We’re pretty excited about the Google Pixel 9a, which is expected to launch later this month. Google doesn’t have that many hardware releases each year, so it always gets our full attention when one comes around. The Pixel 9a is a lower-cost option for those who still want Pixel goodness so it is going to be heavily scrutinized on its “bang for buck”.
Google has never been the best at keeping things under lock and key when it comes to its smartphones, so while we have gotten several leaks regarding the device, someone has now actually gotten their hands on it. A video has been uploaded to YouTube, showing the device in more detail than we’ve ever seen.
The Google Pixel 9a Has a Modern Design, but the Bezels Will Be Polarizing
The design of Google’s upcoming Pixel 9a is no longer a mystery. We know it will embrace a life of flatness, more so than essentially any other popular device released recently. It’ll have a flat display, a flat frame, and a flat back panel, with one of the most minimal camera bumps we’ve seen in its price segment. From what we’ve seen of it thus far, I’m a big fan.
However, with a video from YouTuber Sahil Karoul, I think I like it even more. He was able to get his hands on the smartphone well ahead of time and did an unboxing and gave us a preliminary look at the device and its software.
While I think that the design is pretty nice, one thing that his video made clear is that the phone is going to have pretty sizable bezels. Sure, we know that it is a lower-cost (not quite budget) phone, but considering the current bezel battle going on, it’ll be hard not to see them as being massive. But hey, at least they’re equal on all sides. We also know that the device will weigh 187 grams.
The Screen of the Google Pixel 9a Has Been Detailed
The Google Pixel 9a is going to have a 6.3-inch OLED screen, which gives it a similar footprint to the Google Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro. The screen won’t cut many corners, with 120Hz refresh, HDR10+ support, FHD+ resolution, and 2,700 nits of peak brightness. However, you might find yourself a little let down in terms of durability as the phone only manages Gorilla Glass 3, so you might want to get a case and a screen protector.
The Google Pixel 9a Isn’t the Phone to Choose If You Like Performance
In general use, you should never find yourself disappointed by how Google’s devices perform. However, for those who need to push the limits of their chipset, you’ll be left wanting with something as modern as the Tensor G4. It is not meant to compete with the likes of the Snapdragon 8 Elite and the MediaTek Dimensity 9400, because it doesn’t.
The Google Pixel 9a scores about 1.04M in Antutu, which sounds alright until you realize the last time Samsung had a score close to that was with the Galaxy S22 Ultra (997,000+) in 2022. In 2023, even the S23 FE with an Exynos 2200 beat Google’s current score. There are plenty of modern flagships doing above 2M.
Perhaps you’re more interested in Geekbench. The phone scores 1,530 in single-core and 3,344 in multi-core. Again, that’s very far from what the competition is capable of. But then, don’t let this sway your decision if your mobile workflow doesn’t need plenty of raw power.
