Pixel 9a review: Google’s A-Series is now its own thing 

Compared to past years, the 2025 A-Series doesn’t feel like a variant of the main line. Rather, the Google Pixel 9a is its own thing that most people will be quite happy with. 

Since August, I’ve been using the Pixel 9 Pro as my daily driver. At the same time, I use a Pixel 8a everyday for an hour or so to read books and other long-form. I’ve done this for years with the A-Series, and here’s my abridged history:

• Pixel 3a: Generic phone designed to be affordable with nice enough plastic.
• Pixel 4a: Delightfully small and one of my favorite Pixel phones in general. 
• Pixel 5a: Did not use.
• Pixel 6a: Shades of the 4a, but otherwise a bit blocky with most of its personality coming from the refreshing Sage color. I used it for an extended period that year because I made the mistake of choosing the 6 Pro after years of picking the small Pixel.
• Pixel 7a: Did not use or like the design. Besides being blocky, I did not like how the camera bar was made of plastic, but aimed for a faux metal appearance to align with the side rails.
• Pixel 8a: Comfy and worthy 4a successor, but faux camera bar metal critique stands.

Design

With the Pixel 9a, Google set out to improve thermals by adding a vapor chamber (which previously was on the 9 Pro and above), make the battery bigger, and introduce a new camera module. This resulted in an almost flat design, with Google then making the decision to go all the way. 

In doing so, Google has created my new favorite phone design. Before this, I’d have cited the Pixel 3, 8, and 8a as fitting that bill. The curved rails made for something that comfortably sat in your hand and looked inviting, if not friendly.

After using the Pixel 9 Pro full-time for the past seven months, I was resigned to live with that non-comfy design for a few more years. It was somewhat generic, but had functional advantages. 

This year’s A-Series phone takes that design and chops off the camera bar to make all the difference in the world.

The Pixel 9a feels like you’re just holding a screen. When looking at it straight on, the flat side rails put the entire chassis behind the display, with only the power and volume buttons minimally protruding from the sides. 

Of course, the Pixel 9 and above also have this look, but not the same feel when holding. I’m of course talking about the protruding camera bar. In getting rid of this element, which has defined Google’s visual design language since 2021, you get a near identical front and back. That symmetry is something you feel and can appreciate. It results in such a clean form however you’re handling, like when fishing out of your pocket or bag, or gripping.

You might think it’s difficult to discern which side is which, but the glossy glass front and matte plastic back help with that. You won’t mistake the two materials, which in my book is an improvement over the Pixel 9’s indistinguishable glass sandwich. Glass definitely feels more premium but is more likely to break (shatter) over the phone’s lifetime in another benefit of the “composite” back.

To date, I’ve used the 6-9 Pro’s camera bar as a grip for my forefinger. But I haven’t noticed the plateau’s absence on the Pixel 9a. That’s in part due to the weight.

What I am still noticing daily is how this 185.9 g phone feels so much lighter than the Pixel 9 (198 g) and 9 Pro (199 g). I appreciate this when I’m reading for extended periods, especially when lying down, with the side rails — which are mercifully matte and therefore not fingerprint magnets — playing a stabilizing role. 

Meanwhile, compared to last year, there’s something toned down about Iris and Peony that isn’t ideal if you prefer vibrancy. Iris is purple and more interesting than how the Bay blue color translates on plastic, but it has nothing on the Pixel 8a’s excellent Aloe. 

I’ve come to really adore the simplicity and lightness — both physically and metaphorically — of the Pixel 9a’s design. This minimalist shape emphasizes the screen and that really is the platonic ideal of a phone. 

Display, Specs, & Performance

The floating window effect would be complete if the Pixel 9a’s bezels were closer to the 9 Pro’s, but this is a reminder that you’re on the A-Series. You’ll notice that thickness the first few times you pick up the phone, but it will fade away. 

This is a 6.3-inch screen (pOLED) like the Pixel 9 (OLED), with the .2-inch increase over the Pixel 8a that’s not appreciable. Meanwhile, this Actua display is 35% brighter than last year. 

I thought I’d notice losing half the amount of RAM I’m used to on the 16GB Pixel 9 Pro. With the Pixel 6a, I very much felt only having 6GB, but the 8GB on the Pixel 9a hasn’t been an issue so far in terms of apps reloading after being in the background.

Google touts 30% faster web browsing with the Tensor G4 compared to the Pixel 8a, but you don’t notice that. In day-to-day usage, app launches and loading speeds feel on par with the Pixel 9 Pro. 

On a daily basis, I’d say the Pixel 9a’s optical fingerprint reader doesn’t work on first attempt 2-3 times per day – with alignment mattering more – versus once or twice with the ultrasonic sensor on the 9 Pro. It’s perfectly fine, and did not feel like a regression (save for the blinding light), especially compared to Pixels released prior to the Pixel 9 series. 

In the nice-to-have column is IP68 dust and water resistance up from IP67 on Pixel 8a.

Battery 

Since the Pixel 6, Google has quoted battery life as “beyond” or “over” 24 hours. This year, that has been raised to 30+ hours with the Pixel 9a’s 5,100 mAh battery, which is Google’s largest.

With about 4 hours of screen time, I ended my days with about 40% of battery over the course of a week. I can get 1.5 days of usage that comfortably takes me to noon on the next day whereas the 9 Pro would require a top-up by early morning of that second day. On a quiet weekend, I went 30 hours on a full charge and that left me with 23%. That being said, I think most people would find a way to charge before then. 

