Google has unveil the long - wait Pixel 9a , but how does it compare to the flagship - stage Pixel 9 ?
While old Pixel ‘ a ’ series telephone have been somewhat like to the flagship - level Pixel that came before it , the Pixel 9a closes that col substantially with nigh - very – and sometimes better – spectacles than its flagship fellow traveller .
Here ’s how the Google Pixel 9a compares to the Google Pixel 9 on newspaper publisher .
Price and availability
The Google Pixel 9a starts at the same £ 499/$499 as the Pixel 8a . Google substantiate that it will be usable via the Google Store and other retailer beginning sometime in April .
The Pixel 9 , on the other hired man , launched back in August 2024 at £ 799/$799 and is available to buy decent now from retailers worldwide .
The Google Pixel 9a ditches the iconic Camera Bar
While premature launches in the ‘ a ’ serial publication have more or less mirrored the design of the flagship Pixel that came before it , the Pixel 9a bucks that trend – in a large way .
The Pixel 9a does off with the iconic camera bar present on not only the Pixel 9 but also the past few generation of Pixel . It has , in a way , becometheway to describe a Pixel phone from a distance , so it ’s surprising to see it go the way of the Dodo with the 9a .
In its place is a vertically aligned dual tv camera setup that looks like near - flush with the rear of the gimmick . It ’s certainly a sporty flavour , but it ’ll be interesting to see how consumers respond to the modification .
Elsewhere , both the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9a have rounded corners and level edges to furnish better purchase , though the Pixel 9 has a glass rear in place of the 9a ’s plastic composite rear for a more premium finish .
Both bid the same IP68 dust and water electrical resistance , though the Pixel 9 is more durable with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 tribute on its deoxyephedrine front and rear , compare to the Gorilla Glass 3 protective covering on the front of the 9a .
Both have a very similar 6.3-inch OLED screen
One of the big upgrade offered by the Pixel 9a is a larger screen door , which has increase from the 6.1 in of the 8a to the same 6.3 inch as the Pixel 9 .
It ’s not just the same size either ; the OLED panel has the same FHD+ resolution and even the same dynamical 60 - 120Hz refresh charge per unit . It also mate the Pixel 9 ’s 2700nit top smartness and 1800nits in HBM , and both back up HDR10 + too .
There are plenty of similarity between the two then , but the Pixel 9 ’s screen is stillslightlymore capable than that of the Pixel 9a . It has slimmer bezels than the budget Pixel that help it look way more premium in comparison , and as mention earlier , it offers much better protection in the anatomy of Corning ’s high - end Gorilla Glass Victus 2 covert tech .
That said , you ’re unbelievable to observe much of a difference in sidereal day - to - day economic consumption between these two panel .
The Pixel 9 has more capable cameras
The Pixel 9a conclude the disruption between it and the Pixel 9 with an upgraded primary television camera . It ’s not just an rising slope either – it ’s near - identical to that of the Pixel 9 .
While the megapixel counting is slightly lower at 48MP equate to the Pixel 9 ’s 50MP , key spec – like a 1/2 - inch sensor , f/1.7 aperture and OIS – are identical . We ’d await performance to be near - very as a result , but we ’ll have to put that to the mental test once we review the 9a in the coming weeks .
There ’s more of a dispute when it comes to the ultrawide lens of the eye however ; the Pixel 9a ships with the same 13MP f/2.2 ultrawide lens as thePixel 8a , while the Pixel 9 offer a much high - res 48MP f/1.7 alternative .
Interestingly , the Pixel 9a has a higher - res 13MP selfie television camera compared to the 10.5MP alternative from the more expensive Pixel 9 , though the difference in literal - world role is probable to be negligible .
In terms of video , both cap out at 4K@60fps , though the Pixel 9 can put down at up to 240fps in 1080p , compare to the 9a ’s 60fps .
The Pixel 9a has a larger battery
Despite being the lighter of the two Pixel smartphones at 186 g equate to 198 g , the Pixel 9a has a larger electric battery than the flagship Pixel 9 .
Measuring 5100mAh , it ’s 400mAh enceinte than the 4700mAh cell within the Pixel 9 – though how much of a difference this will make in real - public use is yet to be see . It could equate to an extra hour of utilisation , or it could be an superfluous 15 minutes . We ’ll just have to wait and see for now .
The Pixel 9 claws some points back in the charging section with quick 27W charge than the 9a ’s 23W and support for faster 12W Qi wireless charging compare to the 9a ’s 7.5W. The Pixel 9 ’s wireless charging can be boosted to 15W , although you ’ll postulate a Pixel Stand to achieve those speeding .
Both offer seven years of OS upgrades
Both the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9a offer a market - leading seven days of O upgrades , complete with unconstipated Pixel Drops that add together new features and functionality to the smartphones .
This is specially impressive in the mid - range infinite , where much of the contention caps out around the two- or three - twelvemonth mark .
However , since the Pixel 9 was released in August 2024 , the Pixel 9a will in reality get more software update . The Pixel 9 is confirmed to get seven geezerhood of financial support that ’ll take it through to 2031 , while the Pixel 9a ’s hope takes it through to 2032 .
Early thoughts
Google has made some interesting choices with this yr ’s Pixel 9a ; aside from the controversy of ditching the iconic camera Browning automatic rifle , the mid - ranger is closer to the Pixel 9 than any other ‘ a ’ series smartphone that come before it .
It offers a near - identical 6.3 - in OLED screen , the same Tensor G4 power , and a likewise capable elementary television camera . It also offer a larger barrage fire than the Pixel 9 and an extra year of software backing – all for £ 300/$300 less .
We ’ll relieve our final intellection until we ’ve drop some time with the Pixel 9a , but at this stage , it ’s looking like a somewhat enticing mid - range smartphone .
