Pixel 9a Review: A Value-packed Phone, Just At The Right Time

• Pixel 9A Review: A Value-Packed Phone, Just astatine nan Right Time
• Pixel 9A's price
• Pixel 9A design
• Pixel 9A screen
• Pixel 9A cameras
• Pixel 9A battery
• Geekbench v.6.0
• 3DMark Wild Life Extreme score
• Pixel 9A AI and different likelihood and ends
• Who should bargain nan Pixel 9A
• Google Pixel 9A specs vs. Pixel 8A, Pixel 9, Apple iPhone 16E
• How we trial phones

During nan 2 weeks I tested Google's Pixel 9A, a batch happened. Tariffs were unveiled, banal markets went crazy, Nintendo announced nan Switch 2, and CNET moved into a caller office. And it's that past 1 wherever nan Pixel 9A came successful handy.

With boxes piled on nan walls, powerfulness cables each complete nan spot and random agency supplies strewn about, I forgot wherever I near my cup of acold brew. I had been testing retired Gemini Live's caller video characteristic stepping astir nan agency while pointing nan Pixel 9A's camera astatine nan various piles, desks and doodads. And aft a fewer minutes I asked, "Where is my coffee?" Gemini responded, "Your java is connected nan desk, to nan near of nan yellowish backpack." And location it was -- obscured by my backpack, but Gemini Live saw it and, possibly had I been much alert, I would person too.

The Pixel 9A is 1 of nan first phones to get Gemini Live video. I was capable to trial nan characteristic for only a day, and it's 1 of nan fewer times successful nan past twelvemonth erstwhile I felt for illustration AI was genuinely useful successful a real-world scenario. More importantly, it was correct.

Don't get maine wrong: The Pixel 9A comes pinch a batch of different AI devices and features that span nan gamut from being occasionally useful to downright gimmicky. I mean, do I request a telephone that tin make an image of a crocodile skiing connected a snow-covered moon?

Here is my Pixel Studio AI punctual and nan resulting image.

Pixel Studio AI/James Martin/CNET

But AI isn't nan Pixel 9A's champion feature. Rather, it's nan phone's value.

For $499 (£499, AU$849), nan Pixel 9A genuinely feels for illustration you're getting much bang for your buck. It comes pinch respective important upgrades from past year's Pixel 8A: a caller design, caller display, larger battery, somewhat much powerful chip, accrued durability and upgraded package features.

But don't get maine incorrect -- it's not a cleanable phone. There are places wherever Google had to discuss to support nan value nether $500, for illustration nan deficiency of outer connectivity for emergencies disposable connected nan $799 Pixel 9. Overall, though, I deliberation nan compromises Google made were smart and that nan Pixel 9A is worthy each penny.

Pixel 9A's price

The Pixel 9A costs $499 and comes successful colors called iris, peony, porcelain and obsidian.

James Martin/CNET

At $499, nan Pixel 9A hits nan pricing saccharine spot for a smartphone successful 2025. It comes pinch galore of nan champion features you'd find connected phones that costs doubly arsenic much. But erstwhile President Donald Trump announced his latest round of tariffs, I wondered really this could impact nan Pixel 9A's price.

When I asked Google whether nan Pixel 9A's value mightiness spell up, nan institution confirmed to CNET that "there are nary changes to nan pricing and readiness of nan Pixel 9A." Obviously, Google didn't opportunity nan value would ne'er spell up, but for now, this is simply a bully assurance. 

While I deliberation galore group would beryllium satisfied pinch nan Pixel 9A, nan reality is that galore will apt opt for an moreover flashier telephone that they tin get connected a discount pinch a trade-in done a bearer aliases retailer. For example, while I was penning this review, I noticed that Best Buy had nan $799 Pixel 9 for $649 (or free if you waste and acquisition successful a "similar device").

Pixel 9A design

The Pixel 9A has a level camera bump that's astir flush pinch nan backmost -- a rarity successful 2025.

James Martin/CNET

This is Google's best-built Pixel A phone. It has an IP68 standing for h2o and particulate resistance, a measurement up from nan Pixel 8A's IP67 rating. So you should beryllium good if you get caught successful nan rainfall pinch it aliases accidentally spill a beverage connected it.

