Google just released the Pixel 9a. And if you're looking for a phone that packs in plenty of features for a low price, you're going to want to take notice of this new midrange model.
As with its predecessors, the marquee features for the Pixel 9a include its AI capabilities and its cameras. But Google has also introduced a new design for the Pixel 9a (no more camera bar!) and included a much larger battery.
More important, Google made all these changes without a price hike. The Pixel 9a starts at the same $499 / AU$849 as the Pixel 8a did when it arrived last year.
Google Pixel 9a cheat sheet
- Google Pixel 9a hands-on: This cheap phone just surpassed the iPhone 16e
- Google Pixel 9a launches — price, specs and all the new features
- Google Pixel 9a deals — here’s how to get Google's phone for free
Google Pixel 9a key features
At a glance, here's what you need to know about the Pixel 9a.
- Starting price: $499/£499/AU$849
- Screen size: 6.3-inch pOLED (2424x1080, 60-120Hz refresh rate)
- Chipset: Tensor G4
- Memory/Storage: 8GB/128GB, 256GB
- Rear cameras: 48MP main, 13MP ultrawide
- Front camera: 13MP
- Battery size: 5,100 mAh
- Software: Android 15
- Support: 7 years of software and security updates
Pixel 9a first look
There's no formal launch event for the Pixel 9a like January's Galaxy Unpacked or one of Google's own Made by Google hardware events. But my colleague John Velasco did get a chance to see the new phone in person, even spending enough Pixel 9a hands-on time to share some initial impressions.
John's take? Google has made a lot of key improvements to the Pixel 9a while also keeping the price unchanged from the last couple models. That's particularly key in light of the higher cost iPhone 16e (John also reviewed that iPhone), putting Google in an excellent position to continue to dominate the best cheap phone rankings.
We'll have a full Pixel 9a review once we get our hands on a review unit, but John's first impressions should tide you over for now.
Google Pixel 9a pricing
Let's take a closer look at the Google Pixel 9a price, which starts at $499 for a 128GB version. You can upgrade the storage to 256GB for an extra $100, bringing the cost of the phone to $599.
For comparison's sake, that's what Apple charges for the entry-level iPhone 16e. But the iPhone's base model only has 128GB of storage, plus the lone rear camera to the dual-lens setup on the Pixel 9a.
As in the U.S., pricing on the Pixel 9a remains unchanged in the U.K. and Australia. You'll pay £499 and AU$849, respectively, for the 128GB phone.
While the Pixel 9a notably beats the iPhone 16e on price, Google is facing pricing pressure from other Android phone makers with their midrange offerings. The recently revealed Samsung Galaxy A56 won't show up in the U.S. until later this year, but when it does, it will match the Pixel 9a's price. The Galaxy A36 and Galaxy A26 are even cheaper at $399 and $299, respectively.
Meanwhile, both the Nothing Phone 3a and Nothing Phone 3a Pro start at $379 and $459, respectively. Both those phones offer dedicated telephoto lenses — it's a periscope-style lens on the Pro — and they still cost less than the Pixel 9a. So you can imagine Google has its work cut out for it, convincing bargain hunters the Pixel 9a is the better buy.
Google Pixel 9a specs compared
Any time there’s a new phone out, everyone’s first instinct is to see how it changed from the previous model. Well, wonder no more with the Pixel 9a. Here’s a side-by-side look at its specs compared to those of the Pixel 8a it replaces.
Pixel 9a: The video
You've read the Pixel 9a hands-on, now watch the video as John Velasco shows off Google's latest phone.
A closer look at cameras
On paper, the main camera of the Pixel 9a would seem to be a downgrade from its predecessor, at least if you focus on megapixels. The new phone uses a 48MP sensor compared to the 64MP main camera on the Pixel 8a.
But the Pixel 9a also has a wider aperture for its main camera, so it can let in more light. That should mean sharper, more detailed pictures than what the Pixel 8a can capture, particularly when the lights are low.
There are other camera improvements that go beyond the main sensor. The Pixel 9a now has a Macro Focus mode, making it the first Pixel A series phone that can take macro images. And if you like capturing photos of the night sky, the Pixel 9a adds support for astrophotography.
