We've spent over a month with the Google Pixel 9a, and it's a budget phone with a new identity. At its core, the Pixel 9a is a more affordable version of the Pixel 9 with a handful of tricks up its sleeve. The company added a nearly flat design, long battery life, and a new camera system to help differentiate the Pixel 9a from past A-series models — and it worked. At just $499, it's easy to see the true value of the Pixel 9a.
In addition to bulked-up hardware, the Pixel 9a also comes with a fresh look. Gone is the classic camera bar that had come to become a hallmark of Pixel phones. Instead, we have a much flatter, cleaner, and more minimalistic monochrome outfit with the 9a. Love it or hate it, it is what it is.
