Key takeaways of zdnet
- Google Pixel 9A is the company’s latest midrange phone and retails for $ 499.
- It has a new tensor G4 chip, auxiliary AI tool, a better main camera and the largest battery of any pixel.
- You have to compromise for some budget trade-off, including lack of telephoto lens and slow charging speed.
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I am willing to think that people are behind Google Pixel 9A If you are from the future because if there is one thing that the phone gets correct, then it is time.
Retails for the latest Pixel 9A $ 499, which creates a stellar phone investment in today’s – and the unpredictable economy of the future. Of course, recently Tariff News I have been in discussion from January through Tiptoeing.
Also: The rumor of this Pixel 10 gave only Google an edge over Samsung and OnePlus
But with the latest wave of announcements, it is clear that the consumer electronics market is going to a fully developed frenzy, as the brace for brand effects, prices on the edge, teater, and shopkeepers run to lock in the prior price before the storm.
This means tools like Pixel 9A-which promise long-term benefits at a relatively affordable price-more than the first case. Time alone makes Pixel 9A one of the most important devices of 2025, even though it was not on the first unveiling.
Macroeconomics 101 on one side, here you need to know about Pixel 9A that I have been driving daily for a few months, including who should buy it and makes it worth upgrading.
I agree: Initially, I was not sold on new hardware and design of Pixel 9A. Bezels are quite fat from today’s standards-even when $ 459 Nothing Nothing Phone 3A Pro and $ 399 Samsung Galaxy A36 5G had to delete-and the pixel–camera bar was to delete-and Pixel-Camera Bar. A Like.
Google Pixel 9A (left) and Pixel 8A (right).
Kerry Van/ZDDNet
In theory, snatching the back of the phone makes the pixel difficult to distinguish into the sea of glass sandwich. In practice, it has two benefits: hand placements and low dust accumulation. While I will first tuck my index finger under the camera bar to retain the phone, not having a physical barrier means that I can hold the phone more independently.
Also: I have changed 8 settings on my pixel phone to improve battery life a lot.
Why is this technology going out about ergonomics? Because the power button of Pixel 9A is quite high, hand placement is one aspect No Want to limit yourself.
The same power button indicates Gemini, which replaces Google Assistant on Pixel 9A and can now complete more complex functions including multimodal, vision-based support.
Mithun Live recently received an update that allows AI to draw in context from the phone’s camera. Just the point and ask.
Kerry Van/ZDDNet
If there is one thing on which we can all agree, then it is notorious to collect dust between the cracks of the pixel phone camera bar. This is especially true if you have a case equipped, which further implicates debris and particles near the camera bar.
Pixel 9A has none of the problems that maintain a clean beauty after the gene pockets, my backpack and a gadget filled with a gadget and exiting the shoulder bag.
Also: I was having trouble connecting my Android auto until I did this one thing
I am also a fan of the bright display, which now ramps up to 2,700 notes of Pixel 8A’s 2,000 Nits vs. Peak Brightness. Better luminance was noticeable when I put two pixel phones through my infamous torture test-reading lessons from a pull-crossing computer bus window seat. Very scientific, I know.
But most of the end consumers will appreciate the practicality of such upgrades, and Pixel 9A when it comes to consuming materials under the spring sun.
Day-to-day benefits extend to the processing power of Pixel 9A, which soon introduces the Tensor G4 chipset as the Autade Pixel 9 series model, including $ 1,099 Pixel 9 Pro XL and $ 1,799 Pixel 9 Pro Folds. Today’s minimum amount to run hybrid AI features is added with 8 GB RAM, you are looking at a phone that handles most of the tasks.
Google says that switching to the tensor G4 chip provides 30% speed collision in web browsing on last year’s tensor G3, and I believe. With Pixel 9A and Pixel 8A’s hands (and on the same Wi-Fi network), the former loaded the story river faster on various image Hindola, web links, and ZDNET’s homepage a few seconds. Save a few seconds here and there, and you are seeing a accumulated snapper browsing experience.
The big question is how Tensor G4 catch over time. By this, I mean 1-2 years later cellular performance, power efficiency and memory management, as all are Issues raised by real customersIn the defense of Google, the company does not necessarily have to market its equipment as multitasking powerhouse or people who can magic the end of gaming console. Regardless, I will keep an eye on.
