The Google Pixel 9a was announced on March 19 as the company’s new mid-range offering. Some also consider it to be a budget device, which it kind of is. It succeeds the Pixel 8a which arrived last year. Google did change things up this time around, though. The Pixel 9a does look different, while some of its internals have changed, including the main camera too. There is plenty to talk about here, actually.
As per usual, we will first talk about the phone’s specifications and will move to other sections following that. If you’d like to know more about the Pixel 9a, you’ll find plenty of information here, including its specs, price, where to buy it, what carriers does it work on, its colors, upgrades, and more. Let’s get to it, shall we?
Google Pixel 9a specs
The Google Pixel 9a is fueled by the Google Tensor G4 processor. That is Google’s 4nm chip which also fuels the company’s Pixel 9 series flagships. That processor comes with the Titan M2 security chip, by the way. Google also included 8GB of RAM inside of this phone, along with 128GB/256GB of UFS 3.1 flash storage. Do note that the storage is not expandable, though, so what you buy is what you get.
The Pixel 9a features a 6.3-inch Actua display. That panel is flat, and it has a resolution of 2424 x 1080. It’s a pOLED display and offers 422.2 PPI. Its refresh rate goes from 60 to 120Hz (Smooth Display), and the peak brightness, in theory, is 2,700 nits. HDR support is included here, while the panel is protected by the Gorilla Glass 3 from Corning. The display aspect ratio you’re getting is 20:9.
A 5,100mAh battery is included on the inside, while the phone supports 23W wired and 7.5W wireless (Qi) charging. A charger is not included in the box, by the way. There is an in-display fingerprint scanner here, and an optical one. The phone is also IP68 certified for water and dust resistance. Android 15 comes pre-installed on the phone, while Face Unlock is also available via the front-facing camera.
The phone does include stereo speakers and two microphones. A Type-C USB 3.2 port sits at the bottom of the device, while Bluetooth 5.3 is also supported. This is a Dual SIM (single nano SIM and eSIM) smartphone that supports Wi-Fi 6E. 5G connectivity is also supported here, of course.
A 48-megapixel main camera (Quad PD Dual Pixel with OIS and CLAF, f/1.7 aperture, 82-degree FoV, 1/2.0 sensor size) sits on the back. A 13-megapixel ultrawide camera (f/2.2 aperture, 120-degree FoV, 1/3.1-inch sensor size) is also included. On the front, you’ll find a 13-megapixel camera (f/2.2 aperture, 96.1-degree FoV). The Google Pixel 9a measures 154.7 x 73.3 x 8.9mm, and weighs 185.9 grams.
What countries will the Google Pixel 9a be available in?
In regards to North America, you’ll be able to buy it in both Canada and the US. It will also be available in APAC region countries including Australia, Japan, India, Singapore, Taiwan, and Malaysia. As far as Europe goes, here’s the list: UK, Germany, Spain, Italy, Ireland, France, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Portugal, Switzerland, Poland, Czechia, Romania, Hungary, Slovenia, Slovakia, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia and Finland.
How much does the Google Pixel 9a cost?
The Google Pixel 9a is coming in 128GB and 256GB storage options. The entry-level 128GB model will set you back $499 in the US. The 256GB option will cost $599. The price tags will differ in other regions, though, of course. In Europe, the pricing will differ from one country to the next, but in most countries, the 128GB storage option will cost €549, while the 256GB storage variant will set you back €609.
Where can I buy the Google Pixel 9a?
You’ll (likely) be able to buy the Google Pixel 9a at all of the usual places, basically. That goes for both the carriers and the retailers. Do note that Google did not share a list just yet, the company simply said that it’s coming to “retail partners” in April. Google will not even host pre-orders for the device due to a last-minute change. They were supposed to become available in stores next week (March 26), but Google made a last minute change due to a component quality affecting a small number of devices. Once the device becomes available, purchase links will be available below.
What carriers does it work on?
The Pixel 9a will basically work on all three major US carriers and their MVNOs. So, you’ll be able to use it on AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon without a problem. The same goes for their MVNOs, including Visible, US Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile, Cricket, and more. You should not have issues using this phone regardless of your carrier in the US.
What colors does the Google Pixel 9a come in?
Google announced four colors for the Pixel 9a. You can get the phone in Obsidian, Porcelain, Iris, and Peony colors. Those names are quite descriptive on their own, but let’s just make sure you realize the differences. Obsidian and Porcelain are basically black and white models. The Iris color is a purple color, essentially, while the Peony color is something between pink and red, kind of. You can see all four color options below.
What new upgrades/changes does the Google Pixel 9a offer over the Google Pixel 8a?
The Google Pixel 9a does come with some upgrades over the Pixel 8a and one possible downgrade. On top of that, it does offer quite a few features in general. We’ll list some of the most notable and interesting features below, as we cannot really list all of them, of course.
New and improved processor
The Pixel 9a comes with a new and improved processor, compared to the Pixel 8a, at least. The Google Tensor G4 fuels the phone, which is the same chip that Google is using in its Pixel 9 flagship series smartphones. This chip is in now way inferior to that chip, it’s exactly the same, and is backed by the Titan M2 coprocessor.
7 years of major Android OS updates
Google has made a huge promise for the Pixel 9a support. The company has promised to support this phone for 7 years, but that’s not all. You’ll not only be getting security updates for 7 years but major OS updates too. To quote Google: “7 years of OS, security, and Pixel Drop updates.”
Different main camera, for better or worse
The Google Pixel 9a does include a different main camera. We’ll have to test it in order to see whether it’s an upgrade or a downgrade, but it doesn’t look great on paper. Google decided to switch to a 1/2-inch camera sensor from a 1/1.73-inch camera sensor here. There are some other upgrades included, but still…
Larger display
This smartphone also has a larger display compared to the Pixel 8a. Google opted for a 6.3-inch panel on the Pixel 9a, compared to a 6.1-inch one on the Pixel 8a. It is also brighter than what the company used last year, which is good to see. You’re still getting a 60-120Hz refresh rate, though.
Battery boost
The company opted to offer notably more battery capacity here. A 5,100mAh battery is included, compared to the 4,492mAh unit inside the Pixel 8a. Yes, the display is bigger, but it’s not a lot bigger. This phone should be able to offer notably better battery life than its predecessor. We’ll talk more about that in the review, though, of course.
Better water and dust resistance
Unlike the Google Pixel 8a, this smartphone comes with an IP68 certification for water and dust resistance. The Pixel 8a offers an IP67 certification, so that’s also a welcomed improvement for a piece of mind.
What official case(s) are available for the Google Pixel 9a?
Google does have an official case to offer for the Pixel 9a. If you’ve used the Pixel 9 case, or perhaps a case for the previous-gen model, this one should have a familiar feeling. It’s a soft case, a silicone case, which comes in several different colors to fit with the colors of the phone itself. So, basically, for each color of the phone, you can buy a matching case. That means you can choose between Obsidian, Porcelain, Iris, and Peony case colors. You can check them all out below.
Should I buy the Google Pixel 9a?
The Google Pixel 9a does seem like a solid upgrade over the Pixel 8a, in most ways, at least. The only part that remains quite questionable is the camera, we’ll have to test that out. Other than that, this phone definitely seems worth the asking price. It has improved water and dust resistance, no camera bump, uniform bezels, a better chip than its predecessor, and so on. On top of that, it’ll be getting Android OS updates for 7 years, which is industry-leading support.
2025-03-19 15:06:18