The most effective mid-range telephone but

After a relatively odd overview unit delay that resulted in me receiving my Pixel 9a, just for Google to ask for it to be shipped again a couple of days later because of a “part high quality situation,” I lastly bought my fingers on the tech big’s mid-range powerhouse roughly every week in the past.

Like in years previous, the Pixel 9a is a lesser model of the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro. It options the identical Tensor G4 chip as different Pixel 9 units, a 48-megapixel large and 13-megapixel ultrawide digicam pair with a surprisingly understated bump that I am very keen on, and a powerful show with a 60-120Hz refresh price — all for a really affordable $500. So far as higher mid-range Android units go, the Pixel 9a is the very best deal on the market on paper.

Even while you evaluate it on to Apple’s $600 iPhone 16e, it presents higher worth because of its increased refresh price show, and, relying in your style, extra modern-looking design. At this level, most individuals are firmly planted in both iOS’ or Android’s world and possibly aren’t seeking to leap ship, however it’s nonetheless value mentioning how the Pixel 9a stacks as much as the iPhone 16e for these contemplating taking the Google plunge.

After utilizing the Pixel 9a for the previous few weeks, I can verify that it is an all-around strong bundle and presents the very best telephone worth we have seen in 2025 to date.

Advisable

Pixel 9a

Google’s mid-range Pixel 9a presents spectacular high-end options like a 48-megapixel important shooter, a 13-megapixel ultrawide digicam with macro, its Tensor G4 chip, and 8GB of RAM, all in a cheap $500 bundle.

Professionals & Cons

• Value is nice
• 60-120Hz OLED show is spectacular
• Stellar Trying design

• Digicam efficiency is not as nice because the Pixel 9 and 9 Professional
• Sizable bezels
• Not each Gemini AI function is offered

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Value, availability, and specs

Google’s Pixel 9a is offered from Google and several other different retailers for $500. The smartphone includes a 6.3-inch show in comparison with final 12 months’s 6.1-inch 60-120Hz OLED panel. Brightness has additionally elevated this 12 months, hitting 2,700 nits in comparison with 2,000 nits. Nevertheless, the decision continues to be 1080 x 2424 pixels (1080p).

The Pixel 9a options the identical Tensor G4 chip because the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Professional. RAM is available in at 8GB, with 128GB/256GB storage choices (it could have been nice to see the bottom storage elevated to 256GB with a dearer 512GB possibility). The smartphone’s battery is 5,100mAh in comparison with the Pixel 8a’s 4,492mAh cell, giving it the most important battery within the Pixel 9 lineup. On the digicam aspect, the smartphone includes a f/1.7 48-megapixel important shooter and a f/2.2 13-megapixel ultra-wide digicam on its rear (with help for macro photographs for the primary time). The entrance of the telephone contains an f/2.2 13-megapixel digicam.

The Pixel 9a does not have a selected launch date, however Google says it is going to be accessible beginning in April (seemingly late April, is my greatest guess). Different notable specs embody IP68 water and dirt resistance, over final 12 months’s IP67 (it could actually now deal with being submerged in 20 toes (6 metres) for half-hour. This 12 months’s colours embody iris, peony, porcelain, and obsidian. Pink (peony) is featured on this overview — it isn’t fully my style, however I really like how a lot it pops. And eventually, Google says that the Pixel 9a will obtain seven years of working system and safety updates.

What I favored concerning the Pixel 9a

Spectacular energy and strong digicam efficiency galore

The very first thing I famous concerning the Pixel 9a is how nice it feels in my hand. Just like the iPhone 16e, regardless of the mid-range worth, the Pixel 9a feels very premium, all the way down to its distinctive digicam bump. As a substitute of the recognizable Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Professional digicam array visor, the Pixel 9a includes a recessed twin digicam bump.

As a aspect notice, this enables the Pixel 9a to sit down flat on a desk, which I appreciated way over I anticipated. In an business filled with huge digicam arrays, a slimmed-down digicam bump is refreshing and one thing I hope makes its solution to the Pixel 10 line. I additionally just like the smudge-resistant matte rear and its clean aluminum sides. Regardless of its mid-range label, the Pixel 9a feels decidedly high-end.

Like final 12 months’s Pixel 8a, the Pixel 9a’s OLED display screen appears to be like nice. It won’t be as vibrant because the Pixel 9’s and the Pixel 9 Professional’s display screen, however it nonetheless appears to be like stellar because of its 60-120Hz refresh price, a function the iPhone 16e sorely lacks. The telephone additionally snaps glorious pictures, although low-light efficiency lags behind the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Professional. Pictures are typically barely much less sharp and a bit of noisier, too, in comparison with the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Professional, and even Apple’s mid-range competitor, the iPhone 16e. That stated, the Pixel 9a snaps nice pictures most individuals can be proud of, particularly within the context of a mid-range smartphone.