Pixel 9a availability
Previous Pixel models have been available for pre-order, but that's not the approach Google is taking with the Pixel 9a. Instead, the phone will go on sale in April.
When it does go on sale, the Pixel 9a will be available both through Google's store and participating carriers. Among the Pixel 9a deals trickling out, T-Mobile has said that you'll be able to get a Pixel 9a for free when adding a line or trading in a device on most of the carrier's data plans.
Color close-up
If you're trying to figure out which Pixel 9a color best suits your style, maybe this TikTok video can help.
@tomsguide ♬ Ghibli-style nostalgic waltz - MaSssuguMusic
Specs check
The Tom's Guide TikTok account features spec overviews of new phones — you can find our specs check on the Pixel 9a below. If you want the straight info on the latest gadgets as soon as they drop, you really should subscribe.
@tomsguide ♬ Vlog Video work Fashionable BGM(847726) - Tsuyoshi_san
Bigger battery
If you ask me, one of the more significant changes to the Pixel 9a is its bigger battery. The new phone features a 5,100 mAh power pack, the largest battery ever in a Pixel A series phone by far. It’s certainly more expansive than the Pixel 8a’s 4,492 mAh cell.
That should have an impact on Pixel battery life, where Google has lagged other phone makers in recent years. The Pixel 8a lasted nearly 11.5 hours on our battery test in which fully charged phones surf the web over cellular until they give up the ghost. That’s better than most devices we test by a little more than hour, but it’s well off the pace of other budget phones like the Moto G Power (2025) and OnePlus 13R.
With a bigger battery and more efficient Tensor G4 chipset, the Pixel 9a should improve upon the Pixel 8a’s result. But we’ll need to test the phone to confirm.
Keep an eye out for Pixel 9a deals
You can't pre-order the Pixel 9a; instead you'll have to wait until April for the phone to go on sale. But that's not stopping retailers and wireless carriers from talking up their Pixel 9a deals now.
We've got a round-up of the latest Pixel 9a offers so you can find out how much you can save once the phone does go on sale.
Farewell to the camera bar
One of the more talked-about changes to the Pixel 9a figures to be the removal of the camera bar that has stretched across the back of Google's phones since the Pixel 6. Instead, with the Pixel 9a, you get a pill-shaped array that sits pretty flush against the back of the phone.
On the one hand, I'm sad to see the camera bar go. I thought it made Pixel phones stand out from other devices. I also appreciated how the bar stretching across the length of the phone made it so that Pixels didn't wobble when you laid them on their back. Other phones with camera arrays that jut out can't say the same.
However, the fact that the new camera setup doesn't jut out from the Pixel 9a intrigues me. I'd like to see how it looks in person — and more importantly, whether there's any wobble.
Best Buy's Pixel 9a deal
As we continue to highlight Pixel 9a deals ahead of the phone's launch in April, Best Buy has weighed in with its offer. And it can put a little cash in your pocket in the form of a gift card.
Specifically, Best Buy will give you a $100 gift card when your buy a Pixel 9a from the retailer. There's not trade-in or activation required — just buy an unlocked phone, and the gift card's yours.
The catch is that the deal isn't live yet, but you can sign up at Best Buy to be notified once you can purchase your Pixel 9a there.
Where are the pre-orders?
If you're wondering why Google's not offering any pre-orders for the Pixel 9a, so were our friends at Android Central. They asked Google for some clarification and got a response that sheds some light on the Pixel 9a's April release.
Turns out, it's a quality control issue, where Google is playing it safe with this release. Specifically:
"We're checking on a component quality issue that's affecting a small number of Pixel 9a devices."
A few recent Google hardware launches have been marred by reports of flaws here and there, so you can understand Google's caution here. Hopefully, the company is able to complete its check and announce a firm release date soon.
Add Me gets added
I'll be honest. I wasn't that impressed with Add Me when I tested it out for my Pixel 9 Pro review last year. When it works, it works great as you can see from the before and after photos that John Velasco created with his Pixel 9 Pro XL. In my experience, though, the end result is usually only as good as the person you hand off the camera, too.
At any rate, Add Me joins the AI tools available on the Pixel 9a. If you're not familiar with it, this is a photo-editing feature for group shots that lets you insert yourself into the photo when you're stuck capturing everybody else having fun. The feature uses AR to tell you where to stand, and AI to stitch the images together into a seamless final photo.
