Google has introduced the latest device in its Pixel 9 line of smartphones, the affordable Pixel 9a. It comes with many of the same bells and whistles you get with its bigger and better sister devices, along with the biggest battery of any Pixel device to date. Its price in Canada? It starts at $679.
The Pixel 9a has a 6.3-inch Actua display boasting 2,424 x 1,080 resolution and a 60-120Hz adaptive refresh rate. Covered with Corning Gorilla Glass 3, you’ll get up to 2,700 nits peak brightness and HDR support. It’s made using composite matte materials with a satin metal frame and fingerprint-resistant coating. The aluminum in the housing is 100% recycled content and Google says it’s the most durable A-series phone to date, affording IP68 dust and water resistance.
Boasting the largest battery to date of a Pixel device at 5,100mAh, you can enjoy up to 30+ hours of use per charge. Extend it up to 100 hours, or more than four days per charge, using the Extreme Battery Saver mode. The phone supports both Qi wireless and fast charging as well.
Launching with Android 15, the Pixel 9a comes with 8GB RAM and 128GB or 256GB storage. It runs on the Google Tensor G4 chip with a Titan M2 security co-processor and Google VPN included. Naturally, it comes with all the AI goodies you expect thanks to Google Gemini integration.
Everyone wants to know about the cameras, of course, which present with a new streamlined, slightly domed design. They include a 48MP wide dual rear camera system with a 13MP ultra-wide lens and Super Res Zoom up to 8x. The front camera is 13MP for decent selfies and group shots as well thanks to the 96.1° field-of-view.
You can enjoy all the cool photo capture and editing features you’ll find in other recent Pixel devices, like Add Me for adding the photographer to a group photo so no one misses out, Night Sight, Face Unblur, Magic Editor, Magic Eraser, Best Take, Photo Unblur, and more. It is also the first A-series device from Google to include Astrophotography, which is typically limited to the higher-end phones. For videos, which can be shot at up to 4K, you can also leverage AI-powered features like Audio Magic Eraser.
Other features include Family Link, Google Wallet, theft protection, car crash detection, find my device, and more.
What are you losing out on? Comparatively, the step-up Google Pixel 9 offers faster charging, improved cameras, and more RAM at 12GB. But for entry-level or light users, or those who aren’t looking to do serious gaming or multitasking and just want to take good shots for sharing on social media, the Google Pixel 9a can save you a bundle and offers a very similar experience. The Pixel 9 starts at $949 in Canada, so you’re shaving $270 off the purchase price.
Available in Obsidian, Porcelain, Iris, or Peony, the Google Pixel 9a sells for $649. It comes with seven years of OS and security updates as with all recent Pixel phones, along with frequent Pixel Drops. You also get three months of Google One, three months of YouTube Premium, and six months of Fitbit Premium.