Google’s newest funds telephone, the $499 Pixel 9A, has arrived early this yr, recent off the heels of Apple’s “affordable” providing, the $599 iPhone 16E. Very handy timing. The Pixel 9A will arrive in shops on April 10, beginning within the US and UK. The Pixel 9A is $300 cheaper than the baseline Pixel 9 and, due to this fact, scales again a bit in the case of options like cameras and RAM. However, it maintains different attributes like show measurement, processor and AI options — and even touts a better battery capability than its pricier Pixel counterparts. So is the Pixel 9A a superb match for you? Here’s all the pieces to contemplate. Camera and AI issues The Pixel 9A has a large and ultrawide digital camera. James Martin/CNETBeing capable of take good pictures is normally a high precedence when shopping for a brand new telephone since, for most individuals, their telephone is their solely digital camera. The Pixel 9A has two cameras on the again: a 48-megapixel large and 13-megapixel ultrawide, together with a 13-megapixel front-facing digital camera. That locations the 9A’s rear digital camera specs under these on the Pixel 9 and 9 Pro, however megapixels aren’t the one consider getting high quality photographs. (You can try the spec chart under to see how the cameras evaluate on these telephones.)The Pixel 9A’s digital camera helps Macro Focus, which means you may get nearer to your topic — like if you happen to’re snapping a close-up of your scrumptious meal — and have it’s in crisp focus. With the 9A, Google makes use of the principle digital camera to allow Macro Focus as an alternative of the ultrawide digital camera, as with many different telephones. Watch this: First Look: Google’s Pixel 9A Gets a Large Battery and New Design
04:17 What’s maybe most notable concerning the Pixel 9A is the suite of AI enhancing instruments you may nonetheless have entry to, even with that lower cost. Features like Magic Editor might help clear up your photographs and alter backgrounds, Best Take creates a picture the place everybody in a gaggle photograph appears their finest, and Add Me employs AI and augmented actuality to include the photographer within the last picture.For people who find themselves curious concerning the myriad AI options corporations are bombarding us with, the Pixel 9A could be a good gadget for dipping your toes in these waters, hopefully with out feeling inundated — and with out shelling out an excessive amount of money to see what all the thrill is about. I discover photograph enhancing instruments among the many finest makes use of of AI as a result of they eradicate the necessity for expensive software program and allow you to contact up pictures straight in your gadget, with no particular expertise wanted.
The Pixel 9A’s Design: Google Takes Minimalism to the Extreme
See all pictures But if you happen to would moderately enterprise deeper into AI territory, the 9A’s nonetheless acquired you lined. You’ll have entry to Gemini to assist with duties like writing, brainstorming and finishing up actions throughout apps. You’ll additionally get Circle to Search so you may study extra about no matter’s in your display screen — a characteristic upon which I’ve turn into closely reliant. Those options are nice as a result of they really feel like a pure technique to ease into AI since they’re so deeply built-in into your gadget and seamless to make use of. With AI being a staple of virtually each new telephone, tapping into these capabilities with out breaking the financial institution could be an attractive possibility for somebody who nonetheless is not positive what the large deal is — after which see if the Pixel 9A modifications their thoughts.For those that maintain onto their telephones The Pixel 9A has the same 6.3-inch show because the Pixel 9 — although the Pixel 9’s display screen has a better max brightness. James Martin/CNETWhile carriers could anticipate you to improve your telephone each two years, producers like Google and Samsung have prolonged the window for software program and safety upgrades on their telephones to seven years. That applies to lower-priced telephones just like the Pixel 9A as nicely, giving budget-conscious shoppers much more motive to really feel like they’ve scored a deal.Not shopping for a flagship gadget also can imply feeling much less inclined to the pressures of upgrades. It’s usually extra premium telephones — normally with minor tweaks — which can be aggressively pushed onto these eager to buy the newest tech. If merely having a telephone with key options is all that issues, then the Pixel 9A could be a good technique to dodge all that noise. This also can make the Pixel 9A a superb possibility for youths, who most likely do not want the flashiest units. Features like Family Link enable mother and father to handle privateness settings, display screen deadlines and site sharing, and so they also can silence notifications and disable apps throughout faculty hours. The Pixel 9A has flat sides. James Martin/CNETThe Pixel 9A packs the identical Google Tensor G4 processor because the flagship Pixel 9 and 9 Pro however has 8GB of RAM as an