Google has harbinger its newest affordable A - series entranceway , theGoogle Pixel 9a , and it ’s once again dispatch it out of the park with a gadget that offers so much it feel wrong to remember of it as a budget phone .

Nevertheless , it ’s coming in at the same $ 499 toll tag as its predecessor , last year’sPixel 8a , make it the best money you may spend , and one ofthe best budget phonestoo . The camera organisation continues to go circles around anything else in its damage chain , and it pack in the same silicon and exhibit as the mainstreamPixel 9 . Plus , it has a minimalist young design .

There ’s enough in the Pixel 9a to question whether the Pixel 9 is worth the supererogatory $ 300 . For some , the answer may be that it ’s not , but there are still some pregnant ways the more expensive flagship pose itself apart and turn in majuscule value in its own way . Let ’s dig in and see how the two equivalence .

Google Pixel 9a vs. Pixel 9: specs

Google Pixel 9a vs. Pixel 9: design

There ’s a good chance 2024 will be remembered as the yr that Android phone Maker adopt their flat sides — literally . After years of lessening curvy screen and rounded side , big players like Samsung , Google , and even OnePlus decided that flat was where it was at . TheiPhone 12had already gone down this road in 2020 , so the others presumably figured enough sentence had passed that they would n’t simply count like they were senselessly following Apple ’s lead .

The Google Pixel 9 card went with insipid screens and prostrate sides in August , so we were n’t too surprised to bump the Pixel 9a adopting the same style . However , it ’s doing so with an strange twist : no television camera bump .

It ’s a look that ’s almost unsettling . After all , bulbous smartphone camera array have become so much the average that visualise a phone with an entirely flat back feel amiss somehow . Nevertheless , it ’s a great look , and we ’ve grown to delight its minimalist appeal .

For Google , it ’s the final move aside from the iconic camera bar that ’s beautify its headphone since the Pixel 6 . The camera bar was a emphatically Pixel esthetic , but it was virtual as well , since it prevented an uncased Pixel from rocking around like an awkward turtle when placed face - up . The Pixel 9 already dropped the full - breadth camera bar in favour of a closely edge - to - edge excrescence , but the Pixel 9a does n’t need to go there since there ’s no protrusion at all . or else , we get a pill - shaped windowpane just magnanimous enough for the two cameras with an light-emitting diode flash on the exterior .

Despite the unexampled look , the Pixel 9a still follows in the footsteps of its predecessor when it get to textile . The front methamphetamine is still only Gorilla Glass 3 , and the back is a matte plastic , compared to the Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on both sides of the Pixel 9 . However , the Pixel 9a does gain an IP68 dust and water resistance military rank that adept cope with the Pixel 9 and other flagship models .

While the Pixel 9 gets a slight edge in enduringness , both speech sound feature unique designs and merriment color , so we ’re calling this one a tie .

success : Tie

Google Pixel 9a vs. Pixel 9: display

Google has raised the prevention for the Google Pixel 9a in more ways than just the aim . This yr ’s budget model also lark an identical screen to its pricier sibling . The Pixel 9a and Pixel 9 have the same 6.3 - inch Actua display with a 60–120Hz refresh pace , 2424 x 1080 resolution , and 1,800 - nit HDR brightness that peaks at 2,700 nits for out-of-door exercise . Still , it ’s worth bring up that we found the cleverness of the Pixel 9 to be underwhelming in bright outside conditions , and the Pixel 9a ’s display likely suffers from the same shortcoming .

The more mod Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the Pixel 9 technically provides more or less better visual character thanks to broken reflectivity , marginally higher transparentness , and better daub resistivity . However , the differences here are subtle enough that we do n’t consider most multitude will notice with the raw eye . If you plan to spend a lot of time in direct sun , the Pixel 9 may have slightly less glare , but we think you ’ll be better off slapping on a quality matte screen defender in either case .

Google Pixel 9a vs. Pixel 9: performance

As with past models , the Google Pixel 9a earn Google ’s latest in - house Si , the Tensor G4 flake , which puts it on the same performance level as the rest of the Pixel 9 lineup .

