When I first started my career in tech journalism, I needed a new phone, but I was broke as heck. I simply couldn’t justify spending a thousand bucks on a flagship; I needed a balance of power and price for my work. At the time, my choice, the Google Pixel 4a, delivered exactly what I was seeking: a good camera, a solid battery life and all the apps to chat with my friends. Years later, the latest Google A-series device, the Google Pixel 9a, aims to address this exact scenario I encountered. It’s aimed at new professionals, only with a slew of more-powerful AI features and nice design tweaks. At $500, the new Pixel device claims to blend affordability with performance.
I tested the Google Pixel 9a for more than a month. Here’s what I learned about Google’s latest … More
But does it hold up to daily wear and tear? I tested the Google Pixel 9a for more than one month, taking into account its performance, battery life and more. Read on to learn more and see my verdict in my full Google Pixel 9a review.
Best for:
- A balance of power and price, thanks to the Tensor G4 processor
- Enjoying quality camera shots without spending four figures
Skip if:
- You want the absolute best video, as the cameras only record in 4K
Google Pixel 9a: Design
A New, Flush Build
One way to immediately distinguish a Pixel from other smartphones on the market is to flip it over: Every Pixel 9-series device, including my current carry, the Google Pixel 9 Pro, sports a sleek camera bar that’s part of its signature look. You look at it, and you automatically know it’s a Google device. The Pixel 9a removes the camera bar for a flush look. To be blunt, I’m a little jarred by this change. I’m so used to seeing it on the device, and to not have this signature style feels a bit off.
The new camera bar sits flush on the device, a change from previous Google Pixel A series devices.
I suspect this change is for good reason, though: I dropped my Pixel 9 Pro multiple times, and the camera bar was the first place to sport dings and dents. By removing this, it keeps the overall design sleeker and less prone to accidental damage. For young professionals who want to elongate their phone’s lifespan, that’s crucial.
The display is a hair larger than the Pixel 9 Pro’s 6.1 inches, and it’s also not as pixel-dense, either; the Pixel 9a has 422.2 pixels per inch (PPI) in its display while the 9 Pro has a 495 PPI. Basically, that means there aren’t as many pixels to create a superfine resolution. That shouldn’t deter you, though. When I watched shows on the device, the images still looked sharp and crisp, with vivid colors to balance out scenes from Arcane and Modern Family.
The Google Pixel 9A is left; the Google Pixel 9 Pro is right.
It doesn’t get as bright as the Pixel 9 Pro and hits 2,700 nits at its highest brightness, but that’s still pretty darn impressive. You’ll only have issues seeing the display in sunlight if you’re using dark mode. Expect an all-day battery, too: There were moments I forgot to charge it and was pleasantly surprised that it had 40% left. Technically, it’s a typical 5,100mAh battery, which would put it ahead of the 9 Pro, but I found it to be on par with my Pixel 9 Pro.
Google Pixel 9a: Performance
Google’s Tensor Chip Has Its Perks And Quirks
The Google Pixel 9a’s chipset could be stronger. Yes, it’s the Google Tensor G4 chip, but that processor has historically given me subpar benchmarking. Its single-core scores weren’t too far off from its flagship sibling. When I ran the benchmarking, the Pixel 9a received a 1,691 single-core score and a 4,294 multicore score; the Pixel 9 Pro received scores of 1,897 and 4,300, respectively.
The Google Pixel 9A gets bright, though not as bright as the Google Pixel 9 Pro.
You can game on it, and the device can run games like Genshin Impact on it, but just be mindful that you may not get as detailed graphics, and the device gets pretty darn toasty. At this price point, you have to expect some trade-offs, including the 8GB this device offers, instead of the 12GB the Google Pixel 9 and the 16GB the Google Pixel 9 Pro offer. If you’re playing casual games like Candy Crush or my all-time favorite go-to mobile game, Stardew Valley, then the device runs them just fine.
But it’s not just about the processor. Google brings the full Gemini framework to this device, and that access feels crucial. One of my favorite things to do is ask Gemini to plan my vacations to get a sense of how quickly it can review my request and craft a response; processing times can vary. The processor does the job quickly, and I got a useful, easy-to-follow itinerary, but as I’ve found before, it’s not without its flaws. For a Dublin tour, it tried to send me to a currently closed museum.
