Google Pixel 9a
I’m inclined to think that the folks behind the Google Pixel 9a 
The Google Pixel 9a (left) and Pixel 8a (right).
Kerry Wan/ZDNET
In theory, stripping down the back of the phone makes the Pixel harder to distinguish in a sea of glass sandwiches. In practice, this has two benefits: hand placement and reduced dust accumulation. While I would previously tuck my index finger underneath the camera bar to keep the phone upheld, not having the physical obstruction now means I can hold the phone much more freely.
Also: I changed 8 settings on my Pixel phone to significantly improve the battery life
Why is this tech nerd geeking out about ergonomics? Because the Pixel 9a’s power button is fairly high, hand placement is one aspect you don’t want to limit yourself to.
That same power button prompts Gemini, which replaces Google Assistant on the Pixel 9a and can now fulfill more complex tasks, including multimodal, vision-based assistance.
The day-to-day benefits extend to the processing power of the Pixel 9a, which features the same Tensor G4 chipset as the soon-to-be-outdated Pixel 9 series models, including the $1,099 Pixel 9 Pro XL and $1,799 Pixel 9 Pro Fold. Paired with 8GB of RAM, today’s minimum amount of memory to run hybrid AI features, you’re looking at a phone that handles most tasks gracefully.
Google says switching to the Tensor G4 chip yields a 30% speed bump in web browsing over last year’s Tensor G3, and I believe it. With the Pixel 9a and Pixel 8a in hand (and on the same Wi-Fi network), the former loaded up the various image carousels, web links, and the story river on ZDNET’s homepage a few seconds faster. Save a few seconds here and there, and you’re looking at an accumulatively snappier browsing experience.
Also: Why you shouldn’t buy a Google Pixel phone right now – even if you’re a superfan
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 1-2 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 I felt the lack of a dedicated telephoto lens when I attended a New York Knicks game back in April 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
This article was originally published on April 10, 2025, and was updated on August 16, 2025, to reflect the latest retailer deals and upcoming launch of the Pixel 10 series.