The release of the new Pixel 9A completes this year's Google phone lineup. And despite what has become a tradition of leaky launches, we now know all the specs for the company's most affordable phone.
With budget phones, the question is always, "What's missing?" For example, Apple ditched MagSafe and stuck with a single camera for the iPhone 16E -- which still comes in at $599. With the new Pixel 9A, what is Google giving up to hit a friendlier $499 price? Surprisingly, some specs meet or exceed those of its pricier siblings.
Hey better battery
Google's Pixel 9A in Peony.
People consistently rate battery power as the most important consideration for a new phone, and here Google delivered. The Pixel 9A has a higher-powered battery than any of the other Pixel 9 phones. With a capacity of 5,100mAh, that's more than the Pixel 9 Pro XL's 5,060-mAh battery and a nice jump over the Pixel 9 and 9 Pro that each have a 4,700-mAh one.
The Pixel 9A is pokey about replenishing the battery, with a fast-charge rate at 23 watts instead of 45 watts on the other phones (and, of course, a charger is not included). Wireless Qi charging maxes out at 7.5 watts compared with 15 watts on the others.
A larger battery capacity in the Pixel 9A should support more intense computational work, along with the same Google Tensor G4 chipset as the other models. It will run the same Gemini AI features, although with less headroom: Its 8GB of RAM is generally considered the minimum amount of memory to run the algorithms and on-device processing used by AI. The Pixel 9 has 12GB of RAM, while the 9 Pro configurations have 16GB of RAM. For storage, the Pixel 9A comes in just 128GB or 256GB capacities.
Shaving costs with competent cameras
Not surprisingly, the cameras are a step down from the other Pixel 9 phones, reinforcing that mobile photography is an area people are willing to pay more for. The main wide camera captures 48-megapixel photos, compared with the 50-megapixel wide cameras on the others -- which isn't a significant difference. It is a drop from the 64-megapixel main camera on last year's Pixel 8A but does support macro focus to ensure close-up photos are in focus.
The ultrawide camera, however, records just 13-megapixel images, compared with the 48-megapixel ultrawide cameras on each of the other models. Still, ultrawide cameras at 12- or 13-megapixel resolutions are still more common on phones from other companies, and they create good wide-angle images. Selfies via the front-facing camera are also 13-megapixel resolution, which is a step up from the 10-megapixel camera on the Pixel 9 but dwarfed by the 42-megapixel cameras on the 9 Pros.
A return to flatness
Here are four Pixel 9A phones stacked flat to each other -- each one a different color.
We all play along when phone companies reveal the thickness of their phones, which is measured by the depth of the bodies and usually doesn't include the now-ubiquitous camera bumps. As long as most of a phone is svelte, it's easy to overlook the extra few millimeters dedicated to the camera assembly -- and the wobble when placed on a flat surface for some phones.
Why? Because the cameras are some of the most important features of a modern phone. We'll accept a little cantilevering in exchange for 10x optical zoom.
Someone forgot to remind the Pixel 9A designers, though, because its dual camera lenses are nearly flush with the rest of the phone's back. There's still a tiny elevation, which CNET's Patrick Holland described as "enough to catch your nail on it," but compared with the pronounced camera ledge on the other Pixel 9 models, the Pixel 9A rests nearly flat.
The opposite side of the body has the same 6.3-inch OLED screen as the Pixel 9, measuring 2,424x1,080 pixels for a 422 pixels-per-inch density and a 60Hz to 120Hz variable refresh rate. It even maxes out at 2,700 nits like the Pixel 9.
The phone's dimensions, however, are slightly larger than the Pixel 9, being 1.9mm taller, 1.3mm wider and 0.4mm deeper. Even so, the Pixel 9A is the lightest of the phones at 186g (6.6 ounces).
