I ’ve never let a camera bump bother me . They ’re a fact of modern smartphone animation , as firebrand jostle bigger and near cameras into a small space which is also occupied by processors , battery , and all kinds of other tech . But run forwards , things will never be the same as I ’ve been using theGoogle Pixel 9afor a few solar day , and I can say you , the slimline life isso good .
Is it really that different?
The Google Pixel 9a does n’t have the now - iconic Pixel vizor or island hold the camera . alternatively , it does n’t haveanythingas its two photographic camera live on inside a stadium - determine Methedrine unit that sits almost affluent with the surface of the rearward panel . It ’s elevate by a millimeter or so , which you only notice when you run your finger across it . A flash building block sits alongside it , and it ’s completely built into the back of the Pixel 9a .
It expect unlike pretty much every other innovative smartphone and its appearance is so strange , it could almost be called a venturesome plan choice . Looks aside , what are the real cosmos welfare here ? There are two independent ones . The first is the Pixel 9a has perfect balance because there ’s no walloping tv camera module adding weight , or getting in the way of where your finger’s breadth want to naturally remain . It ’s more pleasant to hold in portrait and landscape than many other phone without a slimline design .
The second is a to do with everyday living . It slide in and out of your pocket so easily and does n’t get caught on anything . I revalue this is n’t aproblemas such , but when you first notice you have n’t been fighting with getting your phone in our out of your pocket , then you ’ll sympathise . It also sits mostly vapid on a table , another oddment in today ’s earthly concern of periscope rapid growth cameras and 1 - inch sensor . I still need those thing , but not in every smartphone , and Google has bear witness vainglorious camera mental faculty could be as much of a marketing gambit as cram multiple cameras on the back of a budget telephone .
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
What’s the phone like?
I ’ve been using the Pixel 9a for a twain of sidereal day , so am in no position to full review it yet . However , early signal are this is an absolutely fantastic smartphone that ’s hold up to cause serious problem for a lot of the contender . I ’m not just verbalize about devices like theSamsung Galaxy A56and theNothing Phone 3a Proeither , I ’m babble about theOnePlus 13R , theGoogle Pixel 9 , and theApple iPhone 16E.
A lot of this is down to the great first impression the Pixel 9a makes . The smoothened body is one thing , but the alloy chassis and the fashion the entire trunk successfully follow the Pixel 9 series ’s perfect in - helping hand comfort , means it immediately feels just like Google ’s more expensive telephone . Yes , there ’s a noticeable bezel around the screen and at almost 9 mm it ’s pretty chunky , but after a while you do n’t really notice , and it certainly does n’t change the way the earphone performs .
I ’m still in the “ getting to know you ” phase of a unexampled smartphone while Android gets everything in berth so it run in optimal precondition based on your use . However , I ’m still well on the elbow room to getting five to six hour screen prison term out of its first battery charge , and that ’s with the supererogatory power take during apparatus . The Tensor G4 processor is the same as you find in other Pixel 9 phones , and it did n’t stammer or get live during an 60 minutes - long school term ofMagic the Gathering : Arena .
Wide-angleAndy Boxall / Digital Trends
Does it take good photos?
Has Google ’s decision to flatten the photographic camera module impacted photographic camera functioning ? I ’ve only taken a few twelve exposure with the Pixel 9a so far , so it ’s unimaginable to comment too much . However , first impressions are decent , but with a few reservations that will only be resolved the more I use it , and by comparing it to the competition .
The Pixel 9a ’s 6.3 - inch Actua Display does n’t do the photo Justice Department when you see at them on the phone , and when you ’re film them it ’s not as anti - reflective as the Apple iPhone 16E ’s screen either . It means photograph seem wash out and less vivacious than I felt they should be at all times during the cognitive process , but issues were less noticeable once I transferred the photo over to my information processing system and expect at them on a monitor . To my eyes and at this early level , there ’s still something not quite right about the active range and exposure .
Google upgrade the primary 48 - megapixel photographic camera on the Pixel 9a , so it may just be some early - variation software teethe emergence , as I ’m using it ahead of launch . Plus , one person ’s piteous exposure is another mortal ’s natural colour pallet , and you may be the judge looking at the images I ’ve already taken with the earphone in the drift above . It ’s certainly not dire , but I was hoping for a little more tonic than I ’ve seen so far . The software ’s newness is also showing up elsewhere , with the Quick options get out - down carte du jour missing all the text from the box . I do n’t remember it ’s me , but it does make me wonder if there ’s a software update arriving before full release to constrain thing up .
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Is the Pixel 9a an instant buy?
I ’m decidedly smitten with the Google Pixel 9a ’s hardware , design , and performance . Even a couple of days into sprightliness with it , I ’m confident it will fit powerful in without much fuss at all . It may not be capable to expend a camera module as a design focal percentage point any longer , but the very lack of it makes it an interesting shape these daylight . It should n’t be a check as a venturesome option , but it is , and it brings real cosmos benefits with it . I think a lot of people are go to love the Pixel 9a ’s flavorless shape .
It ’s really too former to say much about the rest of the speech sound , although my initial impression are in the main very positive . I really involve to habituate the camera a stack more to realise if it lives up to expectations though , and only longer term use of goods and services will unveil if the battery living and Tensor G4 ’s performance continue to rival other devices . But it ’s influence up to be a brilliant phone , except I ’m concord back on saying it ’s an instantaneous must - buy for now .
In the back of my head is the fact Google delayed the release of the Pixel 9a , and this does not happen without intellect . If there ’s trouble brew inside I have n’t seen it yet aside from the odd Quick options issue , but late experience with Pixel phonestells us total reliability is not a given , and it does signify I ’d waver to rush out and grease one’s palms one before reviews where the telephone set has been used for at least a week or two show up .
Wide-angleAndy Boxall / Digital Trends
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
2x zoomAndy Boxall / Digital Trends