The Pixel 9A feels solid, which isn't thing you tin opportunity astir galore phones that costs little than $500. The assemblage echoes nan Pixel 9 and 9 Pro's creation pinch level sides. And nan flatness doesn't extremity there. The 9A's camera bump is virtually flush pinch nan backmost -- but I'm guessing astir group will still person a lawsuit connected it and virtually screen up 1 of nan phone's astir unsocial features.

The Pixel 9A successful iris sometimes looks purple and different times almost bluish aliases gray.

James Martin/CNET

The backmost is made of plastic, which I hardly noticed while utilizing nan 9A. If you driblet it, it apt won't ace for illustration nan solid backmost connected a much costly phone. The loaner portion I tested was nan iris color, which has a beautiful soft lavender aliases outpouring purple hue to it, depending connected nan lighting.

Pixel 9A screen

The Pixel 9A has a 6.3-inch show pinch a refresh complaint of 60-120Hz.

James Martin/CNET

For years, nan Pixel A series' screens were serviceable astatine best. The Pixel 9A's show is nan aforesaid eye-catching 6.3-inch surface you'll find connected nan pricier baseline Pixel 9, complete pinch a 60 to 120Hz refresh rate. It's bully for watching movies, scrolling done news and societal feeds and playing games. It's besides pleasantly bright.

While nan surface is larger than nan 6.1-inch 1 connected nan Pixel 8A, Google recovered a measurement to shrink nan bezels without making nan telephone larger -- though it is taller than nan 8A. The surface is covered successful Gorilla Glass 3, and aft astir 2 weeks of regular use, nan 9A doesn't show immoderate signs of deterioration and tear.

Pixel 9A cameras

The Pixel 9A has a 48-megapixel main camera and a 13-megapixel ultrawide camera.

James Martin/CNET

The Pixel 9A's main camera is caller and has a 48-megapixel sensor. The telephone combines groups of 4 pixels for agleam 12-megapixel images pinch little image noise. While nan Pixel 8A had a 64-megapixel sensor and besides utilized pixel binning, I didn't announcement a immense quality successful photos betwixt nan 2 phones, particularly outdoors.

This was taken pinch nan Pixel 9A's main camera.

Patrick Holland/CNET

Here's a building successful nan Mission successful San Francisco pinch a bunch of murals connected it. This was taken pinch nan Pixel 9A's main camera.

Patrick Holland/CNET

The 9A has macro mode for keeping your taxable successful attraction erstwhile you're really adjacent up. Unlike galore phones, nan 9A's macro mode is done pinch nan main camera alternatively of nan ultrawide. And nan results are decent.

This is simply a macro photograph from nan Pixel 9A.

Patrick Holland/CNET

The Pixel 9A has a 13-megapixel ultrawide, nan aforesaid 1 arsenic nan Pixel 8A. But for immoderate logic it takes 12-megapixel images for illustration nan 1 below.

Here is an indoor nationalist abstraction successful downtown San Francisco precocious successful nan afternoon. I took this photograph pinch nan Pixel 9A's ultrawide camera.

Patrick Holland/CNET

I besides took shots pinch Apple's $599 iPhone 16E to spot really it compares pinch nan 2 Pixel A phones. While some Pixel phones took images pinch a cooler colour temperature, nan iPhone's photos had much contrast. Take a look astatine nan photos beneath of a ceramic building successful nan Mission successful San Francisco.

Here are 3 photos of nan aforesaid corner. From near to right: nan Pixel 9A, Pixel 8A and iPhone 16E.

Patrick Holland/CNET

Indoors, though, nan Pixel 9A's move scope is simply a spot amended than nan Pixel 8A's, and it captured much specifications successful nan shadows, for illustration successful nan photograph of a achromatic feline below. But some Pixel phones really brightened nan shadows successful nan cat's fur. The iPhone 16E's photograph of nan feline didn't person arsenic overmuch item and texture successful nan cat's fur. Somewhere successful betwixt nan photos from some Pixel phones and nan iPhone 16E's image is really nan feline really looked successful existent life.

Here are 3 photos of Maisie nan cat. From near to right: nan Pixel 9A, nan Pixel 8A and nan iPhone 16E.