Pixel 9a vs. Pixel 9: How they compare
It's the age-old dilemma — get the cheaper phone and sacrifice flagship features or pay more for the higher-end device? Would-be Pixel 9a shoppers will have to confront that question when the new phone goes on sale, and they have to figure out whether it's a better buy than the $799 Pixel 9.
After all, the phones feature the same AI capabilities, which is a major reason why you get a Pixel in the first place. So what do you sacrifice by opting for the $499 Pixel 9a over Google's pricier flagship? Our Pixel 9a vs. Pixel 9 comparison digs into the answer to that question.
Pixel 9a vs. iPhone 16e
Whenever Google releases a new Pixel A series model, comparisons with the cheapest iPhone invariably follow. That’s especially true these days since the iPhone 16e was announced at the end of last month.
We’ve updated our iPhone 16e vs. Pixel 9a comparison now that we know for certain what kind of features Google added to this year’s model. With Google clearly winning on price — you can get a 256GB Pixel 9a for the same price as the 128GB iPhone 16e — this battle is likely to come down to AI features and camera performance.
You’d think the iPhone is at a disadvantage in both cases. On the AI front, Google’s features are far more polished than Apple Intelligence at this point. But the camera battle may not be as open and shut as you think, even though the iPhone 16e has only one rear camera.
Recently, John Velasco did a 200-photo face-off between the iPhone 16e and Pixel 8a, and the iPhone came out on top. Clearly, Google’s camera improvements on the 9a have their work cut out for them.
Get alerts from Google
We know that the Google Store is going to offer the Pixel 9a. What we don't know is when. (We also don't know what kind of deals Google might offer on its new phone, either.)
But you can at least be among the first to find out when the Google 9a is going to go on sale. At the Google Store, you can request that Google notify you of any change in availability. The notification button's on the page where Google outlines all the features in its latest phone.
No Pixel Screenshots after all
Turns out I was mistaken earlier when I talked about Pixel Screenshot being one of the great Google AI features available on the Pixel 9. It's certainly a great Google AI feature, but it turns out that Screenshots is one of the few Pixel 9 capabilities you won't find on the 9a.
It's not exactly clear why Pixel Screenshots didn't make the grade, but I'd chalk that up to one of those trade-offs you have to make to get a $499 phone instead of a $799 phone. It's a shame that Screenshots is MIA, because as i said when I erroneously thought the Pixel 9a would offer this feature, Screenshots is great if you do a lot of screen grabs and need to keep track of them.
We'll dig into any other features that are missing on the Pixel 9a as we get our hands on the phone.
Other missing AI features
It's not been a good day for my favorite Google AI features introduced last fall on the Pixel 9 — Pixel Screenshots and Call Notes, to be specific. We've already found out that Pixel Screenshots won't be on the list of supported AI features on the Pixel 9a, and apparently that will include Call Notes, too.
If you recall, Call Notes takes the recordings of your phone conversations and turns them into a transcript with an auto-generated summary. It's a helpful tool for reviewing conversations with service providers, coworkers and the like for those times you need a quick recap of a conversation.
Ars Technica did some digging, and the apparent reason is the 8GB of RAM on board the Pixel 9a. That's not enough to run the same version of Gemini on phones with 12GB of memory like the Pixel 9 lineup. Instead, the Pixel 9a runs Gemini Nano 1.0 XXS, so there's no support for things Call Notes and Pixel Screenshots that require greater processing.
Note that other call management features like Call Assist and its Hold For Me, Direct My Call and Call Screen are available on the Pixel 9a.
Pixel Studio in session
One AI feature that's certainly confirmed for the Pixel 9a is Pixel Studio. This is the generative image creation tool Google introduced last fall. You use text prompts to create an image out of scratch that you can then share with other people.
When Pixel Studio debuted in the fall, you couldn't use the feature to create images of people. Google wanted to make sure it could implement that feature in ways that would limit its ability to be abused. But the March Pixel drop is supposed to add that capability, and Pixel 9a owners will be able to take advantage of the upgrade.
