I’ve been testing the Pixel 9a over the past week and my fears have been realised: the change in design does this cellphone no justice.
As we beforehand highlighted, the Pixel 9a is the closest-looking mannequin to an iPhone and never in a great way. Not in a great way in any respect.
For years, followers of the Pixel household have been capable of level at Apple’s reasonably priced cellphone – the iPhone SE – and chuckle. The iPhone SE recycled a design that made consumers really feel like they have been getting previous inventory repackaged. In the meantime, Google graced the Pixel A-Sequence with a brand new design with every iteration – a refresh that displays its flagship cellphone namesake.
However the launch of the Pixel 9 fashions shook issues up. Whereas the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Professional took a step ahead, with a slick aesthetic, the Pixel 9a has dropped nearly each distinguishing function from its design.
Chris Corridor / Foundry
The place the Pixel 9 has a digital camera island – which I feel appears nice – the Pixel 9a has a featureless wasteland. The flush lens appears as generic as they arrive, missing even the slightest trace of pleasure. It’s flat, it’s boring, and it’s extra noticeably plastic than earlier than.
Sure, the Pixel 8a was additionally plastic, however having that digital camera bar added a design flourish, one thing to catch the attention; it lent an edgy sense of pleasure to an reasonably priced cellphone. The digital camera bar contrasted fantastically with the remainder of the rear design. Now, it’s only a black oval with cameras in it.
I’ve received beef with the Pixel 9a design
The Google Pixel 9a is a beefier cellphone than the Pixel 8a. It has a 6.3-inch show, so it has expanded barely from the 6.1-inch of the Pixel 8a. That makes the cellphone a little bit wider, however extra importantly, the shift in design strikes us from curved edges to a squared end.
Maintain each telephones in your fingers and the Pixel 9a undoubtedly feels chunkier. It’s simply 0.6mm wider and the identical thickness at 8.9mm, however it feels a lot bigger, since you’re now gripping that squared body, as a substitute of the delicate curves of the Pixel 8a. The Pixel 9a is definitely lighter, which is a little bit of a shock.
Put these telephones collectively and the Pixel 8a stands out because the better-looking system – and that’s a disgrace, as a result of the Pixel 9a has loads going for it…
Don’t decide the Pixel 9a by its cowl
Whereas I mourn the lack of the Pixel 8a’s appears for the generic blandness of the Pixel 9a, that’s not true of the expertise you get from this cellphone.
The Pixel 9a show isn’t simply bigger, it’s additionally brighter, so it’s nice open air and when viewing HDR pictures. The show is definitely brighter than the Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely, which is a few going.
In some ways, it poses an issue for its sibling cellphone, because it’s way more reasonably priced
Positive, the Pixel 9a nonetheless has that massive bezel across the show which cheapens the general impact, however that doesn’t detract from the efficiency this show gives.
The Pixel A-Sequence has all the time been notable for one factor: utilizing the identical core {hardware} as Google’s flagship telephones. A lot of the expertise from the Pixel 9 telephones may be discovered on this cheaper handset. In some ways, it poses an issue for its sibling cellphone, because it’s way more reasonably priced, and, in day-to-day use, a lot the identical.
Chris Corridor / Foundry
That comes all the way down to the clear Android expertise that the Pixel gives. Whereas many mid-range or extra reasonably priced units will use lower-grade {hardware}, Google doesn’t. I settle for the argument that Tensor doesn’t compete with flagship Snapdragon {hardware}, however you’re not paying flagship costs right here.
The clutter-free consumer interface, freed from bloatware, can be vastly welcomed, whereas the seven years of software program assist with common function drops means you’ve received a cellphone that can give you a fantastic expertise for a few years to come back.
Better of all, you’ll be entrance of the queue for brand new OS variations, not ready months like you’ll elsewhere.
The Pixel 9a cameras would possibly look ugly, however the pictures don’t
What the Pixel A-Sequence actually gives is the most cost effective path to entry the Pixel digital camera expertise.
For quite a lot of years, the Pixel A has been highlighted as the very best mid-range cellphone for pictures. That comes all the way down to Google’s dependable level and shoot digital camera {hardware} and software program combo. You’re not drawn into “professional” modes to tweak settings hoping you’ll get a consequence.
You line up your shot, press the button, and nearly all the time get one thing usable. Night time Sight opens the door to low-light taking pictures. Whereas many rivals can now problem this expertise, few do it as properly.
Chris Corridor / Foundry
There’s additionally nice consistency between lenses, so that you’re not going to modify from the ultrawide to the principle digital camera and discover the color tone fully totally different. A lot of this comes all the way down to Google’s lengthy dedication to computational pictures.
From my testing, it’s a little bit higher than the Pixel 8a, with that new lens giving it the sting in decrease gentle circumstances.
The Pixel 9a continues to supply that reasonably priced digital camera expertise in a cellphone that now has a bigger show, a much bigger battery and a fantastic software program expertise. However I can’t love the design: it simply appears and appears like a downgrade, and that’s an actual disgrace.
Keep tuned for our full Pixel 9a evaluate, which is coming quickly.