The Problem With Google’s Pixel 9a

The latest Pixel has plentifulness of bully things going for it — but it besides presents a puzzling paradox.

Let’s get 1 point retired of nan measurement first: Google’s Pixel 9a is 1 heck of a device.

I’ve had nan latest Pixel gizmo successful my man-claws for a mates o’ weeks now, acknowledgment to a loaner reappraisal portion provided by Google. You tin find plentifulness of piece-by-piece reviews retired connected nan web if you’re interested, but nan short type is that utilizing nan Pixel 9a by and ample feels for illustration utilizing immoderate different caller Pixel telephone — pinch nan aforesaid delightfully unmuddled Android experience, nan aforesaid smart calling enhancements and other thoughtful features, and nan aforesaid exceptional camera setup (broadly speaking).

Now, of course, what you get pinch a $500 midrange telephone for illustration nan Pixel 9a isn’t identical to what you get pinch Google’s top-of-the-line Pixel 9 flagships. The regular Pixel 9 phones person much powerful processors, much tin cameras, and little salient bezels astir their displays — on pinch a somewhat much premium feel, successful general. But, truthfully, extracurricular of nan beingness of a telephoto zoom lens connected nan modular 9 models, we’re talkin’ astir the types of differences that an average Android-appreciating animal would ne'er really notice, moreover if that benignant of worldly mightiness mean thing to nan existent tech nerds among us.

The Pixel 9a besides lacks immoderate of its higher-end siblings’ AI capabilities, but — sorry, Google — astir of that will beryllium of small to nary applicable consequence for astir of us. The only point I really miss is nan Pixel 9’s barely-mentioned strategy for setting elemental reminders astir screenshots, which I’ve really travel to admit and trust connected (but which you can emulate connected any Android phone, with a small imaginative thinking).

Critically, nan Pixel 9a follows the lead of its predecessor and includes 7 afloat years of near-instant Android operating strategy updates, monthly information patches, and quarterly characteristic driblet rollouts — thing that matters overmuch much than astir casual telephone shoppers realize and that no different Android device-maker comes adjacent to matching successful nan aforesaid consistently reliable way.

So, yeah: The 9a is rather a device, to opportunity nan slightest — and astatine $500, it offers a commendable semipermanent value. And yet, successful spite of each of that, it’s reliable to wrap my caput astir who, exactly, would beryllium well-advised to bargain it.

Let maine explain.

[Psst: Got a Pixel? Any Pixel? Check retired my free Pixel Academy e-course to uncover each sorts of precocious intelligence lurking wrong your favourite phone!]

The Pixel “a” position

In bid to understand why nan Pixel 9a is specified a puzzling proposition, we request to zoom retired a small to retrieve really and why nan Pixel “a”-line really came into beingness successful nan first place.

The first Pixel “a” telephone launched a whopping 7 years ago, measurement backmost successful nan prehistoric clip of 2018. Back then, nan Pixel 3a was a decidedly cheaper-feeling phone, pinch each sorts of surface-level downgrades from its Pixel 3 sister — and pinch a $400 value that was half the regular Pixel 3’s $800 starting cost.

With nan pursuing year’s Pixel 4a follow-up, nan telephone sewage moreover more affordable — arsenic did nan gulf successful costs betwixt it and its flagship equivalent: The 4a sold for $350, while nan regular Pixel 4 kept nan aforesaid $800 price.

From there, things started getting murky. 2021’s Pixel 5a jumped up to $450, while nan regular Pixel 5 dropped down, somewhat strangely, to $700. It was a weird year, and nan weirdness only sewage much utmost pinch nan adjacent smartphone rhythm — erstwhile nan Pixel “a” action stayed astatine $450 and nan flagship Pixel 6 fell to $600, creating conscionable a $150 quality betwixt nan 2 options.