Over the years, I’ve experienced plenty of moments when the AI models spewed out incorrect models, so just make sure you review your information if you’re using it to plan a vacation. Personally, I find Gemini to be one of the more complete AI models available, and to have access on an entry-level device is incredible. I’m a fan, and for young professionals looking for a new device, having this access feels essential now.
Google Pixel 9a: Cameras
Pretty Darn Good
One of the features that always makes me switch my phones back to the original lineup is Google’s camera quality. While its competition gives more saturation, low-light photography and post-process finishing, Google’s lenses have usually captured more detail, which is something I love when I’m editing photos of my tabby cat to send to my parents. The Google Pixel 9a camera is pretty darn good considering its sub-$500 price tag.
Use Google AI features to reimagine the background, auto frame and more.
The 48MP Quad PD Dual Pixel lens comes with optical image stabilization, which is great for those who just want to point and snap. Tack on a 13MP ultrawide lens, and the combination is good enough for capturing most shots, especially if you’re only planning on snapping photos of your cats or kids. You won’t get the 48MP telephoto lens that the Google Pixel 9 Pro and Google 9 Pro XL get, but that’s not the end of the world. You also miss out on the 8K recording the Pixel 9 Pro has, but it can capture 4K at 30 and 60fps. I also liked its 5x optical zoom, but, again, when you zoom in, you’ll lose some of the details. You still get access to a host of important features—mainly, Google’s AI photo features. Add Me, AI Magic Editor, Best Take and more are offered on this camera.
When I zoomed in on shots of my cat, Toby, there was some minor pixelation. I personally don’t find any major issue with this—odds are, if you’re considering this device, those photos are going on your socials, not being blown up for full display in your living room. Plus, the fact that Google kept the 48MP lens is good enough for most needs.
Google Pixel 9a: Verdict
Built For New Professionals
Having used a Google Pixel A-series device as my main device as I began my career in tech journalism, I had high hopes for the Pixel 9a. Those high hopes proved to be accurate. The device more than delivers for young professionals or Android users who want a powerful phone without spending four figures. While you’ll see some minor trade-offs in the processor and the cameras, it’s still perfectly suitable for casual users who are fully invested in the Google ecosystem.
At $500 for 128GB and $600 for 256GB, it’s built for those who are seeking what I wanted years ago. If you’re seeking the best of the best, especially when it comes to your cameras, you should still stick with the Google Pixel 9 Pro or its larger sibling, the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL. But if you want a smaller device that can showcase Google Gemini tricks, and you don’t care about the cameras, the Pixel 9a is a great choice.
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- Consumer tech and electronics editor Rebecca Isaacs has been involved in tech journalism for more than six years. She has done deep dives into the Apple ecosystem with the iPhone 16 Pro and reviewed plenty of Android devices, including the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and the Google Pixel 8. Most recently, she tested the best Android phones.
- In her time testing phones, Isaacs focuses on aspects of interest to everyone, from folks who prefer a simple call-and-text device to heavy-duty mobile gamers who want a powerful and seamless experience. As a result, her testing more so mimics how general users as well as content creators who want to capture gorgeous footage for their feeds may interact with these phones.
- Additionally, she’s spent time interacting with the latest smart wearables and audio devices currently on the market, from the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses to the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds and more.
- When she’s not testing the latest smartphones, Isaacs can be found testing the best gaming TVs and the best TVs for bright rooms.
How I Tested The Google Pixel 9a
I tested the Google Pixel 9a for more than one month. Though I took calls and surfed the internet on the device, I also dove deeper into its features.
- I used Geekbench to benchmark the CPU and the GPU multiple times throughout the month. I also cross-checked it with its sibling, the Google Pixel 9 Pro, to check and note any differences in the Tensor G4.
- I used my photogenic cat to snap photographs in various lighting conditions. I made sure to take photos in low-light conditions to see how the 48MP camera performed. I then placed the images on a 27-inch monitor to see how the photos looked when enlarged.
- I dove deep into Google Gemini, noting AI features like Add Me and AI Magic Editor to see how quickly these AI frameworks performed. I also ran multiple tests on Google Gemini, including asking it to plan a Dublin vacation for me. I made note of how quickly the AI software responded and how accurate it was.
- Because I currently use the Google Pixel 9 Pro as my main phone carry, I compared it to this device a lot, noting display differences, battery life and more.
