A Vibrant Phone and Smooth Performance for Less

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The last few months have been big for mid-range phones, with Apple launching the iPhone 16e in February and the Pixel 9a releasing in April. It’s also been a busy time for Google, as the tech giant has announced a slate of new AI features at its I/O keynote. 

Most of the pertinent Android news came before I/O, with Google confirming a refreshed, vibrant look for Pixel phones, dubbed Material 3 Expressive. And while we can’t go hands-on with Material 3 Expressive yet, we got our hands on the Pixel 9a to see if it’s worth it.

The quick answer? There are more powerful phones out there, but the Pixel 9a is the mid-range phone to beat. The reasons are simple. For the stuff that most people care about — battery life, camera quality, smooth performance — the Pixel 9a gets high marks, even outperforming higher-priced flagship phones in some categories.

First, the basics. The Pixel 9a costs $499, $100 less than the iPhone 16e. It has a 6.3” display, with 6.1” x 2.9” x 0.4” dimensions, and weighs 6.6 ounces. It comes in Iris, Peony, Porcelain, and Obsidian.

Google Pixel 9a: Design 

The most “controversial” decision Google made was to dispense with the Minion-esque camera bar that protrudes from the phone. The camera bar has long been the key visual signifier that distinguishes Pixel from Samsung and Apple, and some Pixel fans might miss it. But the new camera layout is nearly flush with the phone, so you can — gasp! — set the phone down flat on a table.

The phone has a plastic back and noticeable bezels on the screen. Of course, some compromises had to be made at this price point, and neither of these factors makes the phone feel cheap. The model I tested was the Iris colorway, which I found fun and vibrant. 

Google Pixel 9a: Display and Features 

The peak brightness is stated at 2,700 nits (compared to the iPhone 16e’s 1,200 nits). The display is undoubtedly bright and easily viewable in direct sunlight, and the colors look sharp and crisp. The variable refresh rate is 60 to 120Hz (compared to the iPhone 16e’s 60Hz). That means the Pixel 9a offers smooth performance and animations. 

Related: The 6 Best Earbuds for Android, From Pixel to Technics

You can also customize your home screen with Pixel’s themes, including matching app icons. Of course, not every app supports these themes, so some will stick out like a sore thumb. But for the most part, the design language feels playful and fun, particularly compared to the rather staid look of iOS and One UI. 

The biometrics are excellent, too. You can use facial or fingerprint recognition to unlock the phone, and both work smoothly. Coming from Samsung, I’ve long been accustomed to fingerprint unlock, and the Pixel 9a’s fingerprint sensor feels just as responsive as the Galaxy S25. 

The 9a uses the Tensor G4 processor, the same one used in the Pixel 9, meaning you can expect similar performance across the devices. Notably, Google promises seven years of software updates, so if you’re looking for a phone for the long haul, the Pixel 9a is a solid option.

Google has made AI a major focus with Pixel. The AI-enabled Gemini is now the native assistant app, replacing Google Assistant. The Gemini app has generative text capabilities, while the Pixel Studio app generates images. If, like a lot of people, you’re ambivalent about AI, these features are not obtrusive, and you can switch from Gemini back to Google Assistant in settings. 

Although I generally don’t use AI, my favorite smart feature on Android is Circle to Search. Holding down the bottom of the screen activates the feature, and you can either circle what you see on your phone screen (a cool-looking jacket on Instagram, a character actor you can’t quite place) or search from your phone’s camera, and Google will identify it. It works surprisingly well, capably identifying products, people, and places.

Google Pixel 9a: Battery and Camera

The Pixel 9a has a 5,100mAh capacity, the biggest of any Pixel phone. The Pixel 9 Pro has a 4700 mAh capacity, while the S25 Ultra has a 5,000mAh battery capacity. The stated battery life is up to 30 hours, and in my experience, the Pixel 9a lasted an impressively long time between charges compared to my Galaxy S25. 

The biggest drawback, battery-wise, is the slow charging speeds. It maxes out at 23W fast charging, compared to the S25+ and Ultra, which offer up to 45W wired charging. And with such a big battery, the slow charging speeds are felt. But again, the large battery life means you have to reach for the charger less often. 

The rear cameras are a 48 MP wide and 13 MP ultrawide, while the front is 13 MP. The rear video is shot in 4K. Pictures look crisp and detailed, although zoom is somewhat limited. There’s a portrait and night photography mode, and you can use Magic Editor and Magic Eraser to adjust your photos afterward.

All your photos are stored in Google Photos, meaning there’s no native gallery app. If you want to find the photos stored on the device, you can access them through Google Photos’ Collections tab.  

Google Pixel 9a Verdict 

There are a lot of features on the Pixel, including AI tools, but what makes the 9a shine as the mid-range phone to beat is that it nails the fundamentals. The battery life is outstanding, outlasting even flagship phones. 

The variable refresh rate makes for smooth, seamless performance when switching between apps or scrolling through social media, and the camera excels in various settings. 

Plus, Google’s Material design is more fun and poppy than what Apple and Samsung offer, particularly with what we’ve seen of the new design. The Pixel 9a is a budget-conscious phone that doesn’t cut corners; in short, it’s the phone to beat at this price and a no-brainer for Android users.