Google’s Pixel 9a is a mid-range phone that updates last year’s Pixel 8a with a larger screen, a better processor, a bigger battery and faster
Google Pixel 9a – MSRP Starting A $499Google’s Pixel 9a is its latest mid-range phone that updates last year’s Pixel 8a with a larger screen, a better Tensor processor, a bigger battery and faster charging.Fantastic valueLovely displayExcellent camerasImpressive battery lifeOutstanding softwareSharp,
bright display with 120Hz refresh×Fast
80W charging and included plug×Excellent
performance with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2×Alert
slider is backBland designNo more iconic camera visorSeriously chunky bezelsNo charger in the boxAfter weeks of leaks and rumors – and a mere ten months since the launch of the Pixel 8a — Google has released its latest mid-range a-series phone, without increasing the price. Behold, the $499 Pixel 9a, which bumps the screen size from 6.1 to 6.3 inches, upgrades the processor to a Tensor G4, increases its battery capacity from 4492 to 5100mAh, and raises wired charging speed from 18W to 23W.
To borrow a line from Daft Punk, the new Pixel 9a is “harder, better, faster, stronger”. Google’s mid-range a-series handsets have always struck the perfect balance between cost and specs. Historically, we’ve felt this was a winning combo, and the Pixel 9a maintains this tradition. It offers the same great value as its predecessor – just without the iconic camera visor. And while that’s a bit of a bummer, this Android phone still delivers a ton of features and better performance.
So, what’s this new Pixel 9a like? Is it just as wonderful as the Pixel 8a or did Google drop the ball? Does it bring anything new to the table? Journey on with our full review here to find out.Google Pixel 9a Hardware Updates And Industrial Design Language
While the Pixel 8a took the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro design language and rounded off the corners, the Pixel 9a inherits most of the Pixel 9 series look and feel – aluminum slabs sides and all – with one glaring omission. Google’s iconic camera visor (the horizontal bar housing the rear shooters) that’s been a staple of Pixel phones since the Pixel 6 series is now gone, replaced with a camera pill – an almost flush island housing the two rear cameras. It’s definitely a cleaner, minimalistic look.
At 154.7 x 73.3 x 8.9mm and 186g, the Pixel 9a is 2.6mm taller, 0.6mm wider, the same thickness, and 2g lighter than the outgoing Pixel 8a. The Pixel 9a is also IP68 water and dust resistant, an improvement over the Pixel 8a’s IP67 rating. It’s a bigger phone, and the footprint difference can be attributed to the larger display (6.3-inch vs. 6.1-inch). Colorways include Obsidian (black), Porcelain (white), Iris (purple), and Peony (pink).
On the back – which is made of a high density, glass-like plastic – you’ll find that new camera pill in the top left corner. It’s an almost flush island housing the 48MP main shooter and 13MP ultrawide, it’s made of black glass, and it’s flanked by an LED flash to the right. There’s a punch hole at the top center of the screen for the 12MP selfie camera, and a slit above the display for the earpiece (which doubles as one of the stereo speakers).
We hope you like bezels, because the Pixel 9a comes with some a seriously chunky (albeit evenly distributed) bezel around its 6.3-inch, Gorilla Glass 3-covered screen. It’s not a great look comparatively but it’s not a showstopper either. Everything else is pretty familiar. You’ll find a power/lock key and volume rocker on the right side, but nothing on the left. The bottom edge is home to the main speaker, USB Type-C port (USB 3.2), primary mic, and nano-SIM tray, while the secondary mic is located on top.
Without the iconic camera visor, the Pixel 9a’s design is simply a little bland. This is particularly true of the Obsidian version, since that colorway accentuates the already thick bezels and obscures the camera pill by blending it into the back. If you buy this phone, we suggest you pick one of the other hues if you want to have at least a little flare. On the plus side, the Pixel 9a feels solid and well put together.Google Pixel 9a Specs And FeaturesProcessing & 5G PlatformGoogle Tensor G4, Exynos Modem 5300Display6.3″ 1080p OLED, 2424×1080 resolution, 120HzMemory8GBStorage128/256GB
UFS 3.1Rear-Facing
Cameras48MP
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