Google Pixel 9a

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Google this year is introducing “Battery health assistance” on Pixel devices to help “extend their usability.”

Starting on the Pixel 9a, but also coming to other models, Google will add a software feature called “Battery health assistance.” The Google Store listing (as the first footnote) for the mid-range phone, which is set to launch April 10, explains how “Pixel software will manage battery performance to help maintain battery health as your battery ages.” This seems like something all Pixel phones will be getting going forward, especially with 7 years of OS updates.

A support article explains how Google will adjust the “battery’s maximum voltage in stages that start at 200 charge cycles and continue gradually until 1000 charge cycles to help stabilize battery performance and aging.” Additionally, this feature will “tune the phone’s charging speed based on adjusted capacity.”

This will result in “small decreases in your battery’s runtime as your battery ages,” as well as a “slight change in battery charging performance.” If that phrasing is familiar, it’s what Google released in January for the 2020 Pixel 4a due to an overheating risk. For the past few years, Apple has implemented a similar “performance management” feature on the iPhone, with batteries chemically aging unavoidable.

Earlier this year, Google detailed how the Pixel 8a and newer “should retain up to 80% capacity for about 1000 charge cycles.” (For the Pixel 3a – 8 Pro, it’s “up to 80% capacity for about 800 charge cycles.”)

In a statement, the company tells 9to5Google today that “Battery health assistance is a software feature that will roll out to a selection of Pixel devices starting later this year, designed to extend their usability.”

On the Pixel 9a, “Battery health assistance settings on Pixel 9a aren’t customizable by the user.” However, Google tells us this feature “will be voluntary for any customers using previously launched devices.”

This feature/update is not yet out, and comes as Android 16 looks set to introduce Battery health with an estimated capacity percentage. It joins other features like the “Limit to 80%” charging optimization and the ability to see cycle count.

 

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[eAtNeAt]

Damn cannot unsee the thick bezel

 

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[caterham7]

 

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[lobanglurker]

was looking for a mid-range phone cause my m1 contract ended. pixel 9a was very promising, got good camera, decent specs and simpler look. but i went to try phones in stores and realise i prefer much lighter phones. so im going with s25 instead, paying a bit more. maybe next year or in 2 years when discounted ill buy my dad the 9a to upgrade his 8a

 

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Summary: The Pixel 9a is finally on sale, but it ships without the latest Android 15 feature drop. This means buyers will have to wait until Android 16 arrives in June to get new features like the Modes menu. While the delay might frustrate some, the Pixel 9a still offers solid value for its price, as long as you don’t mind waiting a couple of months.

The Pixel 9a is finally on sale, but there’s a small catch. Google’s latest $500 budget phone arrives with older software out of the box. This means that Pixel 9a buyers will have to wait a bit before they get features from the Android 15 feature drop.

No Android 15 feature drop​

Earlier this week, the folks at Android Police were poking around their Pixel 9a review unit. They discovered something was missing, namely the new Modes menu. This is a new Android 15 feature, but the Pixel 9a oddly lacks it. The report notes that it still shows up in Settings if you search for it. However, when you open the page, it’s just a blank screen with a short description. It sounds and looks like a bug, but it turns out it was intentional.

Google confirmed to Android Police in a statement that says: “Pixel 9a will receive the Modes feature with the next Pixel Drop. This goes for any March QPR platform dependent features until the next quarterly release. Pixel 9a ships with the April MPR, which is based on the Android December QPR release. We decided that the Android December QPR build would be the most stable build to perform testing and ensure quality for carrier lab testing, and to receive the needed carrier approvals.”

So, in other words, the Pixel 9a only comes with April’s security patch. That’s great for security purposes, but in terms of features, Google’s latest phone is still running a December build of Android 15. That means newer features like the Modes menu won’t arrive until Google’s next big update.

Have to wait until Android 16​

And when’s the next big update? According to Google, that’s going to be Android 16. The good news is that Google has moved up the release of major Android updates. So, instead of having to wait until the later part of the year, users can expect to see it around June.

This is earlier than usual, which Google’s Sameer Samat confirmed in an interview at MWC earlier this year. That being said, while two months isn’t exactly a long wait, it’s frustrating. While other Pixel models are already enjoying the latest features, Google’s latest Pixel isn’t.

We doubt that the lack of the Android 15 feature drop is a deal-breaker for most Pixel 9a users. After all, customers are still getting an excellent Android smartphone at a price lower than the flagship Pixel 9. Sure, you’ll miss out on some features like satellite SOS or upgrades to Pixel Screenshots.

However, unless you absolutely need those features, waiting an extra couple of months will not kill you.

 

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Following the Pixel 9a release, Google shared more about the phone’s design, including other looks it explored for the camera.

Google “explored a variety of designs for the rear camera bump,” and shared a low-resolution image of those other takes.

These images show their rear camera bump shape study, which focused on its overall form and appearance as well as certain shapes’ ability to withstand drops and impact.