Patrick Holland/CNET

In position of Portrait mode, each 3 phones deficiency a dedicated telephoto lens. And remember, nan iPhone 16E only has a azygous rear camera, truthful it's relying solely connected AI and instrumentality learning to create that creator retired of attraction background. All of nan photos beneath were taken successful Portrait mode and nan first point I announcement is really different nan iPhone and Pixels handled nan textures successful nan yellowish sweater and greenish chair. The "cutout" (from successful attraction to retired of focus) looks beautiful natural, isolated from for nan greenish chair successful nan iPhone's photo. And her complexion looks astir existent to life successful nan Pixel 9A image. The Pixel 8A adds a batch of warmth to her skin. And nan iPhone 16E's photograph makes her tegument look muddy and muted.

Here are image mode photos from nan 3 phones of CNET's Faith Chihil. From near to right: nan Pixel 9A, nan Pixel 8A and nan iPhone 16E.

Patrick Holland/CNET

The Pixel 9A takes Night Sight snaps (Google's sanction for nighttime mode). In nan photos beneath of a abstraction shuttle Lego group taken successful a very dim room, nary of nan images are great. The iPhone 16E's photograph has nan slightest image noise, but nan opposition is heavy. I for illustration nan Pixel 9A's photo.

Here are nighttime mode photos from nan 3 phones of a Lego abstraction shuttle. From left-to-right: nan Pixel 9A, nan Pixel 8A and nan iPhone 16E.

Patrick Holland/CNET

I besides sewage images of a residential artifact astatine dusk wherever nan thoroughfare lights really make nan iPhone's nighttime mode photograph look orange. But announcement nan specifications successful nan telephone wires crossed nan apical of nan images. The iPhone captures them arsenic continuous lines, whereas nan Pixel 9A's image has them made up of mini jagged statement segments.

Here are nighttime mode photos from nan 3 phones of a residential thoroughfare astatine dusk. From near to right: nan Pixel 9A, nan Pixel 8A and nan iPhone 16E.

Patrick Holland/CNET

Overall, each 3 phones person their shortcomings erstwhile it comes to photography. But I deliberation that nan Pixel 9A's camera is beautiful awesome for a $500 phone, and it'll beryllium capable for astir people.

Pixel 9A battery

The Pixel 9A has a 5,100-mAh battery, nan biggest successful immoderate Pixel phone.

James Martin/CNET

The Pixel 9A's 5,100-mAh artillery is nan largest connected immoderate Pixel phone. But compared pinch nan Pixel 8A, it besides has a bigger surface that maxes retired astatine 2,700-nits brightness, a much powerful processor and onboard AI processing. The consequence is conscionable an OK artillery life that was almost nan aforesaid arsenic past year's Pixel 8A. Typically, I sewage astir a azygous day's usage connected a charge.

In CNET's 45-minute endurance artillery drain test, nan Pixel 9A dropped from a afloat artillery to 95%. That is precisely nan aforesaid arsenic nan Pixel 8A, amended than nan OnePlus 13 and Galaxy S25, but down nan iPhone 16E and nan OnePlus 13R, which dropped only 3% successful nan aforesaid test.

The little nan percentage, nan better.

Cole Kan/CNET

In CNET's three-hour streaming artillery test, nan Pixel 9A didn't fare well. The telephone dropped by 22% complete 3 hours, which is comparable pinch nan Nothing Phone 3A Pro and nan OnePlus 13, and a measurement down from nan Pixel 8A and Galaxy S25.

The little nan percent lost, nan better.

Cole Kan/CNET

The Pixel 9A supports 23-watt wired charging erstwhile utilizing a 45-watt adapter that's not included. It recharged an quiet artillery to 46% successful our 30-minute test. Compare that pinch nan Pixel 8A's 18-watt wired charging, which recharged it to 30% successful nan aforesaid test. The 9A supports 7.5-watt Qi wireless charging, alternatively of nan faster 15-watt Qi2 standard.

In position of performance, nan Pixel 9A runs connected Google's Tensor G4 spot and 8GB of RAM. In use, nan telephone is peppy. Android strategy animations look smooth. The camera opens accelerated from nan fastener screen, though I did struggle pinch nan under-screen fingerprint scholar and often had to make aggregate attempts to unlock nan phone. I played games for illustration PUBG Mobile and Genshin Impact pinch settings maxed retired and had nary issues successful position of lag aliases frames being dropped.

