The Pixel 9a is out, and it’s impressed us thanks to its meaningful upgrades, which give it a clear identity amongst the strong lineup of budget Android phones in 2025. While the lack of a raised camera bar is the biggest visual change you’ll notice on the reliable and affordable Pixel 9a, it packs plenty more upgrades underneath the hood.
With the Pixel 9a, Google fixed some of our biggest gripes about its A-series phones. The Pixel 9a isn’t a perfect phone, but it’s a significant step forward for the entire Pixel lineup. If Google learns from our reaction to the Pixel 9a, we can expect some exciting changes for all Pixel phones in the future. But without further ado, here are the most annoying features Google fixed on the Pixel 9a.
5
Bezels are even again
The uniform frame is more important than you think
One of the most annoying changes introduced in the Pixel 8a was its uneven bezels. Not only were they substantially thicker than it’s more expensive brethren (which we would expect), but the chin bezel was slightly larger than the forehead. This isn’t an experience that ruined the phone, as with all devices, bezels tend to fade into the background after a few months of use. Nevertheless, the awkward look made the phone look and feel cheap.
With the Pixel 9a, Google evened out the bezels again. While they’re still thicker than those on the Pixel 9, they fade into the background much faster than the Pixel 8a. This isn’t a critical upgrade, but we’re glad Google fixed this frustrating design flaw, as there was no reason for this sloppy design in the first place.
4
The unnecessary camera bar is gone
The Pixel’s signature look was never needed on the A-series
The thick camera bar has been on every Pixel phone since the Pixel 6. We praised it back then, as it gave Pixel phones a distinctive look you could recognize from across the room. While we certainly don’t want it to go on flagship Pixel devices, we’re glad Google removed it on the Pixel 9a.
A thick camera bump is useful for camera hardware like telephoto lenses that won’t fit into a slim frame. However, the A-series has never offered the camera hardware to utilize the thick camera bump, rendering it a purely aesthetic feature rather than a practical one. That means your Pixel A-series phone would catch in your pocket and collect dust for no added benefit.
Not only was the camera bar unnecessary on Pixel A-series phones, but the cheaper build quality meant it didn’t look great in the first place. Whereas the bar on flagship Pixel phones blended seamlessly into the frame, there was an unsightly seam on the A-series.
Removing the camera bar on the Pixel 9a was the best hardware decision Google’s made in years. It’s a practical, meaningful change that shows Google was focusing on practical improvements over unnecessary aesthetic flourishes. Hopefully, other Android manufacturers will follow suit.
3
A battery that’ll last you longer than a flagship
A crucial upgrade for budget devices
The battery life of previous Pixel A-series phones has never impressed us. The Pixel 7a offered a middling five hours of screen-on time, while the Pixel 8a offered a more stable but still not more impressive battery life. To me, this was a massive caveat that stopped me from buying either of these devices. A budget phone ought to nail the core use-cases of a smartphone with no frills. Having a phone that’ll last me all day is a vital feature, and one that these devices struggled to meet.
The Pixel 9a’s battery life is superb. It’s potentially the most important upgrade of this phone, as not only is it significantly better than previous A-series phones, but it’s better than the Pixel 9 or Pixel 9 Pro. It’s capable of lasting for two full days without a charge during regular use.
This boost in battery life is not only thanks to the larger 5,100 mAh cell, but the efficient Tensor G4 processor. With the Pixel 9a, Google has created the perfect device for people who want a phone that just works.
2
The Pixel 9a doesn’t suffer from overheating issues
Tensor G4 is the coolest chip yet
Overheating issues have plagued Pixel phones since the first Tensor chip. During moments of weak cellular connectivity, video recordings, and multitasking, Tensor-powered Pixel phones would noticeably increase in temperature. Indeed, in our review of the Pixel 8a, the phone got so hot it physically hurt AP’s Will Sattelberg.
Nevertheless, the Pixel 8a suffered from fewer instances of overheating than the Pixel 7a, which frequently increased in temperature to an uncomfortable level. While it may be too soon to tell, this issue seems to have been completely fixed on the Pixel 9a. In our time with the phone, we’ve never experienced the phone overheating to a painful level.
It’s worth noting that this change is specifically to do with the improved Tensor G4 chip, rather than a change in the Pixel 9a’s design. We also noticed that the Pixel 9 (which is powered by the same chip) didn’t suffer from overheating issues. While it did heat up during photography in direct sunlight, it never became too hot to touch.
This is a huge deal for the A-series, as Google has finally fixed an issue plaguing the phones since their inception.
1
Performance is equal to flagship Pixel phones
Corners have been cut, but not where it matters
According to our Pixel 9a reviewer, Will Sattelberg, “using Android on the Pixel 9a feels like using Android on the Pixel 9 or Pixel 9 Pro.” This is a remarkable statement, especially as the Pixel 9 Pro is double the Pixel 9a’s price.
Previous A-series phones, especially the Pixel 8a, have usually matched the performance of their more expensive brethren, but this phone is the first to do so without any significant caveats, assuming you don’t care about AI.
The trade-off of the Pixel 9a is that you are missing LLM-powered tools like Pixel Screenshots and Call Notes. This is because the Pixel 9a has only 8GB of RAM, which thankfully doesn’t impact the phone’s performance during regular use. Other AI tools like Gemini Live and Pixel Studio are pre-installed, so in the end, you’re not missing out on a whole lot here.
While you’re not seeing a dramatic jump in performance compared to flagship Pixel phones, the Pixel 9a’s performance doesn’t come with any compromises that will dramatically affect your experience.
The Pixel 9a smooths out the flaws with the A-series
If there’s one big question we have about the Pixel 9a, it’s: “What will Google do next?” The Pixel 9a nails all the pain points we had with previous A-series phones, and while there are still issues like Google’s aggressive post-processing of images, these are problems with Pixel phones as a whole, not just the A-series.
In short, this is the best $500 smartphone we’ve seen. Our only hope is that Google listens to our praises and keeps what we love about the Pixel 9a in future A-series devices.