Last year, we took a look at Pixel Studio compared to the Image Playground feature available through Apple Intelligence. This was back when Pixel Studio couldn't create people, but the comparison will give you a flavor of how Google's image creation tool works.
Google confirms Pixel 9a pre-order delay
Earlier today, it was discovered that Google is delaying pre-orders for the Pixel 9a into April when the company said the phone will go on sale.
Tom's Guide reached out to Google and received this response from a spokesperson:
"We're checking on a component quality issue affecting a small number of Pixel 9a devices."
Google has not specified which components might be affected or a more specific timeline beyond the month of April.
Sizing up the screen
You know a lot's changed with a phone when we only get around to talking about the display size several hours after the phone launches. But there's a couple of display changes with the Pixel 9a that are worth noting.
First off, this is a bigger display than what you get with the Pixel 8a. That phone had a 6.1-inch panel, while the Pixel 9a features a 6.3-inch screen. Those who appreciate extra screen space will like the extra real estate, which Google managed to add while making the new phone only 2.5mm taller than its predecessor.
We should also see a brighter display, as the Pixel 9a is rated for a maximum brightness of 2,700 nits. The Pixel 8a topped out at 2,000 nits, for context. Phones usually don't reach their maximum in our testing with a light meter — you need very special conditions to hit the maximum — but we would expect to get a higher reading than we did with the Pixel 8a's 1,378-nit tally.
What about the Pixel 8a?
We're focusing a lot on the Pixel 9a, understandably. But what about the Pixel 8a, the device Google's new phone seemingly replaces?
I say "seemingly" because older Pixel models have a habit of sticking around Google's store. For example, after the Pixel 8a's arrival last year, the Pixel 7a remained available from Google, though at the same $499 price — which, frankly, I found a little weird.
The Pixel 7a appears to be gone from the Google Store as I write this, but the Pixel 8a is still there — which it obviously should be given that the Pixel 9a doesn't go on sale until next month. But when the Pixel 9a does become available, will the Pixel 8a still be there? And if so, will it be at the same $499 price or will Google do what it did with the Pixel 6a at the time of the Pixel 7a's launch and drop the cost by $100?
As a cheapskate, I know which scenario I'd prefer.
Water resistance
One of the things Google touted in its Pixel 9a announcement is the improved durability of the phone. Specifically, the Pixel 9a now offers an IP68 water resistance rating. The Pixel 8a featured an IP67 rating.
In practical terms, that meant the Pixel 8a could be submerged in up to a meter of water for 30 minutes and have a good chance of emerging unscathed. (Remember: water-resistant does not mean waterproof.) The higher water resistance rating takes that to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes with the Pixel 9a.
Not a big difference in terms of depth, but it's a change that will bolster your peace of mind with the new phone.
The strongest software support
A lot of the talk about the value surrounding the Pixel 9a is not just about its $499 starting price (though that's a big factor). There's also the matter of how long Google supports the device.
Specifically, Google provides seven years of software and security updates for the Pixel A — an unusually generous amount of support for phones in this price range. Just check out the table below for a look at that compares to comparably priced phones.
The difference two years make
Google's latest budget phone compared to the same model from 2023 makes for an interesting face-off. And you can read all about it in our Pixel 9a vs. Pixel 7a comparison.
While the underlying philosophy of the Pixel 7a hasn't changed that much from its launch to today, there have been a number of specs that have been upgraded from the 7a to the Pixel 9a. Plus 2023 was before the current craze for AI features, so the Pixel 7a's a little lacking in smarts compared to the newer model.
9a is greater than 16e? Sounds like a math problem
The iPhone 16e is perhaps the biggest rival for the Google Pixel 9a to face off against. And fortunately for Google, there are seven ways the Pixel 9a immediately beats the new cheaper iPhone.
I won't spoil all the ways we prefer the new Pixel over the iPhone, but two you can see just from the image above are a) the Pixel 9a has two rear cameras to the iPhone's one, and b) Google offers some much more interesting color options for the Pixel 9a, with Apple only selling the iPhone 16e in black or white.
AI differences explained
Most but not all the AI capabilities found on the Pixel 9 are available on the Pixel 9a. If you're wondering why, the short answer is that cheaper phones make trade-offs to achieve that lower price. In the Pixel 9a's case, one of those-trade-offs is less RAM.
