Google Pixel 9a

Our Google Pixel 9a Review

Google consistently impresses in the mid-range smartphone department, and the new Pixel 9a only further adds to their strong lineage of quality budget-friendly devices.

Representing one of the best bang-for-your-buck Android devices currently on the market, the Pixel 9a packs many of the top-level specs and features found in the base Pixel 9.

Google Pixel 9a: Display

One of the big changes with the 9a is the size, with the device increasing from 6.1 inches to 6.3 inches. 

This gives the phone a slightly different display, now featuring a 1080 x 2424 pixel resolution P-OLED screen with Smooth Display (adaptive refresh rate of 60-120Hz).

The brightness has been improved once again, something which is always very welcome with Pixel devices. It now has capabilities of up to 1800 nits HDR and up to 2700 nits at peak brightness.

Google Pixel 9a: Camera

The redesign that came with the Pixel 9 range eliminated the brands recognisable camera bar, replacing it with a more pill-shaped design - or in the case of the 9a, an almost throwback-style flat cutout design.

The 9a’s rear camera setup features a 48MP wide lens and a 13MP ultrawide lens. It is capable of video recordings of 4K at 30 and 60 FPS, and 1080p at 30, 60, 120 and 240 FPS.

For the keen observer, you may realise that the main camera, the 48 MP wide lens, has less megapixels than the 64 MP lens found on the 8a. Don’t be mistaken into thinking this is a ‘downgrade’, though, as the 9a has a wider f/1.7 aperture that helps to deliver sharper photos, particularly under low light conditions, so it is in fact an upgrade.

As for the selfie camera, it remains unchanged from the 8a, with a 13MP ultrawide lens capable of video capture in 4K at 30 FPS and 1080p at 30 FPS.

Google Pixel 9a: Design

As described earlier, the 9a takes after the base Pixel 9 in that it has increased in size to 6.3 inches compared to the 8a’s 6.1 inch frame. Also as said in the camera section, the new design sees the camera bar removed in favour of a simplistic cutout design.

The Pixel 9 range has also taken on a more boxy design akin to the Apple iPhone design, as opposed to the rounder design it sported prior.

As for durability, an improved IP68 dust tight and water resistance rating means the device can be immersed in water up to 1.5m deep for 30 minutes. This betters the 8a, which had an IP67 rating (immersible up to 1m for 30 mins).

Google Pixel 9a: Performance

Within all devices in the Pixel 9 range is the powerful Google Tensor G4 chipset paired with 8GB of RAM which helps to deliver great performance and snappy speeds all around.

These components also help power the AI features found throughout the phone and are more than capable of handling any new features that may be introduced in future Android updates.

In terms of battery performance, you’ll find that the 9a is best in class amongst the others in the Pixel 9 range, boasting an expanded 5100 mAh battery that has a 30+ hour battery life which can be extended to up to 100-hour battery life with Extreme Battery Saver.

Unfortunately, while it does have fast charging capabilities like the other Pixel 9 phones, it doesn’t have fast wireless charging or battery share, although they may not be the biggest losses in the world.

Google Pixel 9a: Features

While the 9a does feature a lot of the Gemini AI tools that make the Pixel 9 range so desirable, there are a few that are missing, such as the ever-handy Call Notes.

However, you do still get Gemini features that use the web to process things, such as Gemini Live, plus the various photo editing and image generation tools.

A final highlight is the fact that Google has promised seven years of software support for all Pixel devices, extending the usage life of the 9a for longer than most other phones in the mid-range market.

How much is the Google Pixel 9a?

When you talk about mid-range devices, you should be expecting to spend around £500 on the phone. That is very much the case with the Pixel 9a, which starts from £499. For comparison, the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE starts from £549.

• 128GB = £499
• 256GB = £599

Google Pixel 9a: Our verdict

All in all, it’s hard to beat the Pixel 9a in all aspects. It is, in our eyes, the best mid-range smartphone on the market in 2025, maybe even breaching the ranks of being simply one of the best phones currently available in 2025, mainly for the value for money but also because of how great a device it is.