The Good, the Bad: My Honest Review With the Google Pixel 9a

When looking for a good but affordable Android phone, there are many options to choose from. In the U.S., the selection isn’t as big as in some other countries, but there are still great budget-friendly phones available.

Google has been making excellent mid-range phones for years with its Pixel A-series. These phones offer a simpler version of Google’s flagship Pixel experience but keep the best features. The new Pixel 9a continues this trend, but with some big changes in design and software.

I’ve been using the Pixel 9a as my main phone for a week, and here’s what I like and what I don’t.

The Design Feels Like a Step Back

Bring Back the Bold Camera Look!

When the first images of the Pixel 9 and 9 Pro leaked last year, I wasn’t sure about the new design. It looked more like an iPhone, and I wasn’t a fan. But after using the Pixel 9 Pro XL for a month, I started to like it.

I expected the same thing to happen with the Pixel 9a, but it didn’t. Google removed the camera visor (the black bar that held the cameras on the Pixel 8a), which gave the phone a unique look. Instead, the Pixel 9a has a small camera bump that blends into the back of the phone.

After using it for a week, I still miss the old design. The Pixel 8a looked special, but the 9a looks plain in comparison.

That said, the phone feels good in the hand. It’s still small and easy to hold, even though it’s a little bigger than last year’s model. The edges are now flat (like the iPhone) instead of rounded, but they don’t feel uncomfortable.

Fewer AI Features, But Still a Great Pixel Experience

The Pixel 9a uses the same Tensor G4 processor as the more expensive Pixel 9 Pro models. However, to keep the price low, Google made some cuts.

For example, the Pixel 9a has only 8GB of RAM (compared to 12GB in the Pro models). Because of this, it doesn’t support some of the advanced AI features like:

• Pixel Screenshots (AI-powered notes from screenshots)

• Call Notes (automatic call summaries)

• Multimodal AI (understanding images and text together)

But in my week of using the phone, I didn’t miss these features much. Most of the useful Pixel tools are still here, including:
✔ Circle to Search (search anything by drawing a circle)
✔ AI Wallpapers (create custom backgrounds with AI)
✔ Magic Eraser (remove unwanted objects from photos)
✔ Clear Calling (reduce background noise in calls)
✔ Now Playing (identify songs playing nearby)

Unless you really need the latest AI tools, the Pixel 9a still feels like a true Pixel phone. It has a clean, smooth software experience and will get seven years of updates—just like the more expensive models.

The Best Battery Life of Any Pixel Phone

One of the biggest upgrades in the Pixel 9a is the 5,100 mAh battery—the largest ever in a Pixel phone. Even the Pixel 9 Pro XL has a smaller battery (5,060 mAh).

In my testing, the Pixel 9a easily lasted a full day with heavy use, including:

• Lots of calls and messages

• Social media scrolling

• Watching a 2-hour soccer game

• Some YouTube streaming

On lighter days, I even got close to a day and a half before needing to charge.

Most Pixel phones have decent battery life, but the 9a is the best yet. If you want a Pixel with long battery life, this is the one to get.

The Pixel 9a Isn’t Perfect

Where Google Could Improve

While the Pixel 9a is a great phone, it has some weak points:

🔴 Slow Charging (23W max)

• Even with its big battery, the Pixel 9a charges slowly (0% to 100% takes almost 2 hours).

• The Pixel 9 Pro XL charges at 37W, which is much faster.

🔴 Thick Bezels (The Black Borders Around the Screen)

• The bezels on the Pixel 9a are thicker than most modern phones, even some cheaper ones.

• Watching videos in landscape mode feels outdated.

🔴 Outdated Screen Protection (Gorilla Glass 3)

• The screen uses Gorilla Glass 3, which is very old (from 2013).

• Phones like the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE (same price) have stronger Gorilla Glass Victus.

🔴 Plastic Back (But Most People Use a Case Anyway)

• The back is plastic, like the Pixel 8a, but this isn’t a big issue since most users will use a case.

Final Verdict: A Great Phone for the Price

For $500, the Pixel 9a is a great choice if you want:
✅ Clean Android software
✅ Seven years of updates
✅ Excellent camera for the price
✅ Best battery life in a Pixel
✅ Useful AI features (but not all of them)

Yes, it has some downsides (slow charging, thick bezels, older screen protection), but overall, it’s one of the best mid-range Android phones of 2025.

If you want a Pixel phone without spending too much, the 9a is a smart pick.