I Love The Google Pixel 9a Much More Than I Expected

I’ve been a fan of the Pixel A-series smartphones since the beginning. I loved the concept behind the phones, and I thought the marketing was spot on. The original Pixel 3a phones were a fantastic way to bring the popular Pixel camera down to a more affordable price point. The Pixel 3a nighttime photography was better than anything else on the market under $ $500, and I still remember how impressed I was by low-light images taken on my Pixel 3a XL.

The Pixel 6a took things further, pairing its excellent Pixel camera with better performance. The Tensor chipsets might not rival the raw power of their Snapdragon equivalents, but it was still fantastic value to get a Tensor powering the Pixel 6a for its $449 price tag. I have written often about how much I enjoy the Pixel 8a, labeling it the best midrange phone of 2024. As much as I liked it, I love the Pixel 9a more. Google refined its A-series phone, giving us the company’s best midranger to date. I love the Pixel 9a more than I thought I would: Here’s why.

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The design isn’t as generic as it seems

The Pixel 9a maintains the same feel

When I first saw pictures of the Pixel 9a, I liked the design. I thought Google had the right idea with its flat frame and flat back, doing away with the unnecessary camera visor. If a phone doesn’t need a camera hump for a larger sensor or periscope zoom, it shouldn’t have one. It’s like walking around with glasses without prescription lenses just because you enjoy the aesthetic.

I second-guessed myself when I heard others complain about the lack of a camera visor, claiming the phone had lost its charming Pixel appeal. From the Pixel 6 on, it was easy to identify one of Google’s smartphones from across the room. However, I stuck with my first impression when I thought about it. Google’s design language for Pixels has never been about one specific feature. The original Pixel and Pixel 2 were somewhat different from the Pixel 3, significantly changing from what we got in the Pixel 6. Even the Pixel 9 series is materially different from the Pixel 6 design.

Overheating hasn’t been an issue on my Pixel 9a, either.

Google’s design language is a vibe, not a camera visor. The company’s designs are goofy and quirky, making a Pixel feel like a Pixel. I can promise you that this phone has that quirkiness after using the Pixel 9a for a week. The camera visor might be missing, but the phone’s curves and the positioning and shape of the camera lenses scream Google.

The performance is exactly what I expected

Even the modem is running well

I’ve used a Tensor G4 chipset in my Pixel 9 Pro XL for over six months, so I know what to expect. I’m pleased the performance is relatively similar, as I’ve had no slowdowns or lags. Gaming on Tensor chipsets is still an issue, and I look forward to better performance when the Pixel 10 is released, but I’m less concerned about high-end gaming when a phone only costs me $500.

Overheating hasn’t been an issue on my Pixel 9a, either. Some Pixel haters will still complain of phantom overheating, but when you use 40 phones a year, you get a sense of what is an acceptable level of warming. The Pixel 9a has no overheating issues, and it’s kept cool throughout my daily usage. I’m also pleased with the modem’s performance, which was a concern given that the Pixel 9a uses the older Exynos 5300 modem. I didn’t have a problem with my Pixel 8a, so whatever issues Google had with the Exynos 5300 in the Pixel 7a seem to be resolved.

First time the Pixel A-series has a superior battery

All day and then some

I chuckled when Google changed its marketing language regarding battery life on the Pixel 9a. The company typically quotes 24-hour battery life in its products, but the Pixel 9a was distinguished as having a 30-hour battery life. I didn’t think much of it, but I’m comfortable saying Google may have sold itself short.

The battery life on my Pixel 9a this week has been outstanding. I typically end my day with 60-70% battery remaining, enough for the next day. I’m not a hardcore gamer or editing videos all day, but for the people who buy a Pixel 9a, the battery will never disappoint. I’d like to see faster charging, as even Samsung has improved its pathetic charging speeds on midrange phones, but I can’t complain about the rest of the Pixel 9a’s battery. The larger 5,100 mAh cell, combined with the improved efficiencies of the Tensor G4, is working its magic. I’ve been impressed with the battery life on Pixel phones over the last two years, which is something I’d doubt I’d ever been able to say just a short while ago.

Worth the price of admission

I often encourage people to wait for the first sale on the Google Pixel A-series phones. I’ve never loved them at $500, but they become value monsters for $400 or less. This is the first year I’d feel comfortable spending the full $500 on a Pixel 9a on launch. I still enjoy a good deal, and I’m sure the discounts on the Pixel 9a are coming, but the phone is worth the money. You’ll even get the new Gemini Live features when released. If you’re in the market for a midrange phone or love Pixels and are on a budget, the Pixel 9a will impress you more than you think — it did me.

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.