To compare the specs between all Pixel 9-series phones, dig into the details below:
Pixel 9A specs vs. Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL
| Google Pixel 9A | Google Pixel 9 | Google Pixel 9 Pro | Google Pixel 9 Pro XL | |
| Display size, tech, resolution, refresh rate | 6.3-inch OLED; 2,424x1,080 pixels; 60-120 Hz variable refresh rate | 6.3-inch OLED; 2,424x1,080 pixels; 60-120 Hz variable refresh rate | 6.3-inch LTPO OLED; 2,856x1,280 pixels; 1-120Hz variable refresh rate | 6.8-inch LTPO OLED; 2,992x1,344 pixels; 1-120Hz variable refresh rate |
| Pixel density | 422 ppi | 422 ppi | 495 ppi | 486 ppi |
| Dimensions (inches) | 6.1 x 2.9 x 0.4 in | 6x2.8x0.3 inches | 6x2.8x0.3 inches | 6.4x3x0.3 inches |
| Dimensions (millimeters) | 154.7 x 73.3 x 8.9 mm | 152.8x72x8.5 mm | 152.8x72x8.5 mm | 162.8x76.6x8.5 mm |
| Weight (grams, ounces) | 186g (6.6 oz) | 198g (7 oz.) | 199g (7 oz.) | 221g (7.8 oz) |
| Mobile software | Android 15 | Android 14 | Android 14 | Android 14 |
| Camera | 48-megapixel (wide), 13-megapixel (ultrawide) | 50-megapixel (wide), 48-megapixel (ultrawide) | 50-megapixel (wide), 48-megapixel (ultrawide), 48-megapixel (5x telephoto) | 50-megapixel (wide), 48-megapixel (ultrawide), 48-megapixel (5x telephoto) |
| Front-facing camera | 13-megapixel | 10.5-megapixel | 42-megapixel | 42-megapixel |
| Video capture | 4K | 4K | 4K | 4K |
| Processor | Google Tensor G4 | Google Tensor G4 | Google Tensor G4 | Google Tensor G4 |
| RAM/storage | 8GB + 128GB, 256GB | 12GB RAM + 128GB, 256GB | 16GB + 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB | 16GB + 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
| Expandable storage | None | None | None | None |
| Battery | 5,100 mAh | 4,700 mAh | 4,700 mAh | 5,060 mAh |
| Fingerprint sensor | Under display | Under display | Under display | Under display |
| Connector | USB-C | USB-C | USB-C | USB-C |
| Headphone jack | None | None | None | None |
| Special features | 7 years of OS, security and Pixel feature drops; Gorilla Glass 3 cover glass; IP68 dust and water resistance; 2,700-nit peak brightness; 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio; 23W fast charging (charger not included); 7.5W wireless charging Qi certified; Wi-Fi 6E; NFC; Bluetooth 5.3; dual-SIM (nano SIM + eSIM); Add Me; Best Take; Magic Eraser; Magic Editor; Photo Unblur; Super Res Zoom; Circle To Search | Satellite SOS; 7 years of OS, security and Pixel feature drops; Gorilla Glass Victus 2 cover glass; IP68 dust and water resistance; 2,700-nit peak brightness; 45W fast charging (charger not included); 15W wireless charging with Google Pixel Stand (second gen); 12W wireless Qi-charging; Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 7; NFC; Bluetooth 5.3; dual-SIM (eSIM + nano SIM); Add Me; Best Take; Magic Eraser; Magic Editor | Satellite SOS; 7 years of OS, security and Pixel feature drops; IP68 dust and water resistance; Video Boost with 8K Upscaling; Macro Focus on ultrawide; Gorilla Glass Victus 2 cover glass; 3,000-nit peak brightness; 45W fast charging (charger not included); 15W wireless charging with Google Pixel Stand (second gen); 12W wireless Qi-charging; Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 7; NFC; Bluetooth 5.3; dual-SIM (eSIM + nano SIM); Add Me; Best Take; Magic Eraser; Magic Editor | Satellite SOS; 7 years of OS, security and Pixel feature drops; IP68 dust and water resistance; Video Boost with 8K Upscaling; Macro Focus on ultrawide; Gorilla Glass Victus 2 cover glass; 3,000-nit peak brightness; 45W fast charging (charger not included); 15W wireless charging with Google Pixel Stand (second gen); 12W wireless Qi-charging; Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 7; NFC; Bluetooth 5.3; dual-SIM (eSIM + nano SIM); Add Me; Best Take; Magic Eraser; Magic Editor |
| US price starts at | $499 (128GB) | $799 (128GB) | $999 (128GB) | $1,099 (128GB) |
| UK price starts at | Converts to £385 (128GB) | Converts to £640 (128GB) | Converts to £780 (128GB) | Converts to £860 (128GB) |
| Australia price starts at | Converts to AU$780 (128GB) | Converts to AU$1,210 (128GB) | Converts to AU$1,510 (128GB) | Converts to AU$1,670 (128GB) |