Design and Build

Google's decision to switch to a flat, single-color, video-green design for Pixel 9a, moving away from the traditional camera bump, and being reminiscent of Pixel 3a indeed was a "brave" one. This is how the phone's dimensions, 6.09 x 2.89 x 0.35 inches (154.7 x 73.3 x 8.9 mm), and weight, 6.56 ounces (185.9g) were determined, so it is portable and can be operated by one hand. Just plastic on the rear that is both fingerprint-resistant and has an aluminum frame, Apple decided to launch the smartphone in four colors – Obsidian, Porcelain, Iris, and Peony. The device retains fingerprint unlocking from the power key, and it has no support for side face unlocking. It has the USB-C portal and allows for a single nano-SIM along with eSIM compatibility.

• Aluminum frame, plastic back
• IP68 rating (water and dust resistance up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes)
• Side-mounted fingerprint sensor (no face unlock)
• USB-C port for charging and data transfer
• Single nano-SIM + eSIM
• Fingerprint-resistant coating

Pixel 9a Display

With a 2400 x 1080 resolution (422 PPI), and a 60–120Hz variable refresh rate, the Pixel 9a’s 6.3-inch OLED display is absolutely a gem of a thing to look at. As technology continues to evolve, HDR is needed to make the display look even more brilliant and lively, as well as very bright outdoor lighting that the screen is clearly visible in. Its on-screens are at most, 1800 nits, which means that visual performance is still acceptable indoors although it could be much better in full daylight, since, for instance, the Pixel 9 Pro has one of the most prominent displays.

• 6.3-inch OLED
• 2400 x 1080 resolution, 422 PPI
• 1800 nits (peak)
• Corning Gorilla Glass 3
• 60–120Hz refresh rate (no ProMotion or Always-On Display)

Performance and Software

The main drive behind the Pixel 90 is the Google Tensor G4 chip (4nm) that carries an 8-core CPU, a Mali-G715 GPU, and an AI feature in the engine. It can be paired with 8GB of LPDDR5x RAM and can handle daily workloads as well as light gaming, but it cannot compare to the 16GB RAM of the Pixel 9 Pro in terms of heavy multitasking. Self-selection of 128GB ($499) or 256GB ($549) is available, and the device is extented by Android 15, carrying seven years of updates, and offering new things like the Add Me app or the thesophotography, but such a device is not the one that has Pixel's Screenshots. While the pixel 80 already had the power-saving feature of the Tensor G3, it remained a poor performer.

• Google Tensor G4 chip with 8-core CPU, Mali-G715 GPU
• 8GB LPDDR5x RAM
• Storage: 128GB, 256GB
• Android 15 (7 years of updates)
• AI features: Add Me, Astrophotography, Real Tone

Camera System

The Pixel 9a is equipped with a dual rear camera setup. The first one is a 48MP sensor (f/1.7, 1/2-inch, OIS) and the second sensor is a 13MP ultra-wide (f/2.2, 120° FOV). The front camera has a 13MP (f/2.2) resolution. The phone is one of the many models that can produce 4K videos at 60 fps and it also has AI features like Add Me and Real Tone but it hasn’t got a telephoto lens so it relies on 8x Super Res Zoom. The main sensor, the same as the Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s, is capable of better low-light performance than the 64MP sensor of the Pixel 8a model.

• Rear: 48MP Main (f/1.7, OIS), 13MP Ultrawide (f/2.2)
• Front: 13MP (f/2.2)
• Video: 4K 60 fps
• Modes: Add Me, Astrophotography, Real Tone
• LED flash

Battery and Charging

The Pixel 9a is powered by a 5100mAh battery, which is greater than what in the Pixel 9, giving a battery life of up to 20 hours in video playback and 12–15 hours in real-world use. It fills up 23W wired charging (50% in 30 minutes) and 7.5W Qi wireless charging, but the package does not include a charger. The battery life it’s got is amazing for its segment, although the charging speed is lower than the Galaxy A56 and other competitors.

• 5100mAh battery
• Up to 20 hours video playback, ~12–15 hours real-world
• 23W wired charging (50% in 30 min)
• 7.5W Qi wireless charging
• No charger included (USB-C cable only)

Connectivity

The Pixel 9a offers 5G connection (sub-6 or mmWave, depends on certain areas) with the help of the integrated modem in the Tensor G4. Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 5.3 come with the device. It is also fitted with a slot for a single nano-SIM and eSIM and nothing else, not having a U1 chip for ultra-wideband features like precise AirTag tracking. That it can send an Emergency SOS via satellite is another feature which is rarely available at this price. For navigating multiple systems like GPS system, the smartphone supports GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo.

• 5G (sub-6, mmWave)
• Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)
• Bluetooth 5.3
• Single nano-SIM + eSIM
• Emergency SOS via satellite
• GPS: GPS, GLONASS, Galileo

Pricing and Availability

The Pixel 9a comes at a price of $499 and has 128GB of storage as a base model. If you opt for the 256GB option you will have to pay an extra $50. As it was declared on March 19, 2025, people could make their purchase from the official Google Store, carriers (e.g., T-Mobile, Verizon), and retailers like Amazon and Best Buy on the 10th day of April 2025. Apart from the four colored models, Obsidian, Porcelain, Iris, and Peony, it also gets the user six months of Fitbit Premium and three months of YouTube Premium and Google One for free. The release date that falls just past the first three months of the year, hence early enough to avoid the Pixel 10 series, but it may be hard to get because the stock might be limited due to a component issue.