The Google Pixel 9a is here—still affordable, still great, and this time promising 7 years of Android updates. Competition, tremble.
Google has been successfully disrupting the market for years with its Pixel A series – phones that offer almost all the best features of more expensive models, but at a much lower price. This year is no different. Pixel 9a is officially announced and on paper it looks like the perfect candidate for those who want a pure Android experience, a great camera, and long-term support without emptying the bank account.
But can it keep its promises? Will it hold its own in an arena dominated by the Samsung A-series, the iPhone SE, and increasingly better Chinese phones? Let's take a closer look.
Design: Premium? Well, almost.
The Pixel 9a stays true to the Pixel series' design language - the distinctive "visor" on the back, straight lines, and a minimalist aesthetic. The phone has aluminum body, glass front and plastic back, meaning it's not exactly ultra-premium, but it still performs better than most other phones in this price range.
It is available in four colors: Obsidian (black), Porcelain (white), Iris (blue) and Peony (pink).
Screen: 120Hz? Finally!
Google finally listened to fans and offered 6.3-inch P-OLED display with 120Hz refresh rateThis means that browsing Instagram, playing games, and switching between apps will be incredibly smooth.
With maximum brightness 2700 nits The phone will be usable in the sun, which has been a problem with Pixel devices in the past. It still has slightly thicker bezels than some of its competitors – but hey, at least the iPhone SE doesn't have a bezel-less front, right?
Performance: Google Tensor G4 – blessing or curse?
Under the hood we find Google Tensor G4, which is good news on the one hand – the AI features will be top-notch, the phone will be optimized for Google services, but…
If history is any indication, he will probably have minor overheating and battery drain issueGoogle isn't known for making power-efficient chips yet, so it will be interesting to see how the Pixel 9a performs in long-term use.
But the good news: 7 years of Android updates! This means that the phone will continue to receive new features until 2032, which is a rarity in this segment.
Camera: Still the king of the middle class?
Google's Pixel devices are known for their cameras, and the 9a is no exception. On the back we find:
- 48 MP main camera with optical stabilization (OIS) and Google's legendary photo processing algorithms.
- 13 MP ultra-wide-angle camera for group pictures and landscapes.
Google is still working its magic with software – we can expect features like Best Take (combining multiple shots into a complete image), Ultra HDR, and Pixel Shift.
Battery and charging: Progress, but not without compromise
Battery with capacity 5100 mAh promises excellent autonomy - Google claims that the phone will last a whole day, which is a realistic prediction considering previous Pixels.
Charging? 23W wired and 7.5W wireless. The speed isn't exactly lightning fast (the competition already offers 65W+), but at least wireless charging is here - which is a rarity in this segment.
Price and competition
The Pixel 9a will cost around 550 EUR, which puts it among phones such as:
- Samsung Galaxy A56 – better screen and Exynos chip, but worse camera.
- iPhone 16e – faster processor, a 60Hz screen and a single camera.
- Nothing Phone (3a) – interesting design, but less support for updates.
Conclusion: The best budget flagship of the year?
If you want a phone with pure Android, great camera, long software support and good battery, it is Pixel 9a a reliable choice.
It's not the fastest, it's not the prettiest, it doesn't have the fastest charging - but where it counts (camera, software and updates), it simply has no competition.
If that suits you, the Pixel 9a is it probably the best choice under 600 EUR.
Google, well done! 🍾
