Google is employing the same top-end Tensor G4 processor as the Pixel 9 series, though you get only 8 gigabytes of RAM versus 12 on the Pixel 9 and 16 on the Pixel 9 Pro. For the most part, performance feels identical to Google’s flagship phones. Apps launch quickly, multitasking is snappy, and it didn’t struggle with the few mobile games I tried.
But the lesser RAM means a few Gemini-powered software features from the Pixel 9 series aren’t available, like the Pixel Screenshots app and Call Notes, which automatically provides a text summary of your phone calls. I find these helpful, so it’s a shame they’re not here, but not enough to ding the phone’s score for it.
I also had some issues with Assistant Voice Typing—the souped-up voice-to-text tech—though this may or may not be related. It got a few things incorrect as I spoke. That’s common for other phones, but I usually have a nearly flawless experience on Pixels.
The big improvement over its predecessor is battery life. There’s now a beefy 5,100-mAh cell, the largest to date in a Pixel phone. You’re not going to get two-day battery life, but I’ve generally ended most days with a comfortable 30 to 40 percent left over. On the day of the Nintendo Switch 2 announcement, I was posting live for an hour on Bluesky, not to mention using Slack and enabling the hot spot function to edit and upload some photos from a tablet. By 5:30 pm, the Pixel 9a was at 15 percent. Heavy users may need to tote around a power bank.
Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
I haven’t had many issues with the rest of the hardware. I like that I can wirelessly charge this Pixel even if it’s using the older, basic Qi standard. Wireless charging isn’t a given on cheap and midrange phones, so this is a plus. Google has upgraded the IP rating to IP68 now, meaning the phone can be submerged for longer periods and still come out OK. The optical fingerprint sensor is fast and reliable, and this remains one of the only Android phones with a secure face unlock that works with banking and other sensitive apps. It’s a shame that Google’s face-scanning biometrics system still doesn’t work well in the dark, and it’s not as secure as Apple’s Face ID (it can be spoofed).
The Pixel Eye
The dual-camera system consists of a 48-megapixel main sensor and a 13-MP ultrawide, with a 13-MP selfie camera on the front. As with virtually every Pixel phone, it’s hard not to be impressed with the camera quality compared to its peers. This Pixel is also privy to many of the new AI software features Google debuted on the Pixel 9, like Add Me, Best Take, Reimagine, and Auto frame. I explored a lot of these features here and in my Pixel 9 review.
Images may not be as sharp as what you might get from the iPhone 16e’s camera, but you’d only notice if you zoomed in. Whether it’s during the day or at night, you can expect a sharp, colorful, and bright photo, one that can handle high-contrast scenes decently. Even some 4K 60-frames-per-second video footage I shot in a dimly lit karaoke room came out looking perfectly usable, if a bit grainy.