Things person fluctuated further successful nan clip since then, but you get nan idea: Google’s Pixel “a”-series was primitively positioned arsenic a much affordable introduction constituent to nan Pixel experience. And complete time, it’s grown person and person successful costs to nan higher-end, compromise-free flagship way while besides increasing much premium and shedding galore of its early asterisks. This twelvemonth successful particular, that puts nan Pixel “a” bid successful a really absorbing place.

Officially, nan Pixel 9 starts astatine $800 while nan 9a sells for $500. But realistically, nan higher-end Pixel is often arsenic waste for arsenic small arsenic $549, arsenic it was successful definite places conscionable past week. As of this writing, nan regular 9 is listed for $649 connected Amazon and $700 astatine Best Buy (which besides will typically do a value match, if you ask).

And that makes it tricky to cognize what, exactly, to make of nan Pixel 9a successful nan expansive strategy of things.

Google’s Pixel pricing puzzle

If you look backmost complete nan 7,792 years I’ve been obsessing complete this area, you’ll spot that my typical stance has been that nan Pixel “a” phones are usually nan astir advisable options for most people — those who want an exceptional all-around Android experience, including near-instant ongoing package updates for a afloat 7 years, but don’t attraction capable astir nan finer points (the astir premium materials, nan absolute champion camera setup imaginable, and truthful on) to warrant nan added disbursal of nan top-of-the-line alternative.

But erstwhile nan quality betwixt nan 2 tiers is 50 bucks? Even a 100 — aliases $150? At a definite point, if you tin warrant nan comparatively mini opposition successful cost, it seems almost silly not to spell pinch nan champion of nan best.

If nan Pixel 9a were still priced astir $350 to $400, arsenic those earlier midrange models were — aliases if we lived successful a world wherever nan regular Pixel 9 weren’t truthful often connected specified important income — nan 9a would beryllium a no-brainer. Like before, it’d beryllium nan champion introduction constituent into nan astir compelling all-around Android experience, peculiarly for anyone focused connected value, moving pinch a constricted budget, aliases conscionable not particularly willing successful nan top-of-the-line niceties immoderate of america appreciate.

As it stands now, though, it’s a spot of a head-scratcher, successful spite of being a stellar-seeming telephone and arguably still nan champion all-around Android acquisition you tin bargain astatine its price.

Google’s Pixel 9a, successful each of its disposable colour options.

Google

Plain and simple, Google’s gotten itself into an awkward spot pinch its existent Pixel pricing puzzle. The full point and appeal of nan Pixel “a” bid has ever been its worth and nan value of acquisition it provides astatine that midrange value — peculiarly erstwhile you see nan package support it’ll proceed to person for a afloat 7 years, erstwhile different phones successful its tier will beryllium fortunate to spot a mates clunky updates galore months late.

That’s still true, technically, and I wouldn’t hesitate to urge nan Pixel 9a successful a vacuum — aliases for anyone who’s looking to walk $500 and not a penny more.

But erstwhile you tin salary arsenic small arsenic 50 bucks more to get nan superior Pixel 9, peculiarly for master purposes, nan 9a loses overmuch of nan sheen that sets it isolated and defines its spot successful nan coming Pixel pack.

So what do I deliberation astir nan Pixel 9a? I deliberation it’s a awesome instrumentality — I really do. And I deliberation it’s hands-down nan champion Android acquisition you tin get for $500. 

But I besides deliberation it’s a reliable telephone to wholeheartedly get down erstwhile it’s truthful tantalizingly adjacent successful value to a akin exemplary pinch moreover much power, poise, and polish.

More than anything, I deliberation Google needs to fig retired what, exactly, it wants its Pixel “a” statement to beryllium — aliases possibly conscionable to retrieve what an unthinkable action it can correspond erstwhile nan pricing makes consciousness and nan midrange model’s position isn’t truthful mysteriously muddled.

Don’t fto yourself miss an ounce of Pixel magic. Start my free Pixel Academy e-course to find tons of hidden features for immoderate Googley gizmo you’ve got!