The Google Pixel 9a is an affordable allrounder that delivers where it counts – with great design, impressive display, excellent camera and a nice long battery life. What more would you need?
- RATING
The Google Pixel 9a is the just right affordable smartphone which ticks the boxes in terms of display, camera and battery life. It’s an attractive package.
The Pixel 9a has taken a departure from the typical design language of the Pixel series with flatter edges and more compact shape.
It is also tougher with a sturdy metal frame with IP68 protection for water and dust resistance.
The first time we saw the Google Pixel 9a we couldn’t help but compare it to the iPhone it has the same rounded corners and flat edges.
But as they say – imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
The other thing that’s been streamlined is the camera bump which now hardly protrudes from the body of the device.
The OLED screen has a generous size at 6.3-inches with a 120Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 2,700 nits.
It’s one of the most impressive displays we’ve seen on a phone at this price.
Apps, websites, images and videos look great on the screen – you’ll never get sick of looking at it.
The Pixel 9a is powered by Google’s very own Tensor 4 processor with a Titan M2 security co-processor. There is 8GB RAM onboard.
Pixel 9a will also receive software and security updates for seven years from the date of launch to make the device last even longer.
Performance-wise, the Pixel 9a delivers a fast and smooth experience even when switching between apps.
If you have a lot of apps running in the background, the device might slow down a touch but that’s far from being a dealbreaker.
Just take the time to close some down if you’ve got dozens on the go and those slight delays will go away.
One of the major strengths of the Pixel 9a is the dual camera system – 48MP main camera and 13MP ultra-wide.
On the front is a 13MP camera as well.
Google has always punched above its weight with the cameras on its Pixel devices and it has delivered the same with the Pixel 9a.
In fact, the Pixel 9a’s camera can match it with cameras on smartphones that are twice the price.
In good lighting the Pixel 9a delivered accurate colour and awesome detail while in low light it also manage to drag in enough light to produce a surprising image.
You’re not going to get the same optical zoom of the flagship devices but you get up to 8x digital zoom.
And if you love your macro shots, the Pixel 9a has got your back and allows you to shoot some images in this increasingly popular area.
The editing tools are also excellent to get your photos just right including Best Take which gives you a choice of the best expressions.
The device also has Add Me which makes it possible for the photographer to add themselves to the group photo by merging a secondary shot with the main image.
Also onboard is Gemini AI which gives users access to features to help their writing, creativity and productivity along with creating and editing images, emojis and memes.
Pixel 9a even has crash detection so if you are in an accident, it call emergency services and share your location.
Gemini can work across several Google Apps including grabbing information from your Gmail and finding locations in Maps.
It also has Pixel Call Assist to make your calls even clearer and it will also screen unknown numbers so you can avoid spam calls and possible scams.
The device has a 5100 mAh battery capacity which offers more than 30 hours of battery life.
It also supports wireless Qi charging but it’s not the fastest way to charge the phone. It’s a handy way to top up the charge in the car or on your desk.
The Google Pixel 9a is available in two memory variants 128GB and 256GB.
It is priced at $849 (128GB) and $999 (256GB) and comes in four colours – Obsidian, Porcelain, Peony and Iris.
VERDICT
The Google Pixel 9a is an affordable allrounder that delivers where it counts – with great design, impressive display, excellent camera and a nice long battery life. What more would you need?