Because of the 8GB of RAM on the Pixel 9a, the phone has to run a scaled-back version of Gemini Nano compared to the Pixel 9 flagships. And that means simply not enough neural processing power for certain features — Pixel Screenshot and Call Notes seem to be the two Pixel 9 features not available on the 9a.
We've got a deeper look at the Pixel 9a's AI limitations if you want more info on why some features aren't available on this phone.
The latest on Android
The Pixel 9a ships with Android 15 installed, but Google is already hard at work on the next version of Android. And since we're talking about a Google phone, you can bet that the Pixel 9a will be able to upgrade to Android 16 as soon as it becomes available this year. (And remember, that's just the first of seven years of promised updates for this particular phone.)
If you haven't been following the Android 16 beta process, not to worry — Google released Android 16 beta 3 a week ago, and you can read all about the top features coming to your Pixel soon.
Pixel price drops
While we wait for more Pixel 9a deals to pop up — they'll likely appear once Google formalizes a ship date for the new phone — it's worth noting that other Pixel 9 models are going on sale.
There's currently a very appealing offer at Best Buy for the Pixel 9 Pro. That phone normally costs $999, but Best Buy has dropped the Pixel 9 Pro Price by $250. Activate the phone with a carrier, and you can save another $100.
I reviewed the Pixel 9 Pro last fall and found it to be an excellent phone with some very polished AI features and the kind of quality camera performance you'd expect from a Google phone.
Even at $749, the Pixel 9 Pro costs $250 more than the Pixel 9a. But the Pro model has a telephoto lens, and it will support features like Pixel Screenshot and Call Notes, if those sorts of things are important to you.
Looking ahead to the Pixel 10
It may seem too early to think about the Pixel 10 — we're still getting used to the Pixel 9a, for crying out loud — but it's relevant if you're mulling a Pixel purchase. Maybe noting will dissuade you from the Pixel 9a and its low cost, but it's still helpful to have some idea what the Pixel flagships coming later this year might offer.
Leaked CAD renders of the Pixel 10 lineup suggest a different look from the Pixel 9a that's more reminiscent of the Pixel 9 flagships. Specifically, the renders show a rather prominent horizontal camera bar like the one the 9a just ditched.
There's some dispute over the status of the Tensor G5 expected to debut inside the Pixel 10 models. One report has TSMC taking over production of the chipset and building it on a 3-nanometer process — a move that would boost performance and power efficiency over the G4 inside the Pixel 9a. Another leaker dismisses that claiming, contending instead that the Tensor G5 will be similar to the G4 even if it is assembled by TSMC.
We don't have details about the cameras or the AI features expected for the Pixel 10, but perhaps the rumored design differences might influence your decision on whether to buy the Pixel 9a.
More Pixel 9 deals
The Pixel 9a better hurry up and get here because the deals on Pixel 9 models are heating up — including one that lowers the cost of the Pixel 9 Pro XL down to Pixel 9a levels.
The deal in question is at Best Buy, which is taking $200 off the cost of the Pixel 9 Pro XL. Normally that phone sells for $1,099.
BUT! Activate your newly purchased Pixel 9 Pro XL at checkout, and Best Buy will slash another $400 off the cost of your phone. That means Google's super-sized Pixel flagship now has a Pixel 9a-sized price of $499.
Meet the competition
Like the Pixel 9a, Samsung's Galaxy A56 is a midrange phone that starts at $499. And while Samsung's phone isn't out in the U.S. yet — it's coming later this year — U.K. shoppers can turn to this Pixel 9a alternative.
But should they? If you're looking for options in the sub-$500 category, give Richard Priday's Galaxy A56 review a look.
His verdict: the Galaxy A56 benefits from the addition of some AI features and it's got a long-lasting battery. But the Exynos chip inside the phone isn't very powerful.
Buy or skip?
We still may be waiting for an actual date for the Pixel 9a to go on sale. But the time to start thinking about whether to make this device your next phone starts now.
To help get you started on assessing this particular phone, I made a list of the reasons to buy the Pixel 9a and reasons you might want to skip it. Think of it as some key points to keep track of when those Pixel 9a reviews start rolling in to see how the phone fares.