Something close to the final design appears at the center of the top row, with Google ultimately using a pill that’s minimally domed.

The first image shows a bump that nearly spans the entire width of the device. That design would have looked closer to the Pixel 9 and 9 Pro, but without the elevation. Some people might have preferred if Google went that route to maintain the lineage. The last image in that row shows a vertical pill that’s vaguely reminiscent of the iPhone’s camera square.

“It’s its own device but still feels like a Pixel, and that was the goal. It belongs in the family!” says Soniya Jobanputra, a product management director who works on Pixel devices. “But this time, it’s less like a little brother or sister and more like a cousin to our incredible premium devices.”

Elsewhere, Google switched to a thinner plastic OLED (pOLED) panel that made possible “more internal space for the battery and allowed the team to lower the camera placement to minimize the bump, all while maintaining that durable, mid-frame architecture.” Of note is how:

“It wasn’t our intention to deliver an even better display,” Soniya says. “We had a pretty awesome display with 8a. But we were able to boost up the brightness and power efficiency by opting for a new pOLED panel.”

Peak brightness went from 2,000 to 2,700 nits.

Google confirms that Iris is “like an update to [the Purple-ish] colorway” on the Pixel 3am, which was a fan-favorite: “At first glance, Iris can appear blue or purple. It feels calm yet confident, opinionated yet widely appealing, making it the perfect hero color for the new A-series.”

Meanwhile, Google’s Pixel 9a Case lets you “see the color inside” without taking it off given how the cutout encompasses the camera and flash.

 

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The lines have diverged in the A-series, but what differentiates the Pixel 9a from last year’s impressive but strange Pixel 8a? Here’s what you need to know.

Complaining about the Pixel feels par for the course and something we try not to do heavily unless it is warranted. It’s true; the Pixel 8a was and still is a solid mid-ranger. It suffered a bit from being so close to the regular Pixel 8 that it felt a little bit out of place. It was only $100 cheaper and missed out on the premium camera and hardware experience. It was simultaneously the best A-series phone to date but also hard to recommend at the same time unless scored at a discount.

Hardware​

Gone are the soft corners and bubbly design, but you knew that was coming this year. The Pixel 9a has taken on all of its siblings’ main traits. So you get something a little taut, sharpened, and, honestly, less approachable to some. Conversely, the Pixel 8a looks a little out of place in the lineup now that it sticks with the camera bar and curvy aesthetic.

	Google Pixel 9a	Google Pixel 8a
Size	6.3-inches	6.1 inches
Dimensions	154.7 x 73.3 x 8.9mm (6.09 x 2.89 x 0.35 in)	152.1 x 72.7 x 8.9 mm (6.00 x 2.87 x 0.35 in)
Display	1080 x 2424 pixels / 120Hz, Actua OLED / Gorilla Glass Victus 2 / 422 ppi / 2,700 nits	120Hz / Gorilla Glass 3 / 2,400 x 1,080 pixels / 430ppi
Chipset	Google Tensor G4	Google Tensor G3
RAM	8GB DDR5	8GB DDR5
Storage	128/256GB UFS 3.1	128/256GB UFS 3.1
Battery	5,100mAh	4,492mAh
Rear camera	48MP wide / 13MP ultrawide	64MP wide / 13MP ultra-wide
Front-facing camera	13MP	13MP
Biometrics	Fingerprint Unlock (Optical) / Face Unlock	Fingerprint Unlock (Optical) / Face Unlock
Colors	Obsidian / Porcelain / Peony / Iris	Obsidian / Porcelain / Bay / Aloe
Weight	186g	188g
IP rating	IP68	IP67

We don’t often see fully flat Android phones these days, so it’s somewhat refreshing to see a device with barely any protrusions or sections that extend out of the chassis. It’s not clear if this design update enables the improved IP68 rating, but it’s a first for the A-series and means it’s safer to use practically anywhere there may be water or excess dust.

Some interesting changes include the increased dimensions. The 9a is somehow 2g lighter than the 8a, but even with this size increase it allows the Pixel 9a to ship with a 6.3-inch screen, which is a minor but notable improvement over the 6.1-inch 8a panel. It also gains impressive maximum brightness bumps and is a vastly superior experience in practically all lighting conditions.

It’s a superior display in about every metric. The uniform bezels on the newer handset are somewhat comically sized. That’s not to say the 8a has a bad screen. In fact, it’s still one of the best in its price bracket. The 120Hz FHD+ panel looks great and is tuned nicely. You will not be unhappy with either.

You do get the same optical in-display scanner for biometrics in tandem with Face Unlock. So, there are no upgrades there, but they are fairly reliable and consistent, given the limitations.

Software​

Google’s big AI play over the past 12 months means that while the Pixel 8a and 9a’s “core” experience is identical for all intents and purposes, the 2024 mid-ranger misses out on a few things that might never get backported.