The Tensor G4 has proven itself quick for prime time , finally break up nearly all of the problems that plagued early contemporaries of the chip . When placed under heavy incumbrance , the Tensor G2 be given to run to a fault hot and drain battery like nobody ’s business , holding back earlier Pixel headphone from reaching their full potential , especially for gaming . The Tensor G3 was a significant step ahead , and the Tensor G4 finally frees itself of those limitations . Unfortunately , the temperature issue has been rise in the Pixel 9a , as we found the C.P.U. take off running warm during involve game .

The Pixel 9 has draw smoothly for us without generating any unexpected heating plant , and the power expenditure is far more consistent and static . The user experience is unstable and unruffled ; every app we ’ve thrown at it perform well . The Pixel 9a does n’t perform any otherwise , except the previously mentioned overheating issues , and is a great good example of how to port a flagship flake to a cheaper headphone .

Nevertheless , one subtle remainder could touch those who plan to multitask or campaign more resource - hungry apps . The Pixel 9a only comes with 8 GB of RAM , while the Pixel 9 plurality in 12 Gi . That give it enough of an border that we finger the Pixel 9 deserves a winnings here for functioning , and it also make a divergence for AI features ( which we ’ll babble out about in a minute ) , but we also think that most tribe will find out 8 GB to be more than sufficient for everyday consumption .

Winner : Google Pixel 9

Google Pixel 9a vs. Pixel 9: software and features

The Pixel 9a and Pixel 9 can both runAndroid 15 , although Google ’s new phone ship with Android 15 pre - set up . The Pixel 9 arrived with Android 14 , receiving the Android 15 update a few weeks after its launch .

That does n’t matter much in the short term , but it does mean that the Pixel 9 has mayhap already used up its first update to take it to Android 15 . Google promises seven years of update , not seven version , so while it ’s guaranteed to make it to at least Android 21 in 2030 , whether it buzz off Android 22 the following twelvemonth could depend on Google ’s release schedule since its seven - year window will end in August . This wo n’t be a trouble for the Pixel 9a , as it ’s covered into early 2032 .

Either means , both telephone are on par today and will stay so for the foreseeable future . These have the typical “ perfect Android ” experience that Google offer , with no other level or skin like you ’ll find on many other Android headphone . However , that does n’t think of that Google does n’t provide its own unequaled features .

In 2024 , Google show in the “ Gemini era ” on the Pixel 9 lineup by supersede Google Assistant with Gemini Live . In March 2025,it officially withdraw its legacy supporter , so Gemini Live is now the elbow room ahead , not only for the Pixel batting order but for all future Android earphone .

While the Pixel 9a share most of the same AI feature as the rest of the card , a few things are being keep back back . Some are due to memory constraints — the 8 GB of RAM means it only gets the “ redundant special small ” ( XXS ) chance variable of the Gemini Nano 1.0 good example for on - twist AI processing , equate to the XS version on the Pixel 9 . That puts it on equivalence with last year’sPixel 8 , so it ’s not so much that the Pixel 9a is being left behind as the Pixel 9 has act ahead .

The practical upshot is that Gemini will be more antiphonal on the Pixel 9 since the Nano model has more room to stay in memory . On the Pixel 9a , it will be loaded on demand , which think of it wo n’t experience quite as snappy when you summon it . The less modelling also is n’t multi - average , which limits it to text processing , leaving out apps likePixel Screenshots .

The bottom line is that if AI features are important to you , the Google Pixel 9 is the better choice . Not only will it give you the good that Google has to proffer today — including a free yr of Gemini Advanced that ’s not included with the Pixel 9a —   but the increase RAM imply it ’s well prepare for whatever new AI features Google adds in years to arrive .

Google Pixel 9a vs. Pixel 9: cameras

Google ’s Pixel phones have consistently produced excellent photos with comparatively simple cameras . Computational picture taking is the keystone here , and Google has been doing it for years , so each newfangled propagation of Pixel advances the United States Department of State of the artistic production even further .

