Google Pixel 9 A review: Basic in the correct way

Push for new, great and very feature-packed gadgets often puts a lot of stress, buying anything else may seem like self-betray. If the Pixel 9 is a technically new device, its chip is six months old. The same happens to its design, which is almost a carbon copy Old sibling. To worsen things, this phone means more affordable entry into the pixel phone family, which seems to be a death penalty for anyone who cares with Jonnis (or very up -to -date specs). But what do you know? That’s ok, because starting from $ 500, Pixel 9A offers the best value of any Android phone today.

Design and Performance: Simple but Dhru Dy architecture

Pixel 9 is very similar Standard model – Especially from the front – it is difficult to separate them until you put them side by side. After you have done, the 9A symptoms can be observed a little thicker bells. But aside, there are no differences in tons. Like regular pixel 9 you will get a relatively compact 6.3-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refreshing rate and maximum brightness of 2,700 nit. It is sharp, which is colorful and is one of the best shows in this price range.

If you choose both of these, you will also notice that the 9A is also a Touch Lighter (6.56 OUNS VS 6.98 OUNS). That difference is due to Google Forgoing Gorilla Glass 3 for Backpanel in favor of Recycled Polycarbonate (Aka Plastic). You will still get the IP68 rating for dust and water resistance (also made from recycled materials) and aluminum frame of structure.

The largest exit of 9A is that it is not a large bar or viz, unlike each other pixel of Pixel 6, has its cameras. Instead, you get a small tierdrop-shaped protrusion that contain main and ultra-wide shooters. The module is very shallow, which practically flush against the phone, which makes it one of the few handsets in recent memory, which is actually flat on the table. Of course, it is really a small design adjustment, but as a person who does not like cases, I think this is a good touch.

Performance: Good speed

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Similar to the remaining Pixel 9 family, the 9A is energized by Google’s Tensor G4 chip. The main change is that instead of having a 12GB RAM, you only get 8GB. If you often do more serious tasks such as switching between apps or gaming or video editing, you don’t really notice a huge difference. In Geekbench 6, two phones have posted a lot of similar results with a multi-core score of 4,360 for 4,294 per 9A and standard pixel 9. The biggest potential effect for most people is that you cannot run more applications in the background, and if you become often, you can spend some extra time reload.

The Pixel 9A also supports all AI-powerful tools of Google, including supporting subjects such as crash detection and call assist. You also have access to more sophisticated tools such as Gemini Live (including camera and screen sharing) and Pixel Studio (now the images of people), the second is a fun way to create crazy custom images to troll your friends. Well, at least I use it.

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However, software support is not just when you get expensive models. Because in recent pixels an app I liked well – Google’s screen shots app – Not available in Pixel 9A. This is definitely a bummer, because I find the ability to use AI to search for quickly through all the screencups I have taken, it is better than doing it manually. I am not entirely unaware of why this is not available if you take into account some other machine learning-based features that work. But when asked, the Google representative told me, “To manage the $ 499 starting price, the company has to do some trade-offs. As a result, some (in standard pixel 9s) are not available in Pixel 9A.”

Cameras: The better image quality is twice as the price of the phones

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When it was first announced, Google claimed that the 9A would have the best cameras of any phone under $ 500. After considering the genealogy of the Pixel family for excellent image quality, I gave the phone’s 48-MP main camera and a 13-mp ultra-wide com with a real challenge against the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. And although it costs $ 800 less, it acquitted with Applomb.

In the daytime photo of the cozy coffee shop, Pixel preserved more details and created a picture that is usually found than a similar image taken by the S25U (some of which is due to the trend of Samsung’s oversarpen). A good example of this when I took photos of the crook. The shot of Pixel 9A is not only more accurate, it has good colors and is usually more appetizing. And in low light, I have got such results with a 9A white balance while capturing sharp, detailed images despite the tough conditions.

Although Pixel 9A does not have a special telephoto lens, Google is trying for it with Super Res Zoom, using AI in support of an 8x digital zoom. On top of that, the phone has macro focus mode. In the camera app you will not find a specific setting for it, as it will automatically activate whenever you come close to something. You know that this works when a small floral symbol is popup in the corner of the screen. I find that this mode gives you a way to capture you in a little detail, but the nailing focus is a little subtle. I often had to adjust the phone a little bit forward or back to find the sweet area of ​​the camera.

Battery Life: What’s the best from any pixel

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Fitted with a 5,100 mAh power pack, Pixel 9A did not defeat its largest siblings – Pixel 9 Pro XL (5,060 mAh) – For more battery capacity on Google phones. What’s more, the company claims that the 9A has the best runtime of its handsets, which is not hot air based on my test. In our standard local video rundown exam, Pixel 9A continued for just 28 hours on a single fare (28:04). Half an hour better than I got from normal pixel 9. Not very torn.

The trouble is that the phone charging speed is not improved From last yearSo when using wired (23 watts) or Qi wireless (7.5 watts) power adapters you still get poor rates. This is much slow than you get from the standard pixel 9 (27 watts wired and 15 watts wireless), which is one of the most compulsory reasons you want to upgrade to the expensive siblings of 9A. To highlight the phone’s sloth charging speed, I put it in a 25 percent battery and after 10 minutes, it only reduced the additional 5 percent. In 9A, wireless charging is more used for comfort than speed.

Wrap-up

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Look, Pixel may not be jam-packed with 9A fancy features and its raw specs are not super impressive. I prefer to add a real telephoto lens to Google and its charging speed (both wired and wireless) is better. But for $ 500, Google’s most budget-friendly phone will cover all the bases and then some.

The 9A’s camera quality can be hung twice as much flagships than its price and it all has more performance, but the most demanding gamers or multi taskers. When you support all Google’s software, such as the recorder app, Pixel Studio and more, you get a really compelling package. In addition, the absence of a large camera bump means this thing is a surprising elegant. If my children need a cell phone, I will buy it. For everyone who says that what they want to take high-quality photos of high-quality photos, this is the basic in all the best ways.

This article first appeared at Engadget https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/Gooogle-pixel-9a–review-basic-in-the-pight-13005.html?src=urs

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