	Google Pixel 9a	Google Pixel 8a
Software version	Shipped with Android 15	Shipped with Android 14
Features	In-display fingerprint scanner Face Unlock Google One VPN Gemini Nano XXS Pixel Studio AI wallpapers Reimagine Pixel Weather Gemini Live	In-display fingerprint scanner Face Unlock Google One VPN Gemini Nano AI wallpapers

Android 15 and the upcoming Android 16 will likely be identical in terms of the everyday experience. When the stable update for Android 16 arrives, it will be interesting to see what potential AI features the 9a will get over the 8a. At the moment, it’s mostly down to applications. You can get third-party alternatives that might mimic these. The Gemini application is also adding new options that will still be available to almost all phones because it uses cloud computing power rather than on-device resources.

The same 7-year update plan is in place, too, which means substantial long-term software support. Gemini Nano XXS on the 9a might mean some text-based AI functions can be backported as features develop, but it also has access to Pixel Studio and Reimagine, plus some other minor additions. As noted, it still feels almost identical to use these phones.

Battery​

Historically, the A-series has offered really solid battery longevity, and that rings true with the Pixel 8a. However, it can’t quite match the potential 9a lifespan. This is in part due to the massive internal cell gain, with almost 600mAh extra to power the 9a through every single day.

	Google Pixel 9a	Google Pixel 8a
Capacity	5,100mAh	4,492mAh
Charging	23W wired 7.5W wireless	18W wired 7.5W wireless

That’s not all, as the Pixel 9a also has 23W wired charging now, which is a minor but important bump over the Pixel 8a’s practically ancient 18W wired charging. Wireless charging hasn’t changed and remains at 7.5W with any supported Qi wireless chargers.

 

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Camera​

It initially seems like the Pixel 8a has a better main camera than the Pixel 9a. It has a larger sensor, slightly slower aperturebut it’s the software once again that makes a difference alongside HDR processing.

Despite having an almost 50% smaller sensor in the 9a there is a noticeable sharpness jump, while highlights and dynamic range are also quite a bit better – likely due to enhancements to processing or even the ISP on the Tensor G4 chip.

Colors are a little cooler, though, but overall, it’s a nice improvement to a camera that is often a section that regularly stays quite static in Google’s lineup. It’s only here that alterations have been made. The 8a and 9a have identical ultrawide lenses and selfie cameras.

	Google Pixel 9a	Google Pixel 8a
Main sensor	48MP f1.7	Sony IMX787 64MP f1.9 aperture
Secondary sensor	13MP ultra-wide-angle f2.2 120˚ FOV	Sony IMX712 13MP ultra-wide-angle f2.2 aperture 120˚ FOV
Front-facing sensor	13MP f2.2	Sony IMX712 13MP f2.2
Camera hardware features	OIS EIS CLAF	OIS EIS PDAF
Camera software features	Super Res Zoom up to 8x Guided Frame 4K UHD 60fps 4K UHD 30fps (selfie) Add Me Macro Focus Night Sight Astrophotography Portrait Mode Face Unblur Long Exposure Real Tone Panorama Top Shot Frequent Faces	Super Res Zoom up to 8x Guided Frame 4K UHD 60fps 4K UHD 30fps (selfie and wide-angle) 10-bit HDR10 Video Real Tone 2.0 Magic Editor Best Take Magic Eraser Photo Unblur Audio Magic Eraser

While the core camera experience is also identical, the 9a offers a few extra tricks. These include auto Macro Focus for objects within a 5cm focal range and the Add Me dual exposure controls for enhanced group shots. They might not sell a device, but they are nice value adds for the brand-new phone. The reality is that the photography and video modes, along with the output, are very similar.

Pixel 9a vs. Pixel 8a: Are there enough upgrades to Google’s mid-ranger?​

About upgrading: 9to5Google often gives specific product recommendations. Sometimes, we may suggest not upgrading, due to various reasons including, but not limited to: increased device cost, negligible performance gains, or environmental impact. Whether to upgrade is always your call, but our aim is to help you make as informed a decision as possible.

If you have the Pixel 8a, you shouldn’t consider upgrading to the Pixel 9a. Instead, the changes here point to a tonal shift for the A-series in the coming years. No longer is it just a cheaper alternative to the base model. Some design considerations make the affordable option its own thing, and that is great for prospective buyers.

Maybe you’re torn on this shift away, but having a line in the sand for the Pixel 9a versus the 9, 9 Pro, and Pro XL is a great thing and something we hope that Google continues to do with future updates and releases. The 9a is a much better phone than the 8a. It has better internals, cooling, camera system, plus display. The lifespan jump is going to be substantial, and putting a large battery inside is going to be a big draw.

If you’re coming from an older A-series phone, you will be very, very happy with what Google has done this year.

 

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for srp of 799, pay just a tiny bit more at 820+-
can get pixel9 le
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