Google’s affordable entry-level offering for its Pixel 9 series is finally here. Priced at Rs 49,999, the Pixel 9a goes up against other low-cost flagship alternatives in the OnePlus 13R (Rs 42,999) and iPhone 16e (Rs 59,900). Google has made a few tradeoffs to keep the smartphone’s price in check, the more notable ones being the lack of a telephoto lens and camera visor. However, the Pixel 9a packs the biggest battery out of all the current-gen Pixels – a massive 5,100mAh unit. No holds have been barred when it comes to the processor either. Like other Pixel 9 series offerings, the 9a is powered by Google’s in-house Tensor G4 chipset. We’ve been using this smartphone for a week, putting it through a diverse set of tests in different conditions. Here is our in-depth review of the Google Pixel 9a.
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In This Article
Google Pixel 9a Review: Design and Display
Here’s what you get inside the Google Pixel 9a’s retail box:
- Smartphone
- USB Type-C to Type-C cable
- SIM ejector
- Safety guide
On the Pixel 9a, Google has chosen to ditch the camera visor for a minimal camera cutout. This is good news for those who aren’t fond of a camera bump on the back panel and the wobble it produces when the smartphone is placed on a flat surface. However, to us, the Pixel 9a’s design looks bland and unfinished. In an attempt to give the smartphone a minimal look, Google has robbed it of its unique flair.
The back panel is made of plastic, but it does not feel cheap or flimsy. In fact, we prefer it over a glossy glass back that is much more prone to shattering upon minimal impact. The matte finish further elevates the in-hand feel of the Pixel 9a and keeps the annoying smudges and fingerprints at bay.
The aluminium frame houses the side button and volume rocker keys on its right edge. The SIM tray, primary microphone, and primary speaker are positioned on the bottom edge. The secondary speaker finds its way to the top edge.
The 6.3-inch P-OLED display has a 120Hz refresh rate. It is brighter than its predecessor (read our Google Pixel 8a review), and can now hit a peak brightness of 2,700 nits (1,800 nits in HBM). Needless to say, this display holds up well under intense sunlight. The optical fingerprint scanner, though not as quick as its ultrasonic counterpart, is placed at the ideal spot. Our only gripe with this display is the thickness of the bezels around it. While they are uniform on all sides, their size is rather off-putting, especially on a smartphone that fetches Rs 50,000.
We used the Google Pixel 9a as our primary media-streaming device during the review period. This meant streaming content from OTT apps like Netflix, Prime Video, and JioHostar. The P-OLED display produced brilliant colours and relayed excellent details. The images were vivid and had amazing clarity. The stereo speaker setup produced a loud yet well-rounded audio output.
Google Pixel 9a Review: Performance and Cameras
Google’s in-house Tensor G4 chipset lies at the heart of the Pixel 9a. It is available in a single 8GB RAM + 256GB storage variant. Here’s how it fared in the AnTuTu and Geekbench 6 benchmarks:
AnTuTu 3D: 944,604
Geekbench 6: 1,670 (Single-core) | 3,453 (Multi-core)
Pixel 9a’s benchmark numbers lag behind the flagship Pixel 9 Pro XL, which is powered by the same chipset. Its closest Android rival, OnePlus 13R (our review here), outperforms it on benchmarks too. However, the bridge in everyday performance is barely noticeable. The Pixel 9a takes no time to load apps and can juggle multiple tasks with ease. The display offers a very fluid response, making the device very fun to use. Routine tasks like instant messaging, video calling, media streaming, and navigation are handled expertly. The superb haptic motor is the cherry on top of the cake. The well-tuned vibrational feedback is an understated aspect of Pixel smartphones, yet it massively upgrades the user experience.
The gap in benchmark numbers becomes apparent while gaming. We played Call of Duty Mobile and Asphalt Legends Unite on the Pixel 9a, and were left with more to be desired. The back panel started warming up after 20 minutes of gameplay at 60fps and medium graphics. Since this is a plastic panel, its heat dissipation isn’t as effective as the flagship Pixel 9. If a good gaming performance is your biggest priority, we recommend going for devices powered by the 3nm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset.
Google Pixel 9a runs Android 15 out of the box. It is promised to receive 7 major OS upgrades, taking it to Android 22. Interestingly, the Pixel 9 series comes with Android 14 out of the box and will be supported up to Android 21. The software experience offered by the Pixel 9e is identical to its flagship counterpart, minus a few AI features. The two biggest misses are Call Notes in the Phone app and the standalone Screenshots app. Google says this is because of the limited RAM specs of the Pixel 9a.
The massive 5,100mAh battery pack is one of the biggest attributes of the Pixel 9a. This is a Li-Po unit, as Google still hasn’t made the switch to Si/C batteries. During the review period, we were able to push Google Pixel 9a’s battery life to almost 2 days with conservative usage. This involved using the smartphone at low brightness, limiting its refresh rate to 60Hz, and avoiding power-intensive tasks like gaming and video recording. On regular usage days, we racked up to 5 hours of screen time on the smartphone before it hit a 20% charge. With support for 23W wired charging, the Pixel 9a takes almost an hour to charge fully.
Google Pixel 9a does not use flagship-grade sensors in its camera panel. Instead, it utilises a 48MP primary shooter and a 13MP ultrawide lens. Up front, the 13MP selfie camera is housed inside a punch-hole cutout.
The 48MP primary shooter takes great images in outdoor daylight conditions. The pictures showcase balanced colours that do justice to the scene in front of you. The images look natural as the colours are not boosted in the photoprocessing stage. The downside to this is that images taken on dull, overcast days appear slightly washed. In limited lighting conditions, the sensor lets in a good amount of light, leading to well-lit pictures. However, the resulting images are not completely grain-free.
Images taken with the 13MP ultrawide lens are noticeably softer compared to the primary shooter, but the colour profile remains tasteful. In outdoor daylight conditions, this camera takes good images. However, in limited lighting, the noise in the images is too intense in ignore.
Despite lacking a dedicated telephoto lens, the Pixel 9a takes good portrait shots. It does a good job of separating the subject from the background and applying a strong blur effect to the images. The native camera app offers 2 zoom levels for portraits – 1.5x and 2x. The 13MP front-facing camera takes incredible selfies that blow every other smartphone in this category out of the water. The selfies retain the natural skin tone and texture of the subject, and pack a lot of detail. The selfie shooter and ultrawide lens can record 4K videos at 30fps. Meanwhile, the primary sensor can shoot 4K videos at 30 and 60fps.
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Verdict
The Pixel 9a is a good low-cost alternative to the Pixel 9 series. It puts forward a reliable everyday performance, retaining the Tensor G4 chipset from the flagships. The cameras, while not the same as the flagship Pixel 9 series, produce good results in daylight conditions. If you like natural-looking images that are typically associated with Pixels, this smartphone will not disappoint. The signature Pixel experience extends to the software as well, as the Pixel 9a runs stock Android 15 OS out of the box. It also promises the best software support in this price bracket, with 7 major OS upgrades lined up. While other Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (and 8 Gen Elite) powered smartphones may deliver a stronger gaming performance with better thermal management, the Pixel 9a remains a better buy for Google loyalists.
Google Pixel 9a: Pros
- Great selfie camera
- Versatile battery life
- 7 major OS upgrades
Google Pixel 9a: Cons
- Not the best smartphone for gaming
- Thick bezels around the display
