Google Pixel 9a Review: Smartphone

At Rs 49,999, the Pixel 9a does feel a bit overpriced. That said, there’s nothing really wrong with the phone itself—it performs well across the board, aside from slow charging and a couple of minor connectivity quirks. If you're eyeing it, waiting for a price cut would be a smart move. Once the price drops, the Pixel 9a could actually hold on its own pretty well, even against some of the more powerful rivals out there.

Complete with a sleek redesign, upgraded main camera and Gemini built in – the Google Pixel 9a proves you don’t need to spend big bucks to get a premium phone experience.

I don’t love the new design but it’s hard to complain when the Google Pixel 9a gets so much right everywhere else

“The Google Pixel 9a's flat design is a surprising win, while the long battery life, great software, capable cameras, and brilliant fundamentals make it a highly recommended purchase.”

It might look streamlined and understated, but the Pixel 9a is Google at its very best. It packs the right mix of features and flexibility with a simplified design that no longer picks up dust on its way in or out of your pocket. Pair that with long-term updates and a battery that goes and goes, and it's hard to find another phone worth recommending as much as this one at the same $499 price.

Setting the standard once again, the Google Pixel 9a combines stunning looks, a great camera system and intuitive operating system to deliver a mid-range market leader.

This is probably the most reliable model you can get for under 600 euros. Thanks to seven years of software updates, you’ll be set for quite a while. For that price, you get faster performance than you’d expect, a nice screen, useful AI functions, and a battery that lasts a long time. If you can look past the drawbacks (icons that don’t load, storage, painfully slow charging, etc.), you may not be getting the best, but you’re definitely getting a more than decent Android device.

The Google Pixel 9a stands out in the mid-range smartphone market, offering flagship performance, an impressive camera, and great battery life for just ₹49999. Powered by the Tensor G4 chip, it handles tasks smoothly and provides useful AI tools. Its camera system surpasses most competitors in this price range, although it suffers from a generic design, plastic back, and slow charging compared to the iPhone 16e. For those looking for an affordable Android phone with clean software and excellent photography, the Pixel 9a is a solid choice. While it lacks the polish of the Pixel 9 and the power of the iPhone 16e, it focuses on the essentials, making it our top mid-range pick for 2025. If you can overlook its design and charging speed, it offers incredible value and highlights the strength of Google’s A-series.

Google’s Pixel 9a is an outstanding midrange smartphone with many strengths. It combines good performance, lengthy software support and a great display and speakers for an acceptable price. The main and selfie cameras are great, but the ultrawide lens is a bit weaker. The battery life also leaves some room for improvement, especially when on 5g data.

With a solidly performing 2x camera system, some fun photography options and a solid overall feature set, the Pixel 9a is the mid-ranger to beat at the moment.

One of the best values in the Android market was updated with a different formula than before. The Google Pixel 9a brings a different design, a big battery, while still packing a good package for the money. Keep reading to find out if the phone is worth buying.