel 9a ’s colorway .

no matter of the color you get , you ’ll see it extend beyond the backside to every side of the gadget , matching the esthetic of the residuum of the Pixel 9 family . That is , until you get to the backside and see the threefold - camera stack shove into what I could only key as a noodle - determine photographic camera module . Google says it was model after nature — water supply , specifically — but I will go in front and say it looks like beans .

© Florence Ion / Gizmodo

The photographic camera bean domiciliate a 48 - MP primary tv camera with OIS . The primary rearward television camera has Super Res Zoom capabilities , which means acuate , digital soar up up to 8x , though matter expect the best between 1x and 2x , which is the optical max . There ’s also a 13 - MP ultra - wide camera for 120 - academic degree wide - angle shots . That primary camera on the Pixel 9a is also adequate to of a little macro magic . Details appear amazingly clear up nigh , and I was pleased at how well-to-do it was to lock in .

The Pixel 9a at 1x , 2x , 4x , and 8x .

Compare this to the iPhone 16e , which only has one principal camera sans any wide - angle capabilities . Interestingly , while these devices do n’t produce the highest closure photos like their Pro similitude , they still be in the same color temperature and manner as their maker . you could see it in the examples below : the iPhone 16e is heavy on the dividing line , while the Pixel 9a lights up every detail in the picture , even the terrain cover in the darkness .

© Florence Ion / Gizmodo

A nighttime shot taken with the Pixel 9a ( pull up stakes ) and the iPhone 16e ( flop ) .

Morning dawn taken with the Pixel 9a ( entrust ) and the iPhone 16e ( right ) .

first light landscape painting engage with the Pixel 9a ( left ) and the iPhone 16e ( the right way ) .

© Florence Ion / Gizmodo

The other primal selling level of the Pixel 9a is that it run on the same Tensor G4 CPU as the rest of the Pixel 9 family , entail it gets Android updates alongside everyone else , seven geezerhood of software and security accompaniment , and can also treat Gemini ’s tastier bits . That ’s howGemini Live , with the camera and screen share , is already uncommitted on the Pixel 9a , which has 8 GB of RAM . Gemini is supposed to replace the Google Assistant , so you ’ll stir this for impertinent home plate controller or — a feature I started using quite often — to tear a pic of a bunch of date and have them mechanically added to Google Calendar . Those ability are helpful !

Gemini Live with photographic camera and screen share started rolling out to the Pixel devicesonly of late , so it ’s fairly nascent . I ’ve been using it for a few solar day on the Pixel 9a since I can access Gemini Advanced . It works well as long as I ’m not also shifting between apps . Gemini and I had a conversation with the photographic camera . We talked about the toys on my desk , and Gemini correctly called out most of the models of various practical pets and figurine surrounding me . I also had it attempt to describe the smartphones at my desk ; it make do to reckon out all the Android phones just fine , but got stomp when I started to point the television camera at theiPhone 16 professional . ( Gemini thought it was aniPhone 14 Pro . )

There are other element of AI strewn throughout the Pixel gimmick as a reminder of what you get when you link the Google ecosystem . Circle to Searchremains a expectant part of the operating system ’s limited power , and you ’ll have access to all the latest features already rolled out to the repose of the Pixel 9 family . The Pixel 9a also has entree to all the variouscall covering featureslaunched over the years , including Direct My Call , which help you deal with the pestering automate phone menus .

A macro photo sample with the Pixel 9a

© Florence Ion / Gizmodo

I have n’t talk about the Pixel 9a ’s 6.3 - inch Actua display yet , which has an impressive 120Hz refresh pace . At this price point , Samsung is typically the one to go to if you ’re long for high contrast and cryptic blacks . But this metre around , the Pixel 9a outwit it out on brightness . Though I have not yet tested thelatest Galaxy A - series releasesto compare them , the specs alone say the Pixel 9a ’s showing is nearly 800 nit bright than the likewise priced Galaxy A56 .

The Pixel 9a predict up to 30 minute of electric battery life on a single rush . I have not had a chance to put it up directly against the iPhone 16e in the battery rundown test , but both Google and Apple ’s “ essential ” phoneswillcarry you through the day . The Pixel 9a ’s 5,000 mAh lean to meander down like the Pixel 9 Pro . I keepPokémon Goopen at my desk to see what sprouts up . The Pixel 9a used up about a percent of battery between every five to ten minutes the screen door was on . I burn up through about 18 % of the battery over two hours doing those same random handicap - ins on the game , plus scanning Google News and see to it in on social media . Then I left the speech sound on standby , with the screen off , for about two hours , and only 3 % of the electric battery rolled by . Like the rest of the Pixel 9 lineup , you ’ll desire to keep the concealment off for the most enduring electric battery life .

Charging times for the Pixel 9a are n’t high-risk , though you ’re not getting tight charging speeds at this price . The maximal wired commove ability for the Pixel 9a is 23W. I tried brag it up with the 30W Pixel battery charger , but it took at least an hour and a half before there was enough assault and battery to take it off the cable . Also , while it works with ki - compatible wireless chargers , it ’s limited to 7.5W. Those are the patronage - offs for the easy terms point !

A macro photo sample with the Pixel 9a

What you do n’t have to compromise on are all the helpful safety characteristic that Google bundles in with its Pixel gadget . Like the repose of its flagship family , the Pixel 9a offers railroad car crash spying , theft detection , guard hitch , and live locating sharing . The only thing it ca n’t do like the other Pixels is call out to the artificial satellite in the heavens above and send a low - bitrate substance to permit folks far away have sex you ’re doing okay . planet connectivity is a courteous - to - have feature that get at $ 300 more with the Pixel 9 .

I bear more for the Pixel 9 Pro because I wanted all that zoom potentiality . But you do n’t have to be like me ; you do n’t have to pass all your cash to carry everything all the time if you do n’t cerebrate you ’ll be using it , specially in this economy . Google packaged the Pixel 9a with only what it considers the substantive parts of its platform . That does imply Gemini and all the other AI Google is peddling as a part of the lot . Apple ’s doing it , too , with the iPhone 16e and Apple Intelligence . This is where we ’re at and what we ’ll be fielding as consumers . The AI is the economic value - attention deficit disorder , whether we consider it or not . On the positive side , with affordable telephone like these , there is no reason to consider the most expensive pro - level smartphone your go - to unless you plan to use what you pay for .

AndroidGoogleGoogle Pixel 9a

A macro photo sample with the Pixel 9a

Get the best tech , science , and civilisation news in your inbox daily .

News from the future , delivered to your present .