Pixel 9a: Google's answer to the Apple iPhone 16e
With the Pixel 9a, Google is relaunching its mid-range range without the characteristic camera bar - and postponing the launch for a short time.
Google Pixel 9a
(Image: heise online/sht)
Google's alternative to the Apple iPhone 16e is called the Pixel 9a. With the new a-class, Google is following the proven concept of the mid-range Pixel, but taking a different approach to design. Visually, the Pixel 9a has little to do with the other current Pixels.
The camera bar on the back has been an elementary design element of Google smartphones since the Pixel 6. On the Pixel 9a, it has been omitted in favor of a simple black element that houses two cameras and protrudes only minimally from the back. This means that the Pixel 9a, which is available in black, white, blue and purple, does not look like a member of the Pixel family. In times when it is generally increasingly difficult for smartphone manufacturers to stand out from the crowd, this decision is surprising.
But looks aren't everything, and the smartphone will usually disappear into a case anyway. The Pixel 9a has a lot in common technically with its more expensive sister models, especially the processor. The Google Tensor G4 is rather weak for the luxury class in terms of computing and graphics performance, but is very powerful for the price range of the 9a, which costs from €549. The SoC is also more optimized for AI performance. The Titan M2 security chip is also on board.
The 6.3-inch display is surrounded by a symmetrical but fairly wide frame. The OLED screen displays 2424 x 1080 pixels and Google promises a brightness of up to 1800 cd/m² in standard mode and 2700 cd/m² at peak. The display supports refresh rates of 60 to 120 Hertz. In comparison: the more expensive iPhone 16e only has a 60 Hertz display – a clear disadvantage, animations and scrolling appear smoother at higher frame rates.
(Image: heise online/sht)
Two cameras and seven years of updates
Unlike Apple, which only gives the entry-level iPhone a single camera, Google has at least two on the back of the Pixel 9a: a main camera with a 48-megapixel sensor and a 13-megapixel ultra-wide angle. The front camera takes pictures with up to 13 megapixels. The cameras come with a whole host of AI-supported functions, such as “Add Me”, which was introduced with the Pixel 9 and allows you to add the photographer to the group photo with a second photo. Another new feature for the Pixel mid-range is the 9a's macro mode. The image editing options include other AI gadgets such as the magic eraser or Best Take for replacing faces in a group photo.
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The Pixel 9a delivered with Android 15 comes with Google's AI assistant Gemini. Like the other current Pixels, the 9a will be supplied with updates by Google for seven years.
Google has also hidden 8 GB of RAM and 128 or 256 GB of non-expandable flash memory as well as a battery with a capacity of 5100 mAh in the housing, which is protected against dust and water in accordance with IP68. A fingerprint sensor is embedded in the display, and face unlock can be used via the front camera. The only cable connection is a USB-C 3.2 port; the Google Pixel 9a does not have a jack socket. The smartphone supports a nano-SIM as well as eSIM and transmits via Bluetooth 5.3 and WiFi 6E at close range.
(Image: heise online/sht)
Date for sales launch still unclear
It is not yet clear exactly when sales of the Pixel 9a will begin. The first customers were supposed to be able to hold the smartphone in their hands next week, but Google postponed the launch at short notice “to April”. The manufacturer was not more specific about the reasons or an exact date.
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