The new Pixel 9a officially goes on sale today, and at $499, it’s a stellar phone investment in today’s — and increasingly the foreseeable — economy. Of course, the recent tariff news I’ve been tiptoeing through has been in discussions since January.
Also: Are tariffs about to make your next iPhone way more expensive? It’s complicated
But with the latest wave of announcements, it’s clear that the consumer electronics market is about to go into a full-blown frenzy, as brands brace for impact, prices teeter on the edge, and shoppers rush to lock in value before the storm truly hits.
That means devices like the Pixel 9a — ones that promise long-term benefits at a relatively affordable price — matter more than ever. The timing alone makes the Pixel 9a one of the most significant devices of 2025, even if it wasn’t meant to be when first unveiled.
Macroeconomics 101 aside, here’s what you need to know about the Pixel 9a I’ve been driving daily for the past two weeks, including who should buy it and what makes it worth upgrading to.
I’ll admit: initially, I wasn’t sold on the Pixel 9a’s new hardware and design. The bezels are noticeably thick by today’s standards – even when compared to similarly priced devices like the $459 Nothing Phone 3a Pro and $399 Samsung Galaxy A36 5G – and removing the Pixel-famous camera bar was a choice.
Gemini Live recently received an update that lets the AI pull in context from the phone’s camera. Just point and ask.
Kerry Wan/ZDNET
If there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that Pixel phones are notorious for collecting dust between the crevices of the camera bar. This is especially true if you have a case equipped, which further traps debris and particles near the camera bar.
The Pixel 9a has none of those problems, maintaining a clean aesthetic after two weeks of going in and out of jean pockets, my backpack, and a gadget-filled shoulder bag.
Also: The hidden Pixel camera feature that makes your photos look more vivid – how it works
I’m also a fan of the brighter display, which now ramps up to 2,700 nits of peak brightness versus the Pixel 8a’s 2,000 nits. The improved luminance was noticeable when I put the two Pixel phones through my infamous torture test — AKA reading text-heavy webpages from the window seat of a bridge-crossing commuter bus. Very scientific, I know.
But most end consumers will appreciate the practicality of such upgrades, and the Pixel 9a delivers when it comes to consuming content under the springtime sun.
The big question is how the Tensor G4 holds up over time. By that, I mean cellular performance, power efficiency, and memory management after 1-2 years, as those have all been issues raised by real customers. In Google’s defense, the company doesn’t necessarily market its devices as multitasking powerhouses or ones that can spell the end of gaming consoles. Regardless, I’ll be keeping tabs.
Also: This unique Android phone is a solid alternative to the flagships – especially at this price
I’m more hopeful about the Pixel 9a’s future because of its battery and endurance. Unsurprisingly, this is one of the longest-lasting Pixel phones I’ve tested, with a 5,100mAh capacity that sets a new record for Google.
The 2-3 extra hours I’ve squeezed out of the Pixel 9a compared to the Pixel 8a (4,492mAh) have been admirable, especially with my camera-heavy workflow. In fact, my battery tests — which consist of 45 minutes of continuous usage, from browsing social media feeds to streaming videos to making calls — put the Pixel 9a in pole position above the Pixel 9 Pro XL. Now, if only Google could improve the wired charging speed from the sluggish 23W rating. Give me 65W! 45W! I’ll even take 30W.
(While I’m here: the flush camera design of the Pixel 9a also makes it much more compatible with various wireless charging docks.)
What left me wanting more was the zoom capabilities, as the lack of a dedicated telephoto lens was felt when I recently attended a New York Knicks game and couldn’t grab a quality shot of the tip-off with the 8x (max) optical zoom – even though I sat just a few sections away from the court. (A more distant shot of the full arena, taken with the 13MP ultrawide and pictured above, looked fantastic.)
Similar emotions were felt when I tried to capture the unshakable aura of turkeys crossing a street on Staten Island. The curiosity killed me, and one step closer meant the birds bolting away.
ZDNET’s buying advice
Money is a sensitive topic now more than ever, so here’s my buying advice after testing the Google Pixel 9a