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With the Google Pixel 9a having launched just a few months in the past and the Google Pixel 9 hitting cabinets almost a yr again, a standard dilemma arises—do you have to go for the newer mid-range mannequin or persist with final yr’s flagship? It’s a sound query, particularly given their related pricing and shared DNA.
In Europe, the Pixel 9 prices about €100 greater than the 9a, whereas within the US, the hole widens to $150. On paper, the 2 telephones have loads in widespread—an identical shows, matching chipsets, and comparable digital camera setups. However look a bit nearer, and some key variations emerge. For some, they is probably not dealbreakers. For others, nevertheless, the added options of the Pixel 9 may justify the additional price. So let’s take a more in-depth look.
Desk of Contents:
For starters, you may compare the complete spec sheets or straight proceed with our editor’s evaluation within the following textual content.
Dimension comparability
Regardless of the 2 Pixels sharing the identical display screen diagonal, the 9a has noticeably greater dimensions, however decrease weight. There are a number of causes for that.
Firstly, the Pixel 9 is extra compact because it has thinner bezels across the display screen. The 9a has absurdly thick bezels, even for a funds cellphone in 2025. That makes the 9a taller and wider. It is also barely thicker, which is likely to be because of the bigger battery.
As for the burden distinction, we attribute that to the selection of supplies. The Pixel 9 options Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the back and front held by an aluminum body, whereas the 9a’s construct options an unnamed Gorilla Glass sheet on the entrance and a plastic again, which is lighter.
All in all, the Pixel 9 is the higher selection given the slimmer bezels, the nicer construct supplies and the extra compact dimensions.
Show comparability
On paper, the 2 units ought to have the very same shows with the identical efficiency. Each are 6.3-inch OLEDs with the identical marketed most brightness. Nevertheless, based on our exams, the Pixel 9a has barely decrease most brightness (round 1,900 nits) than the Pixel 9 (a bit over 2,200 nits).
Each telephones attain ranges of max brightness hardly ever seen within the business, however the distinction between the 2 could possibly be seen as a touch that the telephones use completely different panels.
Aside from that, there is no characteristic disparity between the 2 – each telephones assist the identical fundamental HDR10+ video normal and as much as 120Hz refresh charge.
Battery life
The 2 handsets share the identical chipset and the identical show, however the Pixel 9a has the benefit of a bigger 5,100 mAh battery, versus the 4,700 mAh-powered vanilla Pixel 9. Nevertheless, it appears just like the bigger battery doesn’t translate into actual battery life advantages.
The Pixel 9 scores marginally higher on virtually all exams, pushing the Energetic Use Rating barely increased than the 9a’s.
We are able to solely guess what the rationale is likely to be and as we observe in our Pixel 9a evaluate, it could very effectively be a extra energy hungry show panel.
Charging pace
In concept, the Pixel 9 ought to solely be barely quicker to cost than the Pixel 9a, given the small distinction within the charging charge – 23W vs. 27W in favor of the common 9. Nevertheless, that didn’t prove totally true in our real-life testing.
The Pixel 9 certainly charged simply barely quicker within the first 15 to half-hour of the charging cycle, however it accomplished a full cost in 85 minutes, whereas the Pixel 9a took 101 minutes.
Notably, the Pixel 9 options quicker wi-fi charging too – 15W (with Pixel stand, in any other case 12W) as an alternative of the 9a’s 7.5W charging energy.
Speaker check
Relating to audio system, we will simply say that the Pixel 9a is the clear winner right here. Positive, the Pixel 9 audio system are louder, however the 9a’s tuning is way nicer. The bass is extra outstanding, the tracks do not sound tinny just like the Pixel 9, and the general sound is way hotter and fuller.
Efficiency
Each handsets depend on the identical in-house Google Tensor G4 SoC that debuted with the Pixel 9 collection final yr. Regardless that the 9a is extra inexpensive, it nonetheless rocks the identical “flagship” chipset.
Reminiscence configurations are related, however not an identical. Each handsets provide solely 128GB or 256GB storage, however the vanilla Pixel 9 offers you 12GB RAM, whereas the 9a settles for 8GB.
Benchmark efficiency
As anticipated, there is no distinction in efficiency. The small variations you see within the benchmark outcomes are effectively inside the statistical error.
Digicam comparability
The digital camera {hardware} is probably the principle distinction between the 2 handsets. The extra inexpensive Pixel 9a settles for a smaller 48MP predominant sensor and a 13MP ultrawide digital camera, whereas the usual Pixel 9 boasts a bodily a lot bigger 50MP predominant sensor and a bigger 48MP ultrawide unit too.
The selfie {hardware} can be completely different. The 9a will get a 13MP shooter, whereas the Pixel 9 gives a ten.5MP digital camera, which has the identical sensor dimension because the 13MP selfie on the 9a.
Picture high quality
At first look, the 2 ultrawide cameras seize near-identical photographs, however in the event you look intently sufficient, you’ll discover that the 48MP ultrawide unit on the Pixel 9 renders shut objects a lot sharper. That is because of the autofocus functionality. Objects within the distance are rendered equally, although.
Pixel 9a: 0.6x • 1x • 2x • 0.6x • 1x • 2x
Pixel 9: 0.6x • 1x • 2x • 0.6x • 1x • 2x
As soon as once more, the Pixel 9’s predominant digital camera gives extra nice rendering with barely punchier colours and a tad sharper objects. You possibly can spot a much bigger distinction within the 2x zoom mode, the place the larger sensor reveals a transparent benefit.
The hole widens as the sunshine drops. The Pixel 9’s ultrawide and predominant cameras produce cleaner and sharper pictures with wider dynamic vary. The variations for many will doubtless be negligible, however it’s value noting.
Pixel 9a: 0.6x • 1x • 2x • 0.6x • 1x • 2x
Pixel 9: 0.6x • 1x • 2x • 0.6x • 1x • 2x
We discovered no significant distinction between the selfie cameras. Each are wonderful.
Selfies: Pixel 9a • Pixel 9
Video high quality
Beneath now we have just a few body grabs from the movies taken by the 2 telephones at every focal size, so it is simpler to check to at least one one other.
The daylight movies from the 2 Pixels appear virtually an identical. The Pixel 9’s predominant digital camera video is simply ever so barely sharper and extra detailed. The distinction is negligible, although.
Pixel 9a 4K screengrabs: 0.6x • 1x • 0.6x • 1x
Pixel 9 4K screengrabs: 0.6x • 1x • 0.6x • 1x
The nighttime movies from the Pixel 9 are sharper, considerably cleaner and significantly brighter.
Verdict
Naturally, the Pixel 9 is on high in most features. It gives a nicer digital camera expertise, a brighter show, a extra premium design, and marginally higher battery life and charging. Maybe the worth distinction will make sense for most individuals, particularly prospects in Europe, the place the hole is simply €100.
Conversely, in the event you do not thoughts the thick bezels, the Pixel 9a delivers principally the identical consumer expertise. The show remains to be one of many brightest on the town, efficiency is on par, and the digital camera {hardware} is not that far behind. The stereo audio system are even higher on the 9a. So, in the event you take into account your self an informal on a regular basis consumer, then save a couple of bucks and go for the Pixel 9a.
- The cheaper price.
- The higher audio system.
- The an identical consumer expertise.
Get the Google Pixel 9a for:
- The quicker charging pace and higher battery life.
- The marginally brighter show.
- The higher digital camera efficiency at night time and the added versatility of AF on the ultrawide.
Get the Google Pixel 9 for: