Google Pixel 9a launch LIVE: Everything you need to know

Pixel 9a vs. Pixel 9: How they compare

It's the age-old dilemma — get the cheaper phone and sacrifice flagship features or pay more for the higher-end device? Would-be Pixel 9a shoppers will have to confront that question when the new phone goes on sale, and they have to figure out whether it's a better buy than the $799 Pixel 9.

After all, the phones feature the same AI capabilities, which is a major reason why you get a Pixel in the first place. So what do you sacrifice by opting for the $499 Pixel 9a over Google's pricier flagship? Our Pixel 9a vs. Pixel 9 comparison digs into the answer to that question.

Add Me gets added

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I'll be honest. I wasn't that impressed with Add Me when I tested it out for my Pixel 9 Pro review last year. When it works, it works great as you can see from the before and after photos that John Velasco created with his Pixel 9 Pro XL. In my experience, though, the end result is usually only as good as the person you hand off the camera, too.

At any rate, Add Me joins the AI tools available on the Pixel 9a. If you're not familiar with it, this is a photo-editing feature for group shots that lets you insert yourself into the photo when you're stuck capturing everybody else having fun. The feature uses AR to tell you where to stand, and AI to stitch the images together into a seamless final photo.

Where are the pre-orders?

If you're wondering why Google's not offering any pre-orders for the Pixel 9a, so were our friends at Android Central. They asked Google for some clarification and got a response that sheds some light on the Pixel 9a's April release.

Turns out, it's a quality control issue, where Google is playing it safe with this release. Specifically:

"We're checking on a component quality issue that's affecting a small number of Pixel 9a devices."

A few recent Google hardware launches have been marred by reports of flaws here and there, so you can understand Google's caution here. Hopefully, the company is able to complete its check and announce a firm release date soon.

Best Buy's Pixel 9a deal

As we continue to highlight Pixel 9a deals ahead of the phone's launch in April, Best Buy has weighed in with its offer. And it can put a little cash in your pocket in the form of a gift card.

Specifically, Best Buy will give you a $100 gift card when your buy a Pixel 9a from the retailer. There's not trade-in or activation required — just buy an unlocked phone, and the gift card's yours.

The catch is that the deal isn't live yet, but you can sign up at Best Buy to be notified once you can purchase your Pixel 9a there.

Farewell to the camera bar

One of the more talked-about changes to the Pixel 9a figures to be the removal of the camera bar that has stretched across the back of Google's phones since the Pixel 6. Instead, with the Pixel 9a, you get a pill-shaped array that sits pretty flush against the back of the phone.

On the one hand, I'm sad to see the camera bar go. I thought it made Pixel phones stand out from other devices. I also appreciated how the bar stretching across the length of the phone made it so that Pixels didn't wobble when you laid them on their back. Other phones with camera arrays that jut out can't say the same.

However, the fact that the new camera setup doesn't jut out from the Pixel 9a intrigues me. I'd like to see how it looks in person — and more importantly, whether there's any wobble.

Pixel Screenshots to the rescue

Another Pixel 9 AI feature that's found its way to the Pixel 9a is Pixel Screenshots, which I also count among my favorite recent additions to Google's AI toolkit. It's a personal choice, as what you get out of the Screenshots app depends mightily on how you use your phone. But the feature works pretty well in my workflow.

In a nutshell, Pixel Screenshots indexes all the screenshots you capture on your phone and makes them searchable by the content included in the screenshot. But the features don't stop there.

You can set reminders related to the screenshot. Say you capture image of an upcoming event — a reminder via the screenshot app can let you know that event is coming up. You can group screenshots into collections, too, if they're related.

Again, the feature works best if you're the sort of person who's always capturing screenshots for quick reference or future research. And now it's available on a device that costs $300 less than the cheapest Pixel 9 flagship.

Keep an eye out for Pixel 9a deals

You can't pre-order the Pixel 9a; instead you'll have to wait until April for the phone to go on sale. But that's not stopping retailers and wireless carriers from talking up their Pixel 9a deals now.

We've got a round-up of the latest Pixel 9a offers so you can find out how much you can save once the phone does go on sale.

Bigger battery

If you ask me, one of the more significant changes to the Pixel 9a is its bigger battery. The new phone features a 5,100 mAh power pack, the largest battery ever in a Pixel A series phone by far. It’s certainly more expansive than the Pixel 8a’s 4,492 mAh cell.

That should have an impact on Pixel battery life, where Google has lagged other phone makers in recent years. The Pixel 8a lasted nearly 11.5 hours on our battery test in which fully charged phones surf the web over cellular until they give up the ghost. That’s better than most devices we test by a little more than hour, but it’s well off the pace of other budget phones like the Moto G Power (2025) and OnePlus 13R.

With a bigger battery and more efficient Tensor G4 chipset, the Pixel 9a should improve upon the Pixel 8a’s result. But we’ll need to test the phone to confirm.

