It’s been a few weeks now since the launch of the Pixel 9a, Google’s latest mid-tier smartphone. Priced at £499, it mainly competes with other devices such as the iPhone 16e and Samsung Galaxy A56, and comes with a lot of the same features as seen on its higher-end brethren, the Pixel 9 and 9 Pro models. With that in mind though, does its lower price equate to more compromises in terms of overall capabilities, or is it truly worth it despite its affordability? Let’s take a look.
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Hardware Design and Screen
Starting with the design, the Pixel 9a features a streamlined camera layout, unlike the typical one we usually see on the Google Pixel 9. It has a Corning Gorilla Glass 3 cover glass which is a nice addition, and the back has a matte finish although it still attracts fingerprints, so you might need to wipe it often. The Pixel 9a also has IP68 dust and water resistance and is available in different colours including Obsidian, Porcelain, Iris, and Peony, which is more of a pink shade. The phone’s design does make it easy to handle, and the buttons on the side are easily reachable due its somewhat “compact” size.
For the display, the handset features a 6.3-inch Actua display with a resolution of 1080×2404, giving you 422.2 PPI and a 20:9 aspect ratio. It offers a 60 to 120 Hz refresh rate with 2,700 nits of peak brightness. The brightness levels could be better in my experience, but it’s still quite decent for day-to-day use and outclasses the iPhone 16e’s more basic screen setup. It’s vibrant and sharp, which is what you want in a phone at this price range.
Camera Hardware
Regarding the camera, the 9a has a 48 MP main camera which is a step down from the 64 MP on its predecessor, and offers an f/1.7 aperture and a super-resolution zoom up to 8x. The ultrawide-angle camera comes in at 13 MP with a 120-degree field of view and an f/2.2 aperture. On the front, there’s a 13 MP front-facing camera with an f/2.2 aperture and a 96.1-degree field of view. The camera software is fairly easy to use, and comes with features such as long exposure and “Add Me”, just like on the Google Pixel 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL. Portrait mode is available in 1.5x and 2x, and in photo mode, you can go from 0.5x to 2x.
Going back to the main camera, the newer sensor that Google is using here (in place of the older 64 MP) should provide a boost in details, especially in low-light scenarios. The streamlined camera design is also nice because it lies flat on surfaces without any wobble, and is much slimmer than what we’ve seen on older Pixel models. Photos generally look good, and Google’s computational photography allows the 9a’s camera to render great-looking colours especially in daytime scenarios, alongside sharp details in close-up shots.
Internal Specs and Performance
For its processor, the phone is powered by the Google Tensor G4 with a Titan M2 security co-processor. It comes with 8 GB of RAM and 128 or 256 GB of internal storage, and there’s a 5100 mAh battery with support for wireless charging as well. Google promises that it will provide 7 years of OS, security, and Pixel Drop updates, on top of Android 15 which comes pre-loaded on the phone. You get all the Google goodness, like Google Gemini and all the AI features. The software likewise feels very smooth with no bloatware, making it easy to operate. You could easily buy this for a parent or child, and they would get used to it very quickly and easily without any issues.
When it comes to the processor and battery, the battery was able to last a whole day and then some without any issues, although this depends on your usage. It had no problems with moderate usage such as social media apps, checking emails, and taking photos. While the Tensor G4 isn’t exactly a powerful chipset, you’ll be able to run a fair amount of graphically-intensive games on the phone in general.
Closing Thoughts
Overall, Google has done a good job here with the Pixel 9a in several aspects – its design and display, software experience, new AI features, camera quality and gaming capabilities, all add up for a device that’s easy on the wallet, but doesn’t necessarily compromise in terms of value. If you’re looking to save money but still want that Google Pixel experience, the Pixel 9a is definitely a great option to go with. You can view our full review in the video above.
