TheGoogle Pixel 9ais the lowest cost way into Pixel 9 ownership , but is it another case of you ’d be better off pay extra to get the next model up ? In other words , is it compromised in a agency that encourages you to spend more ? After spending more than a week with the phone , I ’ve got good news , as this is a true Pixel phone that remain firm proudly on its own as a member of the family . Let ’s take a thick prima donna into whether this clear it a sound to bribe or not .
Specs
Google Pixel 9a: design
The Pixel 9a represents a design shift key for Google . Gone is the visor and island containing the camera lenses , and in occur an almost solely flat rearward panel with the two tv camera sic in a modest , stadium - shaped section covered in glass which just stretch forth away from the aerofoil of the phone . It ’s a choice that could be call dare in today ’s smartphone design landscape painting , where massive television camera modules equate to telling tv camera performance in a pot of people ’s thinker .
We ’ll amount back to the camera before long , but the Pixel 9a ’s flatness — which extends to the sides of the phone and the CRT screen — crap it a lovely headphone to hold and pouch . It does n’t get get on anything , it ’s well balanced in your hand , and it sits savorless on the board . If you love the theme of a monotone screen door and rearward board , then the delicious minimalist nature of the Pixel 9a should really attract .
It ’s not all that sparse at 8.9 mm , but the purpose helps shrink this down in your manus , and I ’ve found it very well-fixed to hold even for long periods . It ’s light at 186 grams , the aluminum frame feels high lineament , the shaping rear panel visually does a very good mental picture of glass , and the IP68 dust and water resistor rating founder me self-confidence . Some will complain about the size of the bezel around the 6.3 - inch screen , but within an 60 minutes of using the phone , I ’d forgotten all about them .
The aluminum chassis give the Pixel 9a some much requisite class , as although the plastic back calculate like glass , there ’s too much flex and an unpleasantly hollow sound to it for anyone to be fooled for long . However , the earpiece ’s sizing and soma is well - estimate , and I really like the convenient flat designing . It does something unlike , even if it is a unsubdivided design , and that ’s rare in smartphones today .
Google Pixel 9a: camera
I ’ve enjoyed taking photos with the Pixel 9a . There ’s plenty of item , a neutral Libra , and just enough versatility to keep it interesting . There ’s no telephoto photographic camera , but the 2x soar is decent , just as it is on the Pixel 9 . Macro mode kick in mechanically , represented by a small-scale flower in the street corner of the screen . It ’s good too , with good deal of point and a adorable astuteness of field . However , the main camera is n’t as good at try colors as thePixel 9 , and this may number down to the lack of a phantasmal sensor , which helps the tv camera assess people of colour and pure tone .
It intend I ’ve often found some picture are either under exposed or a little drab . They are never unfit , and it does n’t happen all the time . solve the issue comes fromGoogle Photos and its excellent editing suite , where I ’ve been able to subtly alter the Pixel 9a ’s pic so they become my taste well . Not everyone will find the same as me about the Pixel 9a ’s photo , but those who do should be reassure it ’s easy ( and play ) to falsify them on the equipment .
Does this mean the Pixel 9a ’s camera is a disappointment ? No , not at all . There ’s a welcome degree of versatility and because it ’s dependable , I ’m confident in its ability to take a estimable exposure in most situations and environment . I did n’t have quite the same corporate trust in theSamsung Galaxy A56orNothing Phone 3a Pro ’s television camera . Just be cognisant you may spend a little more time edit your pic to get the accurate right look .
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Google Pixel 9a: software and AI
Android 15on the Pixel 9a is mostly excellent , but some things do make me question its long - term reliability and suitableness for non - tetchy vendee . For instance , the Quick options in the rive - down menu refused to show names for me , even after a reset , restarts , and updates . It was eventually cured by activating High Contrast modality in the options menu , and the textbook even remained when I switched back to the nonremittal demarcation . It ’s just one of those odd affair to expect when expend living with a Pixel phone .
Once you ’re past some of its giddiness , Android 15 is great to utilize . It ’s smooth and responsive , the icons are well designed , the options menu is mostly consistent , and the full platform sees regular update , along with seven years of major OS and surety update too . Provided you get Android 15 working right out - of - the - box , the Pixel 9a is a howling agency to experience it . It ’s far more agreeable and less intrusive than Xiaomi ’s HyperOS 2 , less laborious in price of initial setup than Samsung ’s One UI 7 , and there are few pre - installed apps than on Oppo ’s ColorOS .
Gemini is the default virtual helper , and the cornerstone of Google ’s AI promote on Mobile River . I ’ve been usingGemini Advancedfor about six months , but I get most of my consumption from it on the desktop through Google Chrome . However , the experience is similar to mobile , and it ’s good at doing some things . It ’s great as an idea generator , it summarizes written document and data quickly , and the late upgrade toinclude Veo 2 video generationadds a fun new dimension . Gemini Liveis available on the Pixel 9a , allowing complimentary - menstruate conversations , plus there ’s Circle to Search and the Pixel Studio app .
