Here Are 7 Things You Should Know

After the typical cycle of leaks and rumors, the Google Pixel 9a is finally official. This phone is packed with more features than you’d expect, and it comes at a price that won’t break the bank.

The Pixel 9a has a brand new design for the Pixel lineup, high-end camera features, and, of course, a healthy serving of Gemini AI features. There’s a lot to like about the Pixel 9a, but here are a few of the most important things to know.

1

The Pixel 9a Doesn’t Look Like Other Pixels

For several years, Google’s familiar look for the Pixel lineup has been a horizontal edge-to-edge “camera bar” on the back. The Pixel 9 series changes this slightly by switching to a pill-shaped bar, but the Pixel 9a changes it up even more.

The camera bar has been removed completely in favor of a more traditional-looking flush dual camera setup. It still reads “Pixel,” but it marks a new direction for Google’s design. The phone is made with recycled materials, including a recycled aluminum frame and 81% recycled plastic back cover.

As for the display, the Pixel 9a sports a 6.3-inch pOLED Actua display with a 20:9 aspect ratio and 1080 x 2424 resolution. The display also has a 60-120Hz refresh rate, Corning Gorilla Glass 3, and up to 2700 nits peak brightness.

2

High-End Cameras at a Low Price

The Pixel line–whether it’s the main series or the A-series–is known for its camera performance. So, the Pixel 9a comes with a dual rear camera system: a 48MP main camera and a 13MP ultrawide camera. The main camera can capture small details with the “Macro Focus” feature, which is coming over from the main Pixel series for the first time.

Another camera feature that’s making its debut on the A-series is “Astrophotography.” This is a special mode for capturing the stars and anything else you might want to see in the night sky. Rounding out the camera system, there’s a 13MP camera on the front for selfies.

3

The Most Durable A-Series Phone Yet

Google claims the Pixel 9a is the most durable A-series phone it’s made, and the specs seem to back that up. With a metal frame and improved IP68 dust and water resistance, it’s in line with most high-end phones we see today. While it may not have the top-of-the-line Gorilla Glass, the display is still scratch-resistant. “Cheap” phones tend not to age well, so these are very nice upgrades.

4

It Has the Largest Battery in the A-Series

Google hasn’t skimped on performance and battery life, either. The Pixel 9a has a 5100mAh battery, which is the biggest the A-Series has seen. Google claims it can last over 30 hours with medium usage and over 100 hours with Extreme Battery Saver Mode. It also has Fast Charging and wireless charging.

Under the hood, the Pixel 9a is powered by the Google Tensor G4 processor and the Titan M2 security coprocessor–both the same as the Pixel 9 series. It comes with 8GB of RAM and either 128GB or 256GB of storage.

5

Yes, It Has AI Features, Too

As you would expect, there are plenty of AI features to talk about, too. Magic Editor can reframe your photo, suggest the best crop, and even expand your image. “Reimagine” in Magic Editor lets you give your photos a new look by simply tapping the part you want to change and typing what you want to see.

The Pixel 9a also features Gemini, of course. You can start Gemini by pressing and holding the power button from anywhere. Gemini can help you find information and take action across your Google apps, like pulling party details from Gmail and suggesting nearby florists in Maps. You can also chat with Gemini or use Gemini Live for natural, free-flowing conversations.

6

It Will Get 7 Years of Android Updates

As with all recent Pixel phones, the Pixel 9a launches with Android 15 and will receive 7 years of OS, security, and Pixel Drop updates. Pixel Drops bring new features to your phone automatically, so it keeps getting better over time. This is one of the best reasons to buy a Pixel phone–A-Seires or otherwise. You can continue to use it safely for many years.

7

Pixel 9a Pricing & Availability

The Pixel 9a is priced under $500 and it’s available in four colors: Iris, Peony, Porcelain, and Obsidian. With your purchase, you get three months of Google One, three months of YouTube Premium, and six months of Fitbit Premium.

The Pixel 9a is available in the US, Canada, UK, Germany, Spain, Italy, Ireland, France, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Portugal, Switzerland, Poland, Czechia, Romania, Hungary, Slovenia, Slovakia, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, Finland, Australia, Japan, India, Singapore, Taiwan, and Malaysia.