alternative of the 12GB and 16GB you may get on these premium telephones. That ought to nonetheless be greater than sufficient for on a regular basis use, like scrolling via social media, snapping pictures and shopping the online. If you are a heavy cellular gamer, 8GB of RAM may not be supreme, but it surely will not be a difficulty for most individuals. The Pixel 9A’s 6.3-inch OLED show matches up with what you may get on the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro, so you do not have to cut back your viewing expertise — particularly with a 60Hz to 120Hz variable refresh fee that ought to make scrolling seamless. And with a 5,100-mAh battery, the Pixel 9A ought to be capable to final you all through the day. Like the iPhone 16E, the Pixel 9A really touts a better battery capability than its pricier friends, which every have a 4,700-mAh battery. That also can assist you to really feel such as you’re getting essentially the most bang to your buck. The Pixel 9A is available in 4 colours: obsidian, porcelain, peony and iris. James Martin/CNETWhat you will not get with this telephone is the Pixel 9’s Satellite SOS characteristic, which makes use of satellites to contact emergency companies whenever you’re out of vary of a cell sign or Wi-Fi. But if you happen to do not usually end up in locations with out cell service, like on a distant mountaineering path, you then hopefully should not really feel its absence. With all that in thoughts, you probably have final yr’s Pixel 8A, there’s most likely not sufficient motive to improve to the 9A, as they share most of the identical options, specs and AI capabilities. But if you happen to’ve acquired a Pixel 7A and need to faucet into some newer AI options, the 9A is perhaps attractive. Similarly, you probably have a Pixel 6A or older, you may see a noticeable enchancment within the 9A’s digital camera, battery life and total efficiency. And if you happen to’d moderately cling tight to your telephone and preserve stretching your greenback, extra energy to you.Google Pixel 9A vs. Pixel 8A vs. Pixel 9 vs. Pixel 9 Pro Google Pixel 9AGoogle Pixel 8AGoogle Pixel 9Google Pixel 9 ProShow measurement, tech, decision, refresh fee 6.3-inch OLED; 2,424×1,080 pixels; 60-120 Hz variable refresh rate6.1-inch OLED; 2,400×1,080 pixels, 60-120Hz variable refresh rate6.3-inch OLED; 2,424×1,080 pixels; 60-120 Hz variable refresh rate6.3-inch LTPO OLED; 2,856×1,280 pixels; 1-120Hz variable refresh feePixel density 422 ppi430 ppi422 ppi495 ppiDimensions (inches) 6.1 x 2.9 x 0.4 in6 x 2.9 x 0.4 in6 x 2.8 x 0.3 in6 x 2.8 x 0.3 inDimensions (millimeters) 154.7 x 73.3 x 8.9 mm152 x 74 x 10.2 mm152.8 x 72 x 8.5 mm152.8 x 72 x 8.5 mmWeight (grams, ounces) 186g (6.6 oz)193 g (6.7 oz)198g (7 oz)199g (7 oz)Mobile software program Android 15Android 14Android 14Android 14Camera 48-megapixel (large), 13-megapixel (ultrawide)64-megapixel (essential), 13-megapixel (ultrawide)50-megapixel (large), 48-megapixel (ultrawide)50-megapixel (large), 48-megapixel (ultrawide), 48-megapixel (5x telephoto)Front-facing digital camera 13-megapixel13-megapixel10.5-megapixel42-megapixelVideo seize 4K4K4K4KProcessor Google Tensor G4Google Tensor G3Google Tensor G4Google Tensor G4RAM + storage 8GB + 128GB, 256GB8GB + 128GB, 256GB12GB RAM + 128GB, 256GB16GB + 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TBExpandable storage NoneNoneNoneNoneBattery 5,100 mAh4,492 mAh4,700 mAh4,700 mAhFingerprint sensor Under showUnder showUnder showUnder displayConnector USB-CUSB-CUSB-CUSB-CHeadphone jack NoneNoneNoneNoneSpecial options 7 years of OS, safety and Pixel characteristic drops; Gorilla Glass 3 cowl glass; IP68 mud and water resistance; 2,700-nit peak brightness; 1,000,000:1 distinction ratio; 23W quick charging (charger not included); 7.5W wi-fi charging Qi licensed; 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 SearchIP67 ranking mud and water resistance; 18W quick charging; 7.5W wi-fi charging; 5G (5G sub6 / mmWave); VPN by Google One; Circle to Search; 7 years Android OS updates; 7 years safety updates; Best Take; Audio Magic Eraser; Wi-Fi 6E; NFC; Bluetooth 5.3; dual-SIM (nano SIM + eSIM)Satellite SOS; 7 years of OS, safety and Pixel characteristic drops; Gorilla Glass Victus 2 cowl glass; IP68 mud and water resistance; 2,700-nit peak brightness; 45W quick charging (charger not included); 15W wi-fi charging with Google Pixel Stand (second gen); 12W wi-fi 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 EditorSatellite SOS; 7 years of OS, safety and Pixel characteristic drops; IP68 mud and water resistance; Video Boost with 8K Upscaling; Macro Focus on ultrawide; Gorilla Glass Victus 2 cowl glass; 3,000-nit peak brightness; 45W quick charging (charger not included); 15W wi-fi charging with Google Pixel Stand (second gen); 12W wi-fi 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 EditorUS worth begins at $499 (128GB)$499 (128GB)$799 (128GB)$999 (128GB)UK worth begins at Converts to £385 (128GB)£499 (128GB)Converts to £640 (128GB)Converts to £780 (128GB)Australia worth begins at Converts to AU$780 (128GB)AU$849 (128GB)Converts to AU$1,210 (128GB)Converts to AU$1,510 (128GB)