Google Pixel 9a review

Latest and greatest vanilla Android

The Pixel 9a comes pre-installed with Android 15. As a Google-made device, it's among the first to receive Android updates. One of the standout perks of owning a Pixel is that updates roll out simultaneously across the lineup-unlike other Android brands where budget models often lag behind. That means the Pixel 9a will receive the same updates at the same time as the flagship Pixel 9 Pro Fold. Plus, Google has committed to providing seven years of software updates for the Pixel 9a starting from launch.

The software experience on the Pixel 9a is exactly what you'd expect from a Google phone. It offers a clean, minimalist interface that aligns closely with what's often referred to as "stock Android."

Google includes its own suite of apps, most of which are optional during setup, giving users the option to start with a streamlined app selection. AI features like Gemini and the Pixel Studio app are available, but they aren't aggressively pushed-the Gemini app, for instance, needs to be manually installed.

While the software has evolved over time, it still leans toward simplicity over depth. If you're someone who enjoys customizing every little detail of your phone, the Pixel 9a may feel limited compared to offerings from brands like OnePlus or Samsung. That said, it still retains Android's core flexibility, offering far more personalization than an iPhone.

The interface supports various customizations through the Style menu - you can change the accent colors, wallpapers, icon shape and style. You can also place more shortcuts on the lockscreen and change the clock style.

Android 15

Google's Gemini AI takes center stage in the Pixel 9 series, offering powerful tools that go far beyond basic assistance. You can hold full conversations with Gemini-whether you're brainstorming for an interview, generating essay topics, or just looking for dinner ideas based on a photo of your fridge contents. It's smart, responsive, and genuinely helpful.

Meanwhile, the Magic Editor steps in to enhance your photos by removing distractions or even transforming dull backgrounds into something more dramatic-like replacing a gray sky with a vivid sunset.

Gemini can generate ready-to-use email drafts, summarize long emails or documents, and even listen in on phone calls (with the other party's consent) to provide a neat summary afterward. That means important info like dates, appointments, or plans is always easy to reference later.

Gemini in Action

Although still evolving, Gemini is already a capable tool that supports over 100 languages and can help you cook, write, research, or satisfy your curiosity creatively.

Next up is Pixel Studio, a creative hub for generating custom visuals. While it doesn't yet support image generation involving real people, it's great for crafting eye-catching posters, visualizing ideas, or designing book covers. It even includes style customization options to help you fine-tune the final look.

Pixel Studio

Need to look something up quickly? Just long-press the navigation bar and draw a circle around anything on your screen. Circle to Search will instantly find what you're looking at-no need to take a screenshot or open another app.

Circle to search

In Google Photos, Magic Editor brings tools like Zoom Enhancer, Magic Eraser, and Blur/Unblur to your fingertips, helping you easily perfect your shots.

Magic editor

The Camera app introduces some clever new tricks. With Add Me, the photographer can be added to a group photo after the shot is taken. You can also clone subjects in one frame or use Best Take to swap faces or objects for better expressions or angles-ensuring everyone looks their best.

Add Me

Benchmarks and performance

The Pixel 9a is powered by the same Tensor G4 chip found across the entire Pixel 9 lineup. It comes with 8GB of LPDDR5X RAM and either 128GB or 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage, though not all regions offer both storage options. It's a bit disappointing that even the 256GB model doesn't include a 12GB RAM configuration, especially for users who want a bit more headroom for multitasking.

In everyday use, the Pixel 9a delivers strong performance. The interface feels fast and fluid, with smooth animations and quick app launches. The only noticeable slowdown occurs when the 8GB of RAM starts to get stretched-highlighting the missed opportunity for a higher-memory variant.

As for gaming, the Pixel 9a holds up well. The Tensor G4's GPU is more than capable of handling the phone's 1080p display, so most games run smoothly with solid performance.

One of the Pixel 9a highlights is its ability to maintain consistent performance without significant thermal throttling, even during extended use. This marks a noticeable improvement over the Pixel 9 and 9 Pro models we tested at launch, which suffered from heavy throttling under load. Given that all these devices share the same chipset, it's clear that Google has made meaningful adjustments to how the Pixel 9a handles heat-without compromising on performance.

Throttling tests