Specs check

The Tom's Guide TikTok account features spec overviews of new phones — you can find our specs check on the Pixel 9a below. If you want the straight info on the latest gadgets as soon as they drop, you really should subscribe.

@tomsguide

♬ Vlog Video work Fashionable BGM(847726) - Tsuyoshi_san

Call Notes arrives

I tested the Pixel 9 Pro when Google released that phone last fall, and of the AI features from that phone now available on the Pixel 9a, I have to say that one of my favorites is Call Notes. This feature leverages the ability to record and transcribe phone calls on your phone to produce an auto-generated summary of the call.

So why is that helpful? Well, say you call up a contractor or service provider to ask them about a project around the home. With Call Notes, you don’t have to furiously jot down what they say — your Pixel transcribes the call and then produces some bullet points so you have the key takeaways at the ready when you need to review the call. It also works out well for work phone calls or anything else where you’re planning a project with someone else.

The summaries were fairly accurate in my testing, though back in the fall, I thought the call transcripts could have been a bit more accurate. Certainly, when we review the Pixel 9a, we’ll see if Google’s AI tools have gotten better at accurately converting speech to text. If they have, consider Call Notes to be a sterling addition to your phone.

Color close-up

If you're trying to figure out which Pixel 9a color best suits your style, maybe this TikTok video can help.

@tomsguide

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Pixel 9a availability

Previous Pixel models have been available for pre-order, but that's not the approach Google is taking with the Pixel 9a. Instead, the phone will go on sale in April.

When it does go on sale, the Pixel 9a will be available both through Google's store and participating carriers. Among the Pixel 9a deals trickling out, T-Mobile has said that you'll be able to get a Pixel 9a for free when adding a line or trading in a device on most of the carrier's data plans.

A closer look at cameras

On paper, the main camera of the Pixel 9a would seem to be a downgrade from its predecessor, at least if you focus on megapixels. The new phone uses a 48MP sensor compared to the 64MP main camera on the Pixel 8a.

But the Pixel 9a also has a wider aperture for its main camera, so it can let in more light. That should mean sharper, more detailed pictures than what the Pixel 8a can capture, particularly when the lights are low.

There are other camera improvements that go beyond the main sensor. The Pixel 9a now has a Macro Focus mode, making it the first Pixel A series phone that can take macro images. And if you like capturing photos of the night sky, the Pixel 9a adds support for astrophotography.

Pixel 9a: The video

You've read the Pixel 9a hands-on, now watch the video as John Velasco shows off Google's latest phone.

Google Pixel 9a Hands-On: New Design, Same Awesome Price - YouTube

Watch On

Google Pixel 9a specs compared

Any time there’s a new phone out, everyone’s first instinct is to see how it changed from the previous model. Well, wonder no more with the Pixel 9a. Here’s a side-by-side look at its specs compared to those of the Pixel 8a it replaces.

Google Pixel 9a pricing

Let's take a closer look at the Google Pixel 9a price, which starts at $499 for a 128GB version. You can upgrade the storage to 256GB for an extra $100, bringing the cost of the phone to $599.

For comparison's sake, that's what Apple charges for the entry-level iPhone 16e. But the iPhone's base model only has 128GB of storage, plus the lone rear camera to the dual-lens setup on the Pixel 9a.

As in the U.S., pricing on the Pixel 9a remains unchanged in the U.K. and Australia. You'll pay £499 and AU$849, respectively, for the 128GB phone.

While the Pixel 9a notably beats the iPhone 16e on price, Google is facing pricing pressure from other Android phone makers with their midrange offerings. The recently revealed Samsung Galaxy A56 won't show up in the U.S. until later this year, but when it does, it will match the Pixel 9a's price. The Galaxy A36 and Galaxy A26 are even cheaper at $399 and $299, respectively.

Meanwhile, both the Nothing Phone 3a and Nothing Phone 3a Pro start at $379 and $459, respectively. Both those phones offer dedicated telephoto lenses — it's a periscope-style lens on the Pro — and they still cost less than the Pixel 9a. So you can imagine Google has its work cut out for it, convincing bargain hunters the Pixel 9a is the better buy.

Pixel 9a first look

There's no formal launch event for the Pixel 9a like January's Galaxy Unpacked or one of Google's own Made by Google hardware events. But my colleague John Velasco did get a chance to see the new phone in person, even spending enough Pixel 9a hands-on time to share some initial impressions.

John's take? Google has made a lot of key improvements to the Pixel 9a while also keeping the price unchanged from the last couple models. That's particularly key in light of the higher cost iPhone 16e (John also reviewed that iPhone), putting Google in an excellent position to continue to dominate the best cheap phone rankings.

We'll have a full Pixel 9a review once we get our hands on a review unit, but John's first impressions should tide you over for now.