Oddly, the brand new macro mode does not use the Pixel 9a’s ultra-wide shooter like most smartphones; as an alternative, it opts for the primary digicam. The macro is fairly good for a mid-range telephone and snaps respectable close-up pictures, although I can not at all times get as near topics as I wish to in comparison with the Pixel 9 Professional’s macro mode. On the plus aspect, the odd distortion that occurs with macro ultrawide lenses is not a factor with the Pixel 9a. Like with all telephones that do not function a devoted optical zoom lens, I miss getting a bit nearer to no matter I am capturing (although there’s decent-looking 2x sensor crop zoom).

Because of the Tensor G4 chip and 8GB of RAM, efficiency has been clean, whether or not I am enjoying video games, looking for a publish in my T̶w̶i̶t̶t̶e̶r̶ X feed that is not offensive, or testing Gemini options like Magic Editor’s Auto Body, Circle to Search, Greatest Take and Add Me, which all work nice on the Pixel 9a. Whereas helpful Gemini performance like Pixel Screenshots app and Name Notes is not a part of the Pixel 9a’s array of AI options, I discovered I did not miss them very a lot. For those who care about benchmarks, the Pixel 9a’s Tensor G4 hits 1,721 for single-core and 4,425 for multi-core efficiency in Geekbench 6.

Battery life has been strong, with the Pixel 9a pushing properly into the night so long as my utilization stays average. This features a little bit of doomscrolling, enjoying the occasional recreation, sending texts, and snapping a couple of pictures. That is seemingly because of the smartphone’s greater battery, however I additionally did not expertise battery life points with the Pixel 8a regardless of its smaller cell.

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What I did not like concerning the Pixel 9a

These are some huge bezels

Whereas I just like the slight digicam bump and high-quality show, the Pixel 9a’s show bezels are fairly large. Similar to with the iPhone 16e, that is disappointing, however I do not assume it is one thing the common individual involved in Google’s mid-range telephone will care about. Nonetheless, it is value noting in the event you’re coming to the Pixel 9a from a higher-end smartphone.

Like I discussed earlier than, I want the Pixel 9a featured an ultrawide lens and never a zoom lens, although that is frequent with entry-level-to-mid-range smartphones. 8x digital SuperRes zoom is an okay substitute, however I discovered the picture high quality considerably disappointing.

There’s additionally solely 8GB of RAM within the Pixel 9a in comparison with the Pixel 9’s 12GB, however in my expertise, the smartphone’s efficiency continues to be strong. One other draw back is that solely the Pixel 9a’s entrance display screen options Gorilla Glass, its rear is plastic. With long-term use, this might lead to sturdiness points. The Pixel 9a additionally solely helps 23W wired charging, a step above the 18W the Pixel 8a provided. That stated, it is nonetheless behind the Pixel 9 sequence’ capability to cost at 27W. This implies it is going to take a bit of longer to juice up your telephone in the event you’re on the lookout for a fast cost. Fortunately, the Pixel 9a helps Qi wi-fi charging, although.

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Do you have to purchase the Pixel 9a?

In the event you’re on the lookout for an higher mid-range telephone, the Pixel 9a is the very best accessible

In the event you’re involved in a Pixel 9a, you could resolve if the improve to the pricier Pixel 9 is value it for you. Given the minimal function variations and the truth that the $500 Pixel 9a prices $300 lower than the $800 Pixel 9, you’d must actually care about optical zoom, a couple of additional Gemini options, and a barely nicer show to justify that price. For most individuals, the reply is straightforward — save a bit of cash and purchase the Pixel 9a as an alternative.

In the event you’re an Android person, the Pixel 9a at the moment presents the very best worth on the market. Even within the context of Apple’s ecosystem, the Pixel 9a bests the iPhone 16e in practically each class. As actually all the things will get more and more costly, many individuals are seemingly on the lookout for methods to chop prices. If choosing up a less expensive smartphone is one thing you are enthusiastic about doing, the Pixel 9a is a feature-rich different to far dearer high-end units. It is an all-around strong smartphone with only a few downsides when its affordable $500 worth is taken into account.

Advisable

Google Pixel 9a

Google’s mid-range Pixel 9a presents spectacular high-end options like a 48-megapixel important shooter, a 13-megapixel ultrawide digicam with macro, its Tensor G4 chip, and 8GB of RAM, all in a cheap $500 bundle.