The brand-new Pixel 9a has a lot of things that make the Pixel 9 a great entry-level Android phone, how much of the formula has been retained?
The brand-new Pixel 9a has a lot of things that make the Pixel 9 a great entry-level Android phone, but how much of the formula has been retained or omitted? Here’s everything you need to know.
From the size and shape to the cameras and the features, the newest handset has important and notable changes that fit in with last year’s best Pixel phones. Even with that sentiment, Google’s smartphones have almost always been more than just a sum of their parts; the Pixel 9a is no different. If you have even a passing interest, is the extra cost justified, or is the new device of better value? Here’s what you need to know.
Last year, the Pixel 8a and Pixel 8 were almost too close in price and overall performance parity. Some changes make this less of a pronounced problem for the 9a. Namely, there is a great price separation, but some other changes help create a true line in the sand division, which makes more sense from a buyer’s perspective but ensures there is a strand tied to the main lineup.Hardware and design
Google clearly took the memo we posted last year, and although it’s sad to see the core formula adjusted, the Pixel 9a is different enough from the regular Pixel 9 to be a great alternative. It’s still very much part of the family, but with changes that make sense for a cheaper, more accessible form factor.
Physically, the shape is practically identical, but there are a couple of minor size changes that make all the difference. The 9a is almost 2mm taller, a hair over 1mm wider and almost 0.5mm thicker. So, no cases will be usable, but the shape is different at the back because the camera is flush with the backplate. It’s a sleek look that simultaneously straddles the old and new design with the circular camera lens section. Despite the size increase, the 9a is 12g lighter at 186g. The Pixel 9 uses more glass and metal and comes in at 198g.
The added size bumps the Pixel 9a to a 6.3-inch display from the 6.1-inch screen on the Pixel 8a, which matches the Pixel 9. The difference is the large bezels on the cheaper phone and basic Gorilla Glass 3 scratch protection. That doesn’t diminish either screen, though. The maximum brightness is very high, at 1,800 nits with HDR content and a theoretical 2,700 nit maximum in the brightest environments.
While the displays are very comparable in quality and consistency, the Pixel 9a has an inferior optical fingerprint scanner versus an ultrasonic in-display reader on the Pixel 9.