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
The Screenshots app is miss though , which was one of the more interesting AI app increase on the Pixel 9 , where it sorts and categorizes screenshots you ’ve taken on the phone . Google ’s Find My gimmick is onboard , as is Car Crash Detection and Theft Protection , and there are various helpful call - related feature like call screening . These are splendid , value - bring features , and make Android 15 on the Pixel 9a a fantastic experience , provided you do n’t meet any of the odd bugs that can show up on some phones .
Google Pixel 9a: performance
The Google Tensor G4 central processor powering the Pixel 9a is the same chip found in all other Pixel 9 devices , but it only has 8 GB of RAM rather than the 12 GB or more avail the more expensive model execute even better . I have n’t seen any performance problems , like stutter or an increase in heating , during normal use . Android 15 and low - demand apps all run without proceeds .
play game does see some heat generated on the Pixel 9a , but it ’s mostly noticeable under the screen rather than on the back of the telephone set or the chassis . extend session of power - intensive game will emphasize this , but even after 30 minutes ofAsphalt Legends : Unite , the phone never becomes too red-hot or uncomfortable to hold . It ’s something to view if you really require to play a pile of games , when earphone like theOnePlus 13Rwith the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 will furnish more performance with less pressure on the system .
Call caliber deserves a special mention as it has been systematically excellent , pulling in a signaling and maintaining connection even in poorly covered region . Using Wi - Fi Calling at home turns it into a very true phone , which is particularly important if reporting is low where you live on . The stereo speakers get really tawdry too , and aside from the ask deficiency of bass response , are fine for podcasts and vocal - go music . The ocular in - show fingermark sensor unlock the earphone immediately , and the face unlock organization is n’t far behind it . All this makes the headphone so easy to live with on a daily basis .
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Google Pixel 9a: battery and charging
Battery lifespan has been excellent , and it ’s sensible to expect at least five hours non - gaming CRT screen time from a individual charge of the 5,100mAh battery . The strong battery execution is second up by a alternative of 23W pumped up charging and 7.5W wireless charging , which may not be the most muscular , but we ’re pleased to see wireless charging has n’t been withheld on the gloomy price Pixel 9 phone .
die hard a 3DMark stress benchmarking test bring out a high performance 20 - min gaming session is likely to take 10 % from the battery , while the same clip playingAsphalt caption : Unitetook around 5 % . When it comes time to recharge , the want of charging exponent shows up . A full charge withAnker ’s 140W wall chargerconfirmed the 23W utmost , and it took 105 minutes to go from 1 % to 100 % . This is slow compared to the Pixel 9 , the Samsung Galaxy A56 , and the OnePlus 13R. Only about 40 % is bring to the battery after 30 transactions charging too , and this may impact those brusque on both fourth dimension and assault and battery .
Google Pixel 9a: price and availability
The Google Pixel 9a is useable now for $ 499 if you pick out the 128 GB variation , or $ 599 if you want 256 GB of national storage place . There are four gloss — Iris , Peony , Porcelain , and Obsidian — and it ’s the Porcelain model you could see in our photos .
Which headphone should you also deliberate ? TheApple iPhone 16eis the phone it will be compared to most , but anyone who only wants Android wo n’t be look at grease one’s palms it . alternatively , the Samsung Galaxy A56 and Nothing Phone 3a Pro are its top rival , along with the $ 600 OnePlus 13R and the $ 650Samsung Galaxy S24 FEif you do n’t mind spend a little more .
Google Pixel 9a: verdict
There ’s a welcome clear advance in Google ’s Pixel range , and it ’s fantastic to see Google is n’t force you to ante up more for an upper reach theoretical account due to business - force feature of speech omissions . The Pixel 9a is very obviously the entry - horizontal surface model , and there ’s a warm fount to be made to spend more to get the Pixel 9 , whether it ’s for the improved camera , faster charging , extra RAM , or the unique plan .
While this can sometimes result in compromises that decrease the value of the accounting entry - stage sound , Google has neatly avoid this situation with the Pixel 9a . It has great battery animation , brilliant software , a different but still unique conception , and a decent tv camera . It gets the fundamentals right too , whether that ’s call quality or software program update , and hail with modern essentials like wireless charging and plenty of AI .
All - too - often the base earphone incur a testimonial with the caveat you ’d be knowing to pass the extra to get the next theoretical account up , but that ’s not the vitrine with the Pixel 9a . It ’s an first-class telephone on its own , and unless you ’re playing a lot of games or really want to take a mint of photo , there ’s no real need to get the Pixel 9 . I ’ve been really satisfied with the Pixel 9a , and think you will be too .
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
2x zoomAndy Boxall / Digital Trends
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Wide-angleAndy Boxall / Digital Trends
MacroAndy Boxall / Digital Trends
2x zoomAndy Boxall / Digital Trends
Wide-angleAndy Boxall / Digital Trends
2x zoomAndy Boxall / Digital Trends
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
2x zoomAndy Boxall / Digital Trends
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Wide-angleAndy Boxall / Digital Trends
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
