Google’s Pixel9a is $499 and undercuts iPhone 16e

Battery life has historically been a weakness for Google’s Pixel A-series phones, so Google packed 5,100-MAH cells into the Pixel 9a. This is the largest battery capacity we still saw in pixels, and Google claims over 30 hours on a single charge. Also, the wireless charging is being towed, but it is still a basic QI variant, Newly improved QI2.

At the heart of mobile phones is the tensor G4 processor. Flagship Pixel 9 Pro Serieswith 8 GB of RAM. That should mean better performance, especially compared to what others see Sub $500 Android PhoneNot to mention seven years of software support. This chip also drives many of the artificial intelligence features of mobile phones, making pixel 9a available all of the same AI cameras do the trick It was introduced in 2024 on Pixel 9 smartphones.

This includes Add Me. The software sews the two images so that both parties are in the same photo even though they are not standing next to them at that exact moment. Pixel 9a can also create time lapses of short astrophotography, and even have macro focus. This allows macro modes to take clear photos of objects, like insects and plants, via the main camera. The camera system is powered by an improved 48-megapixel primary camera coupled with a 13-MP Ultrawid and a 13-MP selfie camera.

Photo: Brenda Story

Photo: Brenda Story

Naturally, Google is promoting all of the Gemini AI features on this phone, but one of them is a new addition announced in A few weeks ago Mobile World Congress And it unfolds soon – a live video in Gemini live conversation. This allows you to ask Gemini about the subject he is looking at through the camera on your phone. It comes with the company’s Astra technology (this feature is limited to people with Google’s Gemini Advanced Subscription).

Also, although not available only on the Pixel 9a, it is a feature that generates images of people in the Pixel Studio app. This was a voluntary limitation Google had previously imposed, but now it’s no longer there, but it holds certain guardrails for what it can generate. Finally, if you are moving from another phone, like an iPhone, you can bring in audio recordings and the Google Recorder app will be automatically transferred. There is one less barrier to transition.

In the Android world, the Pixel 9a competes with the latest ones Phone (3A) Seriesthe cost is a little cheaper. There are no devices that don’t have some features. It’s not wireless charging or As Powerful Performance – but there are also some perks like a 3x optical telephoto camera. Samsung recently announced a midrange phone Galaxy A56 for $500It hasn’t arrived until the second half of this year.

We’ll update this story when Google shares the exact pre-order and release dates for the Pixel 9a.