Nevertheless , the Pixel 9a proceed the A - serial tradition of trailing the more mainstream models in tv camera ironware . While the primary camera spec are close , the ultrawide lens on the Pixel 9a is a substantial step back from the Pixel 9 .

Specifically , the Pixel 9 has a 50 - megapixel ( MP ) primary genus Lens with an f/1.68 aperture , while the Pixel 9a reduces that to a 48MP f/1.7 sensor . Both have the same 82 - degree field of view . On the other hand , the 48MP f/1.7 ultrawide is well onwards of the 13MP f/2.2 on the Pixel 9a .

In some ways , we revalue that Google has dropped the Pixel 9a to a 48MP sensing element this year . Last year ’s 64MP sensor was a bit misleading and only proved that a higher megapixel reckoning is n’t everything . It was a smaller sensing element with a narrow aperture , deliver worse results than the 50MP detector on the more expensive model .

While the Pixel 9 will doubtlessly produce better exposure and likely excel in lower wakeful situations , the Pixel 9a should n’t be give notice too chop-chop . The Pixel 9a is still a very safe image snapper , and it takes some excellent shots . We found it sometimes under expose jibe , but that was easily fixed . Still , that ’s not a problem the Pixel 9 has , meaning the Pixel 9 ’s spectral sensor does its job well at judge light and color . The Pixel 9a ’s lack of this sensor is felt , and it think of the Pixel 9 wins out here .

Google Pixel 9a vs. Pixel 9: battery and charging

The Pixel 9a compact in a 5,100mAh barrage compared to a 4,700mAh cell in the Pixel 9 , but it does n’t give the cheaper phone an enormously longer runtime . The Pixel 9 had more than enough in the armoured combat vehicle for a full day of demand use with room to spare , with a 30 - minute gaming session ofAsphalt Legends Uniteonly draining around 5 % of the battery . The Pixel 9a liken likewise , with enough juice in the tank to last a full day , but not much past that . Neither is a two sidereal day smartphone , which is a pity , but not a disappointment .

The Pixel 9 comes out in front for charging with fast 27W wired charging that will get you up to just over 50 % in 30 bit , compared to just 23W charging on the Pixel 9a . The Pixel 9 also supports receiving set charging at up to 15W if you expend thePixel Standor 12W from a stock Qi charger , plus reverse wireless charging . The Pixel 9a caps out at 7.5W wireless charging and miss turn blame support .

Google Pixel 9a vs. Pixel 9: price and availability

Google ’s Pixel 9a is now available and is priced the same as its precursor : $ 499 for the base 128 GB model or $ 559 for the 256 GB version . This yr ’s colors are Obsidian , Porcelain , Iris , and Peony .

The Pixel 9 was released in August 2024 and cost $ 799 for the 128 GB version or $ 899 for the 256 GB variation — a $ 100 price bump over the previous twelvemonth ’s Pixel 8 . It ’s uncommitted directly from Google and most major retailers and carriers and come up in Obsidian , Porcelain , Wintergreen , and Peony .

Google Pixel 9a vs. Pixel 9: verdict

The ultimate alternative between the Google Pixel 9a and Pixel 9 will total down to how much money you ’re willing to spend . Both sound deliver smashing value at their respective price points .

The Pixel 9a is one of the best phones you could get for $ 500 . It take unbelievable pictures for a phone in its price range , while offering the same screen and processor as Google ’s more expensive flagship phone .

Nevertheless , the Pixel 9 packs in enough upgrades to rationalise spending $ 300 more —   if you necessitate those feature . This include 12 GB of RAM that powers more advanced on - twist AI tools and adds some futurity - proofing , a observably better photographic camera system , faster bill , and a classier deoxyephedrine - backed design .

You ca n’t go wrong with either sound , but the Pixel 9a delivers enough that many folks will need to do some soul ( and wallet ) searching to resolve if what the Pixel 9 bid justifies its higher price ticket for their single need .