Get the latest tech news

Google Pixel 9a review: The Energizer Pixel

The Pixel 9a breaks the A-Series mold with a trademark the flagships can't match — epic battery life — while keeping pace for performance and visuals.

(Image credit: Michael Hicks / Android Central)Google justified removing its trademark camera bar by explaining it was necessary to "eliminate battery anxiety" with more capacity and make the 9a vapor chamber larger for better thermals. (Image credit: Michael Hicks / Android Central)Despite the 9a's tradeoffs in other areas, it's visually uncompromised from the Pixel 9 — except for its lesser Gorilla Glass protection, slightly thicker bezels, and 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio. I'll continue to test the Google Pixel 9a over the next couple of months to see if I missed any obvious pain points, but so far, I haven't had any issues, and Brady's only complaint with his 9a loaner is with the fingerprint sensor and low-light photography.

Get the Android app