Review of Pixel 9a: Google’s Budget-Friendly Android Champion | Pixels

Google’s latest discounted Pixel offers the best value for Android phones and outperforms models twice its price in many regions.

The Pixel 9a starts at £499 (€549/$499/A$849), the same as last year’s model. It is about £300 less than Google’s regular Pixel 9 and competes with mid-range devices like the Nothing Phone 3a Pro and Samsung’s Galaxy A56.

Google has maintained its successful A-Series formula with the 9a, offering top-tier specs, chips, and cameras while cutting costs. The result is a compelling package for the price.

The 6.3-inch OLED display is sharp, smooth, and bright, surpassing many competitors. While slightly thicker bezels surround the screen compared to the Pixel 9, it retains the premium feel with an aluminum band. The back is crafted from high-quality plastic, maintaining durability. Additionally, the 9a is fully IP68 water-resistant, in line with the industry’s best.

One notable change is the absence of a prominent camera bar on the back. Instead, the dual camera sits within a discreet black oval, providing a sleeker appearance though potentially losing some distinctive charm found in Google’s other phone designs.

Specifications

• Screen: 6.3in 120Hz FHD+ OLED (422ppi)

• Processor: Google Tensor G4

• Ram: 8GB

• Storage: 128 or 256GB

• Operating system: Android 15

• Camera: 48MP + 13MP Ultrawide, 13MP Selfie

• Connectivity: 5G, SIM/ESIM, WIFI 6E, NFC, Bluetooth 5.3, and GNSS

• Water resistance: IP68 (1M for 30 minutes)

• Size: 157.7 x 73.3 x 8.9mm

• Weight: 185.9g

Most of the Tensor G4 and Google’s AI

Internally, the 9a boasts the top-tier Google Tensor G4 chip found in other Pixel 9 models, albeit with 8GB of RAM rather than 12GB on pricier variants. The chip delivers fast performance, outpacing most midrange chips albeit falling short in raw performance benchmarks.

The battery life is impressive, lasting up to 57 hours with light use, 9 hours of active screen time, and 5 hours on 5G. This longevity rivals some of the longest-lasting phones on the market, offering a two-day usage window.

While the reduced RAM doesn’t significantly impact daily use, it does limit some local AI functionalities, such as Google’s Gemini AI Tools, which enable text processing but exclude some advanced audio or image-based features like Pixel Screenshots. Call Notes on the Pixel 9.

All Gemini features that leverage web capabilities, such as Gemini Live, perform well on the 9a. The phone can also generate summaries of audio recordings, albeit with limitations on word count per session.

The overall user experience on Android 15 matches other Pixel phones, with the added benefit of Google’s seven years of software support for Pixels. This longevity ensures the 9a remains relevant in the mid-range market for an extended period.

Camera

The Pixel 9a features exceptional cameras, including a new 48-megapixel main camera and a 13MP Ultra Wide lens alongside it.

The main camera captures high-quality images, rivaling flagship phones, especially in low-light conditions. Photos are detailed and balanced across various lighting scenarios, with the Ultra Wide lens standing out as a great feature. The main camera also offers a decent 2x zoom, extendable to 8x with some digital artifacts.

A new addition to the 9a is the Macro Photography mode, leveraging the main camera for impressive close-up shots. The selfie camera performs well, and video capture is equally strong.

The 9a inherits popular features like Best Takes and main Pixel 9 AI capabilities, incorporating various Google Photos AI editing tools such as Magic Editor, Unblur, and Audio Magic Eraser.

Sustainability

Google ensures the battery should retain at least 80% of its original capacity after about 1,000 full charge cycles. The phone is repairable by Google or third-party shops, with genuine replacement parts available directly from sources like iFixit.

The Pixel 9a is constructed from recycled materials, comprising at least 23% of the phone’s weight. Google’s public Environmental Impact Report outlines the phone’s sustainability efforts and offers free recycling for old devices.

Price

The Google Pixel 9a is priced at £499 (€549/$499/A$849).

For comparison, the Pixel 9 costs £799, the Samsung Galaxy A56 retails for £499, the Nothing Phone 3a Pro is priced at £449, and the Apple iPhone 16e is priced at £599.

Verdict

The Pixel 9a demonstrates Google’s ability to deliver a flagship-level phone at a mid-range price point better than most competitors.

A combination of premium chips, long-lasting battery, top-tier screens, and exceptional cameras outshine more expensive options. Google’s robust software and extended seven-year support further enhance the overall value.

Some compromises have been made to lower costs, but they are hardly noticeable in day-to-day usage. Omissions like WiFi 7, lack of satellite messaging, spatial audio, plastic backs, etc., can be overlooked given the 9a’s price point.

While pricier Pixel phones offer additional features, the Pixel 9a is hard to ignore as the best mid-range phone by a significant margin, providing a quality experience at an accessible price point.

Strong Points: Undercuts high-end phones with 7 years of software updates, top-tier cameras, excellent screens, premium chips, ultra-long battery life, recycled materials, advanced AI features, competitive pricing.

Cons: Common design, lack of optical zoom for cameras, limited performance, plastic back, absence of spatial audio, no WiFi 7 or satellite messaging, older Gorilla Glass 3.