Google today announced the Pixel 9a as its mid-range phone for 2025. We’ve had some hands-on time and it feels like its own design compared to past Pixel devices.
Head-on, the Pixel 9a looks like the Pixel 9, but with thicker bezels that you’ll notice if you’re coming from the premium models. Otherwise, it’s normal for the A-Series. That shouldn’t take away from the 6.3-inch Actua display (1080 x 2424 pOLED at 422.2 PPI) that goes up to 1800 nits (HDR) and up to 2700 nits (peak brightness), or 35% brighter than the Pixel 8a. It’s a 60-120Hz Smooth Display protected by Gorilla Glass 3 once more.
There’s a satin metal frame with a composite (plastic) matte back in the usual Obsidian and Porcelain, while the unique colors this generation are Peony (closer to salmon) and Iris (the Purple-ish successor you’ve been waiting for). There’s IP68 dust and water resistance that’s up from IP67.
The key aspect of this “streamlined” rear design is the lack of a wide, prominently raised camera bar. Instead, you have a pill-shaped lens cover that’s domed and inspired by water droplets (like the Pixel Watch).
Google did not set out to make a flat Pixel 9a. Instead, the goal was to improve thermals (with a vapor chamber) and adding a larger battery (more on that below), while Google introduced a new camera module. When that was all said and done, Google ended up with an almost flat design. From there, the decision was made to go all the way, and Google’s industrial design and mechanical teams landed at the design we have today.
I do enjoy the additional work Google put in to make this A-Series phone more unique than its predecessors. It’s certainly less derivative, and I can’t wait to test how a camera bump-less design impacts the Pixel experience (hand feel, grip, and slipping in-and-out of my pocket) that we’ve had since 2021.
Meanwhile, there’s a 48 MP wide (Quad PD Dual Pixel with optical + electrical image stabilization, ƒ/1.7, 82° FOV) that allows for 8x Super Res Zoom and Macro Focus (video too) for the first time. This camera is similar to the Pixel 9 Pro Fold’s, but slightly different.
Then there’s a 13 MP ultrawide (ƒ/2.2, 120° FOV) and a 13 MP selfie camera (ƒ/2.2, 96.1° FOV). Other features include Add Me for group photos, Best Take, Photo Unblur, Magic Editor, Audio Magic Eraser, and the new Panorama mode with Night Sight.
There’s a 5,100 mAh (minimum 5,000 mAh) battery – Google’s largest (9 Pro XL comes in at 5,060 mAh) – that gets you 30+ hours, which is up from the 24+ hours that the Pixel has stuck with for a few years. Meanwhile, you get 100 hours with the Extreme Battery Saver. It’s 23W (up from 18W) wired charging and unchanged 7.5W wireless charging.
It’s powered by the Tensor G4 with 8GB of RAM and 128 or 256 GB of storage. On top of Android 15, you will get 7 years of OS + security updates with Face Unlock and optical fingerprint sensor. Other features include the Google VPN, Pixel Screenshots, Studio, and Weather.
The 128 GB Pixel 9a is $499 (256 GB for $599) and will ship in April. The on-shelf date was originally next week, but Google delayed it to check “on a component quality issue that’s affecting a small number of Pixel 9a devices.”
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