Also: Why should you not buy Google Pixel phone right now – even if you’re a superfane
I am more hopeful about the future of Pixel 9A due to my battery and endurance. Unexpectedly, it is one of the longest -long -lasting pixel phones, which I have tested, with a capacity of 5,100mAh that sets a new record for Google.
1-2 additional hours I squeezed the pixel 9A to Pixel 8A (4,492mAh), especially with my camera-thunder workflow. In fact, my battery test – in which 45 minutes of continuous use is used, from the browsing social media feed to a call from streaming videos – put Pixel 9A in the pole position above the Pixel 9A Pro XL. Now, if only Google can only improve wired charging speed from 23W rating. Give me 65W! 45W! I will also take 30W.
(While I am here: Pixel 9A’s flush camera design also makes it more compatible with various wireless charging docks.)
Funny, the pixel 8A (left) has a small punch hole design at the front compared to the pixel 9A (right) – even if the camera sensors are the same.
Kerry Van/ZDDNet
On paper, the new 48-megapixel primary camera on Pixel 9A looks like a downgrade from last year’s 64MP shooter, but the big image sensor on the east makes a difference.
Also: I tried controversial Android phones, which is discussing the Internet – and left impressed
I mostly paid attention to the performance intervals when evaluating night photos and in the atmosphere with a general lighting. Pinching in photos shows the pixel 9A by capturing more detail and vibrancy, naturally better contrast and color as a result of accuracy. Pixel 9A also nail skin tone, which can be very difficult when your environment color temperature (read: more orange or blue tilt) can be very difficult.
I left more fond zoom capabilities, as I felt a lack of a dedicated telephoto lens when I participated in the New York Nix Game in April and could not catch the quality shot of the tip-off with 8X (maximum) optical zoom-I sat away from a few parts from the court. (A more distant shot of the full area, taken with 13MP Ultravide and painted above, looked fantastic.)
Similar feelings were felt when I tried to capture the unbreakable aura of turkey crossing a road on the island of Stateson. Curiosity killed me, and a step close meant to remove birds.
ZDNET purchase advice
Money is now more sensitive subject than ever, so here is my purchase advice after testing Google Pixel 9A And every other A-series device since 2019.
It is the best round phone that you can buy for less than $ 500, and seven years of internal value-software support that have come down with it, different AI characteristics that have tricked below more premium pixel phones, etc.-This makes more appropriate options than your flashier contestants.
Whether you give importance to a good display, reliable battery life, or a camera that you want to get shots (just don’t be very ambitious), Pixel 9A will serve you well. This is one of the few best Android phones that I suggest for its listing value and more, if there is a carrier deal that fit your plan.
But should you buy one if you are using 1-2 year old handset? Probably not. Instead, I suggest that the next large sales program wait, as $ 799 pixel 9 will possibly fall within a similar price range – again.
If you can wait for it, Pixel 9, for approximately $ 50- $ 100, is a better smartphone deal, and it is a tool that we still consider to be the best option for most consumers, including power users and professional professionals. Regardless, your options in the midrange market are still promising, and the time may not be better.
The ZDNET review team tests the INS and Outs of every major phone release above a year, evaluating day-to-day performance, camera quality, battery life and endurance and special features. Before making recommendations, we consider every factor:
- Design and ergonomics: How good a phone looks and seems to play a big role in many users’ travel trips, so we consider these aspects heavily while testing.
- Display: Many factors affect the performance of a phone, including LTE/5G signal, battery life and background functions. Therefore, we usually start our evaluation with a fully charged handset, all background functions are closed, and stabilizing as much mobile connections as possible.
- Camera Quality: The ZDNET tests the phone cameras by capturing hundreds of photos and videos of various subjects and in various light situations. We also compare the output to older models.
- Battery life and charging: It is also important for us to evaluate how long phones they live under light, medium and heavy use, how long they take to recharge, and how they do it (wired, wireless, or both).
- Special Symptoms: These features distinguish tested devices from a stirring smartphone market and hopefully bring additional values for users, not contrast.
- Pricing and Availability: Beyond the budget ideas, let us also note whether a phone is available in the US or only internationally.
For more broad breakdowns, see our comprehensive phone test method page.
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The article was originally published on April 10, 2025, and was updated on 16 August 2025 to reflect the latest retailer deals and upcoming launch of the Pixel 10 series.