In a benchmark trial for nan CPU, nan Pixel 9A scored akin to nan Pixel 8A but down nan iPhone 16E and Galaxy S25.

Geekbench v.6.0

In a benchmark trial for schematic performance, nan Pixel 9A fared amended (ever truthful slightly) than nan Pixel 9 Pro XL and Pixel 8A, but down nan iPhone 16E and Galaxy S25.

3DMark Wild Life Extreme score

Pixel 9A AI and different likelihood and ends

The Pixel 9A runs Gemini AI and has a fistful of models disposable to use.

James Martin/CNET

The Pixel 9A is each astir nan small things, for illustration nan now-playing characteristic connected nan fastener surface that shows what opus is playing wherever you are. There are besides a number of information features, but nan 9A doesn't support outer connectivity for texting emergency services. Google had to make immoderate compromises to deed that $499 price.

But possibly nan biggest small point is nan AI. The Pixel 9A runs a fewer flavors of Gemini, including 2.0 Flash, 2.0 Flash Thinking, 2.5 Pro, Deep Research and Personalization. The Gemini Live video characteristic I mentioned earlier requires a Gemini Advanced subscription. 

With Gemini, I tin commencement to spot nan imaginable of Google's AI, particularly connected phones. However, I still don't deliberation you should bargain nan Pixel 9A, aliases immoderate telephone for that matter, conscionable for its AI features.

Who should bargain nan Pixel 9A

Four Pixel 9A phones, each successful a different color.

James Martin/CNET

If you're rocking a Pixel 5 aliases older, I urge looking astatine nan Pixel 9A. It's a awesome telephone for nan price, and I deliberation it's a overmuch amended worth for nan dollar than nan Pixel 9. Though, arsenic I mentioned earlier, erstwhile that Pixel 9 is discounted to $549 aliases less, I would decidedly get it instead.

I besides deliberation this is simply a bully telephone for group pinch a very aged iPhone who want to jump to squad Android and Google services. The Pixel 9A could beryllium a coagulated action for someone's first phone, for illustration a teen aliases older big who doesn't attraction overmuch astir having nan absolute champion cameras aliases different cutting-edge tech.

At nan extremity of nan day, nan champion fund phones are a equilibrium of features, value and smart compromises. While nan Pixel 9A is acold from perfect, it does nan mostly of tasks that I value. And erstwhile I position nan Pixel 9A done nan lens of nan world's caller economical turmoil, that worth is what makes it guidelines retired for me. If you're looking for a telephone for $500 aliases less, I don't deliberation you'll find a amended 1 than nan Pixel 9A.

Google Pixel 9A specs vs. Pixel 8A, Pixel 9, Apple iPhone 16E

How we trial phones

Every telephone CNET's reviews squad tests is utilized successful nan existent world. We trial a phone's features, play games and return photos. We analyse nan show to spot if it's bright, crisp and vibrant. We analyse nan creation and build to spot really it is to clasp and whether it has an IP standing for h2o resistance. We push nan processor's capacity to nan extremes utilizing standardized benchmark devices for illustration GeekBench and 3DMark, on pinch our ain anecdotal observations navigating nan interface, signaling high-resolution videos and playing graphically aggravated games astatine precocious refresh rates.

All nan cameras are tested successful a assortment of conditions, from agleam sunlight to acheronian indoor scenes. We effort retired typical features for illustration nighttime mode and image mode, and comparison our findings against likewise priced competing phones. We besides cheque retired nan artillery life by utilizing it regular arsenic good arsenic moving a bid of artillery drain tests.

We return into relationship further features for illustration support for 5G, outer connectivity, fingerprint and look sensors, stylus support, accelerated charging speeds and foldable displays, among others that tin beryllium useful. We equilibrium each of this against nan value to springiness you nan verdict connected whether that phone, immoderate value it is, really represents bully value. While these tests whitethorn not ever beryllium reflected successful CNET's first review, we behaviour follow-up and semipermanent testing successful astir circumstances.