Google Pixel 9a vs Pixel 9: There’s a clear winner – make sure you pick right
One Pixel phone provides better bang-for-buck - and it ain't the 9a.
The Pixel 9a is the latest member of Google's ever-expanding smartphone family.
It joins the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL - three similar handsets with slightly beefier specs.
Pitched as an entry-level version of the Pixel 9, the new model would appear to be the obvious choice for shoppers on a budget.
But looks can be deceiving.
After assessing the street price of each phone, we're convinced the Pixel 9a is not the best value, especially if you care about camera performance.
Here's how each phone compares and how much they will set you back.
Looking for a plan?
Get the Pixel 9 on a mobile plan from $92.46 a month.
Google Pixel 9a in a nutshell
The Google Pixel 9a is a "budget" version of the Pixel 9 similar to the iPhone 16e.
It comes with many of the same specifications as its older sibling, including a 6.3-inch OLED display, a Google Tensor G4 processor and up to 256GB of inbuilt storage.
To bring the cost down, Google has downgraded the imaging hardware and cut 2GB of RAM. It also sports a flatter design that jettisons the camera bar on the rear.
Here's how the specs compare.
| Pixel 9a | Pixel 9 | Pixel 9 Pro | Pixel 9 Pro XL | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RRP | From $849 | From $1,349 | From $1,699 | From $1,849 |
| Display | 6.3 inch OLED | 6.3 inch OLED | 6.3 inch LTPO OLED | 6.8 inch LTPO OLED |
| Display protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| Native Resolution | 1080x2424 pixels | 1080x2424 pixels | 1080x2424 pixels | 1344x2992 pixels |
| Contrast ratio | 1,000,000:1 | 2,000,000:1 | 2,000,000:1 | 2,000,000:1 |
| Refresh Rate | 60–120 Hz | 60–120 Hz | 60–120 Hz | 60–120 Hz |
| Processor | Google Tensor G4 | Google Tensor G4 | Google Tensor G4 | Google Tensor G4 |
| Rear Camera | 48MP wide | 13MP ultrawide | 50MP wide | 48MP ultrawide with Macro Focus | 50MP wide | 48MP ultrawide with Macro Focus | 48MP 5x telephoto lens | 50MP wide | 48MP Ultrawide with Macro Focus | 48MP 5x telephoto lens |
| Front Camera | 13 MP selfie camera | 10.5 MP Dual PD selfie camera with auto-focus | 42 MP Dual PD selfie camera with auto-focus | 42 MP Dual PD selfie camera with auto-focus |
| Battery | 5,100 mAh (30 hours) | 4,700 mAh (24 hours) | 4,700 mAh (24 hours) | 5,060 mAh (24 hours) |
| Water Resistance | IP68 | IP68 | IP68 | IP68 |
| RAM | 8GB | 12GB | 16GB | 16GB |
| Capacity | 128 GB / 256 GB | 128 GB / 256 GB | 128 GB / 256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB | 128 GB / 256 GB / 512 GB / 1 TB |
| Dimensions | 154.7 x 73.3 x 8.9mm | 152.8 x 72 x 8.5 mm | 152.8 x 72 x 8.5 mm | 162.8 x 76.6 x 8.5 mm |
As you can see, there's not a huge amount of difference between each phone, with the ultrawide camera lens being the main sticking point.
The 9a also uses an inferior version of Corning Gorilla Glass, which could be a problem if you have useless butterfingers like me.
The Pixel Pro and Pro XL up the camera specs even further, but both models remain prohibitively expensive.
If you're after an affordable Pixel, it really comes down to the 9 or 9a.
Street prices compared
With a starting price of $849, the Pixel 9a is $500 cheaper than the standard Pixel 9 - a significant saving, but only on paper.
In reality, the Pixel 9 hasn't been $1,349 for quite some time. Harvey Norman, Officeworks, JB Hi-Fi, Amazon and Kogan all have it for under $1,000 at the time of writing.
For example, Kogan is currently selling the 128GB Google Pixel 9 for $979.
That brings the price difference down to around $130.
At that price, you might as well stump for the Pixel 9. It boasts better front and rear cameras, more durable Gorilla Glass, faster Wi-Fi and an extra 2GB of RAM for improved performance.
As mentioned, the Pixel's distinctive camera bar has been removed on the 9a. Some people love the new look, while others think it's a bit cheap and/or generic. Have a gander at the phones above and judge for yourself.
The only real downside is battery life - despite being the more expensive model, the Pixel 9 comes with a smaller 4,700mAh battery.
If you frequently forget to charge your phone in the mornings before heading off to work, those extra 6 hours of battery life could swing things back in the 9a's favour.
For everyone else, get the Pixel 9. It's a better phone, and only slightly more expensive if you know where to shop.
The Google Pixel 9a is officially on sale in Australia – and I’m kind of obsessed
It's a top-tier Android phone.
Read more…Ask a question