The Google pixel 9a is one of the latest devices in my hands now and I have been testing this out for the last week and so far impressed with what you get for your money.
Each year in the Pixel cycle the a series is a phone to watch an this time round coincides with the new iPhone 16e which is not worth the money in my book.
Moving down from the 9 Pro and XL series has never been an issue over the years and with the new 9a this remains the same you are not missing a whole lot overall with what you pay for the latest device from Google and all the AI features are there if you have gotten into the love of all things AI.
The build quality this time round also is something to note, not like the Pro or XL however still good enough to make it feel more premium than before.
After loading all my apps on the new 9a from the 9 Pro it has been fine over the last weeks testing and it was a seamless switch to transfer from old to new device as always is the Pixel phones.
Below there is some camera samples including images and videos from the Hodson Bay Hotel for those who like that aspect and we also have multiple case reviews for the new Pixel 9a so do check those out too later on here and on YouTube. Also below is a walkthrough of the device and we check out what is on board and a long term review will follow later on in the year.
On the camera front everything is here again as expected Macro focus add me best take audio magic eraser reimagine and auto frame in magic editor.
Gemini is on board of course with 2.0 Deep research and Gemini Live you have also got call assist circle to search and pixel studio and also just announced camera and screen sharing to Gemini Live
Since popping my sim in last week my Pixel 9a has had no issues I have missed nothing and has worked fine with my daily tasks which would be more than the average user would use and also the battery has been great thus far with real world testing loaded with apps again which much more than average users and for me is still an excellent productivity tool.
Need cases for your pixel 9a check out some we have tried out
Ten things to know about the Google Pixel 9a
| 1 | Magic made | simple. | Meet Pixel 9a – engineered by Google with more features than you expect, for less than you think. Like Gemini built in to help supercharge your productivity and creativity.1 An incredible camera. All-day battery.2 Durable design. And seven years of updates so it keeps feeling like new. | ||||||||||||
| 2 | Easy, amazing photography. | With a 48 MP main camera and 13 MP ultrawide camera, you can take photos so amazing, you won’t believe you actually took them. For the first time on an A-Series phone, you can capture the smallest details using Macro Focus. With Add Me, you can make sure that no one is left out of a group photo – just take one photo with the group, then swap in the photographer. Pixel magically merges them together. | Night Sight on Pixel 9a enables you to take amazing photos at night and even capture a short clip of the stars with Astrophotography, a first on an A-Series phone. With Real Tone, all skin tones are represented beautifully and accurately in photos and videos. | ||||||||||||
| 3 | Magical | editing. | With Pixel 9a’s editing tools, taking a photo is just the beginning. Google AI lets you create perfect group photos with Best Take, and fix blurry images with Photo Unblur. Magic Editor can automatically reframe your photo, suggest the best crop and even expand your image to get more of the scene. You can also use Reimagine in Magic Editor to give your photos a whole new vision – like adding a bed of flowers or greener grass.5 Just tap what part you want to change in the photo, and type what you want to see. And with Pixel Studio, make your own memes, stickers and whatever else you can dream up in seconds, from wherever you’re typing.6A surfing tiger, anime style? And make it a sticker? You got it. |
| 4 | Built to last. | Pixel 9a is Google’s most durable A-Series phone yet. With a metal frame and improved IP68 protection, it can handle water and dust.It has a new scratch-resistant Actua display. And it’s made with recycled aluminium, glass and plastic. With over 30 hours of power, the largest battery in an A-Series yet, Pixel 9a is dependable through the day.Additionally, seven years of Pixel Drops and OS and security updates makes Pixel 9a a phone you’ll love to hold on to. | |||||||||
| 5 | Gemini. Your built-in AI | assistant. | Gemini helps you supercharge your ideas. Press and hold the power button to start writing, planning, learning and more. Gemini can help you find info and take action across your Google apps on the go, like pulling party details from an invitation in Gmail and suggesting nearby florists in Maps. Chat with Gemini to get more info or take action on what’s on your screen. Or instead of typing, use Gemini Live and have a natural, free-flowing conversation. Gemini follows along, even if you change the topic or switch the question mid-sentence. | ||||||||
| 6 | Smooth lines, durable | design. | Pixel 9a has been crafted with a new streamlined camera design that looks flat-out fresh, a unique design that’s a first for the A-Series while still iconically Pixel. Inspired by nature and water droplets, the Camera Bar is slightly domed, simple and beautiful. The phone is made with recycled materials and a recycled aluminium frame to help reduce carbon impact. Even the back cover is 81% recycled plastic – plus, the packaging is 100% plastic free. And Pixel 9a comes in four colours: Iris, Peony, Porcelain and Obsidian. | ||||||||
| 7 | That | new-phone | feeling every few months. | With Pixel Drops, your phone keeps getting better over time, automatically for seven years. It gets brand-new features, so you don’t have to keep getting a new phone. These may include features for camera, battery, calling, AI and more. |
| 8 | Protects you and your | information. | Pixel 9a is designed for your peace of mind. It helps protect you from spam, scams and other threats, and also looks out for your safety. Pixel is built with safety features that help you prepare and react in an emergency. It can quickly call emergency services and share accurate location info so they know where to send help. You even have protection if your phone is in the wrong hands. If suspicious activity is detected, Pixel automatically locks to give you peace of mind that your sensitive information will stay private. | |||||||||||||||
| 9 | Built to | protect. | Beautifully. | Made specifically for Pixel 9a, the ultra-smooth Pixel 9a Case sits perfectly along the streamlined camera design. Match it precisely to the hue of your phone, or mix things up. The case is designed together with the phone for | seamless charging, clear audio and uninterrupted calls. And it’s made with at least 40% recycled plastic. | |||||||||||||
| 10 | Get more with Pixel 9a. | It’s easy to switch to Pixel, and it comes with the best of Google. Pixel 9a includes three months of Google One,20three months of YouTube Premium21 and six months of Fitbit Premium22to help you get the most out of your new phone. Google One keeps your photos and files safe with 100 GB of storage and automatic phone backup. With YouTube Premium, you can enjoy YouTube videos and music without ads, and offline. And give your motivation a healthy boost with six months of Fitbit Premium wellness content, including workouts, mindfulness sessions, healthy recipes and more. |