Google is using the identical top-end Tensor G4 processor because the Pixel 9 series, although you get solely 8 gigabytes of RAM versus 12 on the Pixel 9 and 16 on the Pixel 9 Professional. For essentially the most half, efficiency feels an identical to Google’s flagship telephones. Apps launch rapidly, multitasking is snappy, and it did not battle with the few cell video games I attempted.
However the lesser RAM means a couple of Gemini-powered software program options from the Pixel 9 sequence aren’t accessible, just like the Pixel Screenshots app and Name Notes, which routinely gives a textual content abstract of your telephone calls. I discover these useful, so it is a disgrace they don’t seem to be right here, however not sufficient to ding the telephone’s rating for it.
I additionally had some points with Assistant Voice Typing—the souped-up voice-to-text tech—although this will or might not be associated. It acquired a couple of issues incorrect as I spoke. That is widespread for different telephones, however I often have an almost flawless expertise on Pixels.
The massive enchancment over its predecessor is battery life. There’s now a beefy 5,100-mAh cell, the most important to this point in a Pixel telephone. You are not going to get two-day battery life, however I’ve usually ended most days with a cushty 30 to 40 % left over. On the day of the Nintendo Switch 2 announcement, I used to be posting dwell for an hour on Bluesky, to not point out utilizing Slack and enabling the new spot operate to edit and add some photographs from a pill. By 5:30 pm, the Pixel 9a was at 15 %. Heavy customers might must tote round a power bank.
{Photograph}: Julian Chokkattu
I have not had many points with the remainder of the {hardware}. I like that I can wirelessly charge this Pixel even when it is utilizing the older, basic Qi standard. Wi-fi charging isn’t a given on low-cost and midrange telephones, so this can be a plus. Google has upgraded the IP ranking to IP68 now, which means the telephone will be submerged for longer durations and nonetheless come out OK. The optical fingerprint sensor is quick and dependable, and this stays one of many solely Android telephones with a safe face unlock that works with banking and different delicate apps. It is a disgrace that Google’s face-scanning biometrics system nonetheless does not work effectively at the hours of darkness, and it isn’t as safe as Apple’s Face ID (it can be spoofed).
The Pixel Eye
The twin-camera system consists of a 48-megapixel most important sensor and a 13-MP ultrawide, with a 13-MP selfie digicam on the entrance. As with nearly each Pixel telephone, it is arduous to not be impressed with the digicam high quality in comparison with its friends. This Pixel can be aware about lots of the new AI software program options Google debuted on the Pixel 9, like Add Me, Greatest Take, Reimagine, and Auto body. I explored a lot of these features here and in my Pixel 9 review.
Photographs might not be as sharp as what you would possibly get from the iPhone 16e’s digicam, however you’d solely discover should you zoomed in. Whether or not it is throughout the day or at night time, you’ll be able to anticipate a pointy, colourful, and vibrant photograph, one that may deal with high-contrast scenes decently. Even some 4K 60-frames-per-second video footage I shot in a dimly lit karaoke room got here out wanting completely usable, if a bit grainy.
