Pixel 9A Review: A Budget Phone That Thinks It’s Fancy

Alright, listen up tech-lovers and phone-scrolling’ pros — the Pixel 9A is here, and it’s kind of like that student in class who doesn’t talk much but always gets full marks. Yup, this phone is low-key smart, doesn’t burn a hole in your pocket, and still manages to pull off some cool AI stunts. Let’s dive in, shall we?

First Impressions: Wait, This is $499?

So, I got to test the Pixel 9A for two whole weeks — and wow, what a time it was! Stock markets went bonkers, Nintendo dropped the news about Switch 2, and CNET moved to a new office (basically like when your school suddenly decides to shift classrooms). In the middle of this chaos, the Pixel 9A was my sidekick.

One moment that blew my mind? I lost my cold brew coffee somewhere in the sea of moving boxes. I was using the phone’s Gemini Live feature — basically an AI assistant with eyes. I asked, “Where’s my coffee?” And this phone legit told me it was “on the desk, to the left of the yellow backpack.” Guess what? It was right! Either this phone’s got psychic powers, or I need to open my eyes more.

The Price is Right (At Least for Now)

Let’s get real — $499 is still a lot of money. But for what this phone can do, it’s a sweet deal. It’s got a new design, better screen, stronger battery, and fancier software than last year’s Pixel 8A. And it didn’t even get more expensive. Google somehow packed all that into a phone without raising the price. Applause please!

Now, will the price stay this low forever? Well, not even Google knows the future (unless they build a phone that predicts exam questions). But for now, it’s a great price.

AI That’s Actually Smart (Sometimes)

Sure, this phone can use AI to create wild images — like a crocodile skiing on the moon (why though?). But the AI isn’t just for fun. Gemini Live, as I mentioned earlier, actually helped me find things around me in real life. It felt like having a mini Sherlock Holmes in my phone.

That said, not every AI feature is useful. Some are like that one tool in your pencil box that you never use but keep anyway.

Design: Looking’ Sleek!

This is the best-looking Pixel A phone ever. Flat sides, strong body, and water/dust resistant — like, even if you accidentally spill cola on it, it should be fine. It’s got IP68 rating (translation: water won’t ruin it unless you throw it in the swimming pool for an hour).

The back is plastic, but not the cheap kind. It feels solid and less likely to break if you drop it — which, let’s be honest, is gonna happen at some point.

Also, the color I tested — “iris” — looked like a pretty mix of lavender and springtime purple. 10/10 would recommend if you like cool colors.

Display: Bright, Big, and Beautiful

The screen is a 6.3-inch OLED beauty — same size as the fancy Pixel 9. It’s sharp, colorful, and super bright (2700 nits!). Perfect for binge-watching YouTube, scrolling memes, or gaming.

Even though it’s bigger than the Pixel 8A’s screen, Google made the bezels smaller — so the phone itself doesn’t feel like a giant brick in your hand.

Camera Time: Say Cheese!

Main camera: 48 megapixels. Ultrawide camera: 13 megapixels. Selfie cam: also 13 megapixels.

The photos? They look great, especially in good light. Even close-up shots with the new macro mode look cool. It uses the main camera (not the ultrawide one like most phones) to take those detailed shots of tiny things — like your pet ant (if you have one).

Compared to the Pixel 8A, the photos aren’t drastically better, but they’re still super clear and colorful.

Battery Life: Big Battery, Okay Result

The Pixel 9A has the biggest battery ever in a Pixel — 5,100 mAh! That’s a lot of juice. But because the screen is bigger, brighter, and the AI is working behind the scenes, the battery life is… just okay.

I usually got about a full day’s use before needing to charge it up. So if you’re someone who plays games for hours or forgets to plug in at night, you might want to keep your charger close.

In tests, the battery dropped 5% in 45 minutes (not bad), but it lost 22% during a 3-hour video stream (ouch).

Charging is faster now — 23W if you use a 45W charger (but sorry, not included). You also get wireless charging at 7.5W. Not the fastest, but still cool for a mid-range phone.

Performance: Smooth Like Butter

The phone runs on Google’s new Tensor G4 chip with 8GB RAM. Translation: It’s fast.

Apps open quickly, games like PUBG Mobile and Genshin Impact run super smooth, and the animations are slick. The only annoying part? The fingerprint scanner under the screen — it’s kind of moody. Sometimes it takes two or three tries to unlock. Meh.

Bonus Features You’ll Love

• Now Playing: The lock screen shows the name of any song playing nearby. Great for when you’re too shy to ask your friend what that catchy song is.
• Magic Eraser: Took a pic with a photobomber in the back? Poof — gone.
• Circle to Search: See something cool on Insta? Circle it and Google finds it for you. Sorcery!
• 7 years of updates: Yup, this phone is in it for the long haul.

What’s missing? No satellite emergency texting (that’s in the Pixel 9). But honestly, how often are you stranded in the middle of nowhere?

Pixel 9A vs Others

Feature	Pixel 9A	Pixel 8A	Pixel 9	iPhone 16E
Price	$499	$499	$799	$599
Screen	6.3″ OLED	6.1″ OLED	6.3″ OLED	6.1″ OLED
Camera	48MP + 13MP	64MP + 13MP	50MP + 48MP	48MP
Battery	5,100 mAh	4,492 mAh	4,700 mAh	Up to 26 hrs video
Charging	23W wired	18W wired	45W wired	20W wired
Software	Android 15	Android 14	Android 14	iOS 18

Final Verdict: Who Should Buy This?

• Got a Pixel 5 or older? Time to upgrade.
• First-time smartphone user? Great starter choice.
• Jumping ship from iPhone? Hello, Android!
• Want a flashy phone but don’t want to spend ₹1 lakh? This one’s for you.

But if the Pixel 9 goes on a huge discount, like $549 or less, then yeah — maybe grab that instead.

The Bottom Line

The Pixel 9A isn’t perfect — but it’s a smart, affordable, and super solid phone. It’s like your chill best friend who’s always helpful and doesn’t ask for too much. For under $500, you’re getting great performance, cool AI tools, strong cameras, and a beautiful screen.

In short: If you’re hunting for a new phone that’s smart, stylish, and doesn’t rob your piggy bank — the Pixel 9A is the one.