Google Pixel 9a Review: Hands-On

I have been using the Pixel 9a for the past week, and unfortunately, my concerns have been confirmed: the new design does not do justice to this phone.

As previously mentioned, the Pixel 9a bears a striking resemblance to an iPhone, and not in a positive way. This departure from its unique design identity is disappointing.

For years, fans of the Pixel series could mock Apple’s budget-friendly iPhone SE for recycling an outdated design. Meanwhile, Google’s Pixel A-Series consistently introduced fresh designs with each new model, aligning with its flagship counterpart.

However, with the launch of the Pixel 9 models, things have taken a different turn. While the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro embraced a modern and sleek aesthetic, the Pixel 9a has stripped away most of its distinguishing design features.

While the Pixel 9 sports a stylish camera island, the Pixel 9a features a plain and unremarkable design. The flat and unexciting camera lens lacks any distinctive features and appears more noticeably plastic than its predecessor.

Although the Pixel 8a also had a plastic build, the addition of the camera bar provided a unique design element that added excitement to the affordable phone. The absence of this design element in the Pixel 9a leaves it looking mundane and uninspired.

I’ve got beef with the Pixel 9a design

The Pixel 9a is bulkier than the Pixel 8a, featuring a 6.3-inch display compared to the 6.1-inch display of its predecessor. The shift from curved edges to a squared finish gives the Pixel 9a a chunkier feel.

When holding both phones, the Pixel 9a feels wider due to its squared frame, even though it is only 0.6mm wider and maintains the same thickness as the Pixel 8a at 8.9mm. Despite being lighter, the Pixel 9a’s design makes it appear larger in the hand.

Side by side, the Pixel 8a stands out as the more visually appealing device, highlighting the disappointment in the Pixel 9a’s design direction.

Don’t judge the Pixel 9a by its cover

Despite my reservations about the Pixel 9a’s design, the phone’s performance tells a different story.

The Pixel 9a’s display is not only larger but also brighter, making it ideal for outdoor use and viewing HDR content. Surprisingly, the display is even brighter than that of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.

Although the Pixel 9a retains a significant bezel around the display, the overall performance of the display is impressive and outweighs any aesthetic shortcomings.

One of the key strengths of the Pixel A-Series is its use of the same core hardware as Google’s flagship phones. The Pixel 9a offers a comparable experience to its more expensive counterparts at a fraction of the cost.

The clean Android interface, free of bloatware, and the promise of seven years of software support with regular updates make the Pixel 9a a compelling choice for long-term use.

Furthermore, the timely OS updates ensure that Pixel 9a users are among the first to receive new features and improvements.

The Pixel 9a cameras might look ugly, but the photos do not

The Pixel A-Series offers an affordable entry point to the renowned Pixel camera experience.

Known for its exceptional photography capabilities, the Pixel A-Series excels in point-and-shoot simplicity, delivering reliable results without the need for manual adjustments.

Features like Night Sight enhance low-light photography, setting the Pixel apart from its competitors. The consistency across lenses ensures uniform color tones and a seamless shooting experience.

From my testing, the Pixel 9a’s camera performance surpasses that of the Pixel 8a, particularly in challenging lighting conditions.

Despite its unappealing design, the Pixel 9a continues to offer an affordable yet high-quality camera experience, complemented by its larger display, extended battery life, and user-friendly software.

While the design may be lacking, the overall package of the Pixel 9a makes it a worthy contender in the mid-range smartphone market.

Stay tuned for our comprehensive Pixel 9a review, coming soon.