Once Again, Google’s Pixel 9a Is Unbeatable Value

Google is employing nan aforesaid top-end Tensor G4 processor arsenic nan Pixel 9 series, though you get only 8 gigabytes of RAM versus 12 connected nan Pixel 9 and 16 connected nan Pixel 9 Pro. For nan astir part, capacity feels identical to Google's flagship phones. Apps motorboat quickly, multitasking is snappy, and it didn't struggle pinch nan fewer mobile games I tried.

But nan lesser RAM intends a fewer Gemini-powered package features from nan Pixel 9 bid aren't available, for illustration nan Pixel Screenshots app and Call Notes, which automatically provides a matter summary of your telephone calls. I find these helpful, truthful it's a shame they're not here, but not capable to ding nan phone's people for it.

I besides had immoderate issues pinch Assistant Voice Typing—the souped-up voice-to-text tech—though this whitethorn aliases whitethorn not beryllium related. It sewage a fewer things incorrect arsenic I spoke. That's communal for different phones, but I usually person a astir flawless acquisition connected Pixels.

The large betterment complete its predecessor is artillery life. There's now a beefy 5,100-mAh cell, nan largest to day successful a Pixel phone. You're not going to get two-day artillery life, but I've mostly ended astir days pinch a comfortable 30 to 40 percent near over. On nan time of nan Nintendo Switch 2 announcement, I was posting unrecorded for an hr connected Bluesky, not to mention utilizing Slack and enabling nan basking spot usability to edit and upload immoderate photos from a tablet. By 5:30 pm, nan Pixel 9a was astatine 15 percent. Heavy users whitethorn request to tote astir a power bank.

Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

I haven't had galore issues pinch nan remainder of nan hardware. I for illustration that I tin wirelessly charge this Pixel moreover if it's utilizing nan older, basic Qi standard. Wireless charging isn't a given connected inexpensive and midrange phones, truthful this is simply a plus. Google has upgraded nan IP standing to IP68 now, meaning nan telephone tin beryllium submerged for longer periods and still travel retired OK. The optical fingerprint sensor is accelerated and reliable, and this remains 1 of nan only Android phones pinch a unafraid look unlock that useful pinch banking and different delicate apps. It's a shame that Google's face-scanning biometrics strategy still doesn't activity good successful nan dark, and it's not arsenic unafraid arsenic Apple's Face ID (it can beryllium spoofed).

The Pixel Eye

The dual-camera strategy consists of a 48-megapixel main sensor and a 13-MP ultrawide, pinch a 13-MP selfie camera connected nan front. As pinch virtually each Pixel phone, it's difficult not to beryllium impressed pinch nan camera value compared to its peers. This Pixel is besides privy to galore of nan caller AI package features Google debuted connected nan Pixel 9, for illustration Add Me, Best Take, Reimagine, and Auto frame. I explored a batch of these features here and successful my Pixel 9 review.

Images whitethorn not beryllium as crisp arsenic what you mightiness get from nan iPhone 16e's camera, but you'd only announcement if you zoomed in. Whether it's during nan time aliases astatine night, you tin expect a sharp, colorful, and agleam photo, 1 that tin grip high-contrast scenes decently. Even immoderate 4K 60-frames-per-second video footage I changeable successful a dimly lit karaoke room came retired looking perfectly usable, if a spot grainy.