6 Google Pixel 9a Features That Make It Worth The $500 Price Tag

I’ve been a fan of Pixel A-series phones since the beginning. The Pixel 3a was a fantastic way for users to get a smartphone with an impressive camera for under $400. It was a price point we weren’t used to for a capable phone, and its Night Sight function was outstanding for a midrange phone. The Pixel 6a continued the trend, adding snappy Tensor chipset performance to the already excellent camera — all for $450.

As much as I enjoyed the Pixel 8a, I love the Pixel 9a even more. Google refined the device, making it sleek and stylish while maintaining excellent performance at the same $500 price point. It’s a significant step-up, and if you’re in the market for a new phone, the Pixel 9a is worth a look. Here are the 6 best Pixel 9a features that make it worth its $500 launch price.

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6 I like the updated design

Hasn’t lost that Google feeling

I’ve heard a lot of talk about the new Pixel 9a design. The Pixel 8a was rounded and quirky, with the trademark Google camera visor along the back. Some were concerned that by doing away with the camera hump, Google had lost its signature design, that somehow the Pixel 9a would be less recognizable; I disagree.

Before the Pixel 6, Google smartphones didn’t have a camera visor, yet we could still tell they were phones designed in Mountain View. Google’s design language is less about one feature and more about a general quirky feel. There’s always something a little different about a Google Pixel design, and the Pixel 9a maintains that. I love the flat back design and lack of a camera hump, especially when it’s not needed. However, the Pixel 9a’s rounded corners and camera lenses still scream Pixel to me, even from a distance. It feels great in the hand, and I love the size. Google did a fantastic job with the Pixel 9a design, and it’s a selling point of the device.

5 An even better Actua display

Bold and bright

The Pixel 9a’s 6.3-inch Actua display is gorgeous. It’s brighter than last year’s screen while maintaining the same excellent color saturation and contrast. I love how Google has improved its display quality in the past few years. I never enjoyed Pixel panels compared to the competition, which was a significant weakness for the company. I’m pleased the company turned around its display fortunes with the Super Actua and Actua panels.

I thought I would mind the new display size more than I do. I enjoyed the compact form factor of the Pixel 8a and thought the larger display might ruin that feel, but it hasn’t. The Pixel 9a still feels like a compact phone, and if you’re tired of the massive smartphones we’re typically saddled with in 2025, the Pixel 9a will be a refreshing change of pace.

4 Snappy performance and an excellent battery

Improvements all around

The Tensor G4 chipset powering my Pixel 9a gives me all the performance I expected after using it in the Pixel 9 Pro XL. The Pixel 9a is snappy and responsive, handling daily tasks and multitasking effortlessly. Gaming is still a challenge with a Tensor G4, but those concerns aren’t as pressing when it’s powering a device that costs $500. I love that Google puts the Tensor in its A-series phones, as it helps make them viable longer. Thanks to the extra horsepower under the hood, my Pixel 9a will be useful for years.

I have not experienced any overheating with my Pixel 9a, and connectivity has been solid from the device’s Exynos 5300 modem. I didn’t have issues with my Pixel 8a, so I wasn’t expecting problems.

Battery life is also fantastic on my Pixel 9a, as the phone’s increased 5,100mAh cell gives me two days of use on a single charge. My Pixel 8a was no slouch, but the Pixel 9a is a noticeable notch above, with improved battery performance. I also noticed no overnight battery drain, so you won’t wake up to a phone running on empty if you forget to plug it in overnight. Charging speeds are still anemic, but the overall battery performance is outstanding.

3 Still the same software support

Hard to argue with 7 years

Performance that will last years doesn’t matter if there isn’t software support to match. Google started the trend of longer software support a few years ago, and I’ve enjoyed seeing other companies extending support and using it as an advertising highlight. Longer support matters, and people who keep their device for multiple years can be assured their phones are safe for banking and financial transactions for 7 years. I understand there are ways for enthusiasts to extend support, but most users aren’t going to do that, and I like seeing casual buyers protected.

Google’s software is still excellent. I appreciate the timely updates, and while Google Gemini hasn’t presented a compelling reason for AI yet, I like the usual Pixel extras, like Now Playing, you get when you buy a Google phone. Material You is unoffensive, and Android 15 on the Pixel 9a runs well. Seven years of software support is excellent, and I love that Google brought it down to midrange phones.

2 It’s still a Pixel camera

Price point advantage

The focus of the original Pixel 3a is alive and well with the Pixel 9a, as it brings a capable smartphone camera to a midrange price. The Pixel 9a’s 48MP primary sensor is the same as the one in the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, an upgrade from the Pixel 8a. Along with Google’s computational photography, it produces crisp, clear images with good color reproduction, something I feel has been missing from Google cameras in recent years. The colors don’t appear as washed out as with my Pixel 9 Pro XL. The selfie camera isn’t spectacular, especially in indoor lighting, but the rear camera lenses do the job.

Night Sight is excellent on the Pixel 9a, and Google produces the best low-light images on smartphones under $500. Even though other manufacturers caught up with Google’s cameras at the flagship level, I still believe Google is unmatched in the midrange. If you’re a shutterbug on a budget, the Pixel 9a is your choice.

1 I don’t need to wait for a sale

This year is different

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I didn’t love it when Google upped the price of its A-series phones to $500. It was a bit much, especially considering the other, more powerful midrange options available for just a bit more money. You also contend with flagships from last year on sale, and it becomes a more complicated conversation than it needs to be. However, with the Pixel 9a, I’m getting enough smartphone to justify its $500 price tag.

You might not agree or need what the Pixel provides, but the overall package is more impressive than usual, and while I always recommend picking one up on sale for $400 or less, I won’t discourage anyone who feels the need to score a Pixel 9a at launch.

Google keeps improving

It seemed impossible to say 24 months ago, but Google has been on a roll. I love what the company’s done to clean up its smartphones, turning around my general perception of Pixels while improving performance and the user experience. I still don’t understand the role Gemini Live or the rest of Google’s AI suite will play in my daily life, but the hardware and software are in the best place they’ve been in years, and the Pixel 9a is another excellent example.

Google Pixel 9a

Google’s Pixel 9a takes everything that was great about the Pixel 8a and looks to modernize it. With an all-new Pixel 9-inspired look and no camera bump, this might be the best $500 smartphone we’ve seen yet.