Wired charging goes from 18W to 23W, while the 7.5W wireless charging is unchanged. As a once per day (overnight) wireless charger, the latter doesn’t bother me, but it’s definitely the last time that spec is acceptable after three generations. 

Software 

Pixel phones should have the absolute latest version of Android. Out of the box, the Pixel 9a is running Android 15 QPR1 with the latest April security patch instead of QPR2. Released in March, the most recent quarterly update brings the Modes redesign and hides the bottom-right corner globe icon when the keyboard is open and you just have one language set. 

Google says that QPR1 served as the most stable build for carrier and other testing, with those 15 QPR2 features not coming until the new quarterly update. I assume that’s coming in June with Android 16. For 2 months, Pixel users don’t have the latest features with meaningful user-facing additions and changes. Anything less is bad form. While this has no impact on the 7 years of OS and security updates, Google should do better.

Pixel Studio is the new AI app, with the recent emphasis on quick sticker generation a practical idea. I continue to like Pixel Weather (though it could use more homescreen widgets) and Recorder. Otherwise, it’s the traditional Pixel experience with the Call Screen and other Assist features never disappointing, while the continued VPN inclusion. 

The lack of Pixel Screenshots due to only 8 GB of RAM (instead of at least 12 GB) is unfortunate, but something I adjusted to. If you backup screenshots, Google Photos search more than does the job (and soon Gemini). My biggest use of Screenshots is quickly making reminders (via the corner preview) that aren’t important enough for Google Tasks/appearing on other devices, but there’s Google Keep. Finally, I really like the Collections feature in Screenshots, but have had to settle for favoriting in Google Photos. I do wish that Google offered a “lite,” non-AI version of the app as there’s a ton of utility in sorting and reminders. On a similar note, I wish that we have basic recording functionality in Phone by Google even if the Pixel 9a can’t support the Gemini Nano with multimodality-powered Call Notes with summaries. 

Camera

When I first got the Pixel 9a, I found my middle and forefinger resting on the bottom of the camera pill out of habit. I’ve since adjusted and don’t touch the lens cover, which is said to be slightly domed and inspired by “nature and water droplets,” like the Pixel Watch. 

This new 48MP sensor is similar to the Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s, but slightly different and smaller. It’s a Pixel Camera, with more about it in our video review.

In our testing, the Pixel 9a generally produces sharper photos than last year’s 8a. This is likely due to the improved main camera sensor. While most people won’t use both phones side by side or compare images in that manner, you can see in our gallery that the Pixel 8a exhibits more contrast, the 9a is tack sharp throughout the frame.

Furthermore, the Pixel 9a has vastly superior highlight control, preserving more detail and color in brighter areas compared to the 8a. Despite these distinctions, the overall camera experience remains really similar between the two phones, delivering great photos, especially considering the $500 price point.

Given that new wide sensor, Macro Focus is now built-into the main camera’s autofocus and not something you turn on, off, or set to auto. It kicks in when you’re 5 cm from an object, with the sunflower icon appearing in the top-left corner. It’s delightful for capturing detail. 

The most obvious use cases of Google AI on the Pixel 9a are in the Camera. Add Me makes use of Tensor G4, augmented reality, and 15 on-device models. Personally, I’m happy with front-facing selfies to get a group shot, but there are, of course, other occasions that you want to capture in full. I’d very much take the amalgamated shot over handing my phone, even if locked, to a stranger. 

However, I feel that Best Take, which stitches together several shots to make sure there’s no blinking and that everyone is looking right at the camera, is the feature that has broken through to the public as a feature of the Pixel.

Annoyingly there are some removals like HDR video recording, but the good news is that the Pixel 9a retains impressive camera features — such as Night Sight, astrophotography, and the new Panorama mode — to offer a fairly comprehensive photography experience for an affordably focused phone.

Closing

The lack of novel on-device AI features, which I’d broadly define as taking advantage of Gemini Nano with multimodality, is mostly unfortunate from a future-proofing standpoint. I don’t think you’re missing much, with the innovation happening server-side for the time being, if not foreseeable future. For example, the Pixel 9a has free access to Gemini Live with Astra-powered camera and screen sharing that does not require a separate Advanced subscription.

If you’re in the Google ecosystem, whether to buy the Pixel 9 for $300 more is the question. When there’s a discount, that changes things, but I think $499 today gives you a phone that feels (and weighs) different enough that the premium-ness of the $799 doesn’t automatically mean it’s the better one for you. That hasn’t been the case for A-Series in a long time.

The Pixel 9a is hopefully Google’s design foundation for all A-Series phones going forward. I think offering an actually flat, slab-style phone is a genuine differentiator. It’s far from boring, and something we haven’t had since the early days of smartphones. (Personally, I might be sticking with the 9a until the Pixel 10 series because of the design and how different it feels. Replacing the Pixel 9 Pro, it’s enough phone for me.) In becoming its own thing, the Pixel 9a gets a visual identity that sets it apart in the lineup for the first time.

The Pixel 9a gets all the basics right with some Google flourishes and a design that helps differentiate it. 

Where to buy

• Google Store: “$100 in Google Store credit towards your next purchase.” Ends 4/23.
• Google Fi
• Amazon

As a reminder, here’s the release schedule:

• April 10: US, Canada, and UK
• April 14: Germany, Spain, Italy, Ireland, France, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Portugal, Switzerland, Poland, Czechia, Romania, Hungary, Slovenia, Slovakia, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, and Finland
• April 16: Australia, India, Singapore, Taiwan, and Malaysia