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Google Pixel 9a review: the $500 AI phone that rivals Apple's iPhone 16e

We’ve done this dance before: if you have $500 to spend on your next smartphone, spend it on Google’s latest Pixel A-series device

It performs best during the day; Google still leans on its signature “Pixel look” with each photo, which basically means they come with a contrasty appearance that’s well-balanced and focuses on preserving shadows when necessary. I’ll admit, 128GB is starting to feel a bit cramped nowadays with apps, files, photos, and videos all growing in size, but at least you have the upgrade option. You get Android 15 out of the box with all the latest features and security patches, a simplistic UI that’s reliably responsive, all sorts of customization options, and no annoying distractions or ads.

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