Google Pixel 9A’s New Design Might Raise Eyebrows, but the Price Is Right

The newly unveiled Google Pixel 9A enters the market with a significant legacy to uphold. This affordable phone is the successor to the Pixel 8A, a previous model lauded for its optimal blend of attributes, battery performance, sustained software updates, and overall value. On paper, the Pixel 9A appears to offer advancements across virtually all aspects compared to its predecessor.

However, the Pixel 9A faces increased scrutiny, launching shortly after Apple’s release of the iPhone 16E, positioned as its “affordable” contender priced at $599. While Apple’s most budget-conscious offering, the iPhone 16E still exceeds the $500 benchmark typically associated with the best value-oriented smartphones. Google has maintained the Pixel 9A’s price at $499 (£499, AU$849), rendering it more accessible to consumers mindful of expenses, particularly amid rising US tariffs impacting goods costs.

During a brief initial hands-on session lasting approximately thirty minutes, the robust build quality and certain design aspects of the Pixel 9A impressed. The near-completely flat rear panel is a notable design choice. However, the absence of the distinctive camera bar, characteristic of the broader Pixel 9 series, somewhat diminishes the phone’s visual Pixel identity. Beyond this aesthetic deviation, the display and internal components remain true to the Pixel lineage.

The Pixel 9A will be available for purchase at the Google Store and authorized retailers starting April 10.

Pixel 9A Design

The visual appearance of the Pixel 9A diverges from recent Pixel A models. Mirroring the Pixel 9 and 9 Pro, the Pixel 9A incorporates flat sides, contrasting with the curved edges of the Pixel 8A. Google’s design philosophy for the Pixel 9A pushes the limits of minimalism. The phone’s rear surface is exceptionally flat, with a minimal camera protrusion. Running a finger across the back, a slight catch is perceptible at the camera bump’s edge, but it is minimal.

In 2025, the Pixel 9A stands out for its ability to lay perfectly flat on level surfaces. It remains stable without wobbling, a trait also shared by the Pixel 9 and 9 Pro despite their camera bar. However, the Pixel 9A’s flat design takes this feature to an unprecedented degree, and this completely flat aesthetic is appealing.

Pixel 9A’s Minimalist Aesthetic

However, the exclusion of the camera bar appears to be a missed opportunity, as it previously added a visually distinctive element to Google phones and differentiated Pixel devices from competitors. While protective cases are commonly used, obscuring the phone’s back, the Pixel 9A presents a more generic and less striking visual profile.

Prioritizing function over form, Google asserts that the Pixel 9A represents their most robust Pixel A iteration to date. The rear panel is constructed from 81% recycled plastic, a material choice that while potentially raising concerns for some, maintains a premium feel and contributes to cost efficiency. The phone boasts an IP68 rating for resistance to water and dust, an improvement over the Pixel 8A’s IP67 rating, allowing submersion in up to 1.5 meters of water for 30 minutes.

The Pixel 9A is available in four color variants: obsidian, porcelain, peony, and iris. The iris shade was particularly appealing during the hands-on experience.

The Pixel 9A features a 6.3-inch display housed in a chassis nearly identical in size to the Pixel 8A (marginally taller), which had a 6.1-inch screen. The display achieves a peak brightness of 2,700 nits, a notable enhancement over the 8A’s 2,000 nits. Outdoor screen visibility, especially under bright sunlight, will be an area of interest for further testing. Specifications suggest the screen is comparable to that of the standard Pixel 9.

Pixel 9A Camera

For imaging, the Pixel 9A features a 48-megapixel primary camera and a 13-megapixel ultrawide lens. The updated main camera incorporates Google’s Macro Focus capability, enabling close-up shots with sharp focus, ideal for subjects like food photography. Uniquely, this macro functionality is achieved via the main camera, unlike many competing smartphones that utilize the ultrawide lens for macro.

While the Pixel 9A’s 48-megapixel main camera represents a reduction from the Pixel 8A’s 64-megapixel sensor, megapixel count is not the sole determinant of image quality. Google has historically leveraged software optimization to excel in photography, even with sensors featuring lower megapixel counts compared to competitors.

Furthermore, the Pixel 9A inherits a suite of AI-driven features from the premium Pixel 9 and 9 Pro models, including Best Take for improved group portraits, Photo Unblur, Magic Editor for object removal, Night Sight for low-light photography, and more. Add Me, a feature utilizing AR and AI to allow users to insert themselves into group photos, is also included. Experience with Add Me on the Pixel 9 Pro has consistently yielded impressive results.

Prior Pixel A phones have consistently offered capable camera systems for their price range. While the Pixel 9A’s camera performance may not match the Pixel 9 or 9 Pro, evaluating the real-world performance of the new 48-megapixel sensor is anticipated.

Pixel 9A Performance and Battery

Powering the Pixel 9A is Google’s Tensor G4 chip, the same processor featured in the Pixel 9 and 9 Pro, enabling Google AI functionalities and Gemini. Notably, the Pixel 9A is equipped with 8GB of RAM, less than the Pixel 9’s 12GB and the 9 Pro’s 16GB. Despite the reduced RAM, Google guarantees seven years of major Android OS upgrades and security updates for the Pixel 9A, which ships with Android 15.

Although benchmark tests may not have positioned the Tensor G4 chip as a performance leader in computational or graphical tasks, practical experience with the Pixel 9 and 9 Pro demonstrated its ample capability for everyday use. Whether gaming, browsing social media, or editing photos, the G4 chip consistently delivered smooth performance. Similar performance is expected when the Pixel 9A undergoes testing.

In terms of battery capacity, Google states the Pixel 9A has the largest battery of any Pixel A device to date, rated at 5,100 mAh. This capacity surpasses even that of Samsung’s premium Galaxy S25 Ultra.

Pixel 9A Initial Impressions

The Pixel 9A includes the expected suite of Pixel features, encompassing theft protection, Family Link parental controls, and integration with Google services like Gmail and Maps. Satellite SOS connectivity, present in the higher-tier Pixel 9 models, is omitted from this device, a necessary compromise to maintain affordability.

Storage options for the Pixel 9A include 128GB or 256GB, with bundled subscriptions to Google One (three months), YouTube Premium (three months), and Fitbit Premium (six months). Further in-depth evaluation of the Pixel 9A is planned for a comprehensive review upon obtaining a review unit.