Was launched with Google Pixel 9A a few months ago and Google Pixel 9 kills shelves about a year ago, a common dilemma arises-should you choose the option of new mid-range models or stay with the head of last year? This is a valid question, especially given their similar pricing and shared DNA.
In Europe, the cost of Pixel 9 is approximately € 100 more than 9A, while in the US, the difference is wide by $ 150. On paper, two phones contain a lot in common -dominated performance, matching chipset and comparable camera setup. But look a little closer, and some major differences emerge. For some, they may not be a deluge. For others, however, additional features of Pixel 9 can be correct the additional cost. So let’s look closely.
Subject:
- design
- Display
- battery life
- Charge
- Speaker test
- Display
- Camera
- Decision
For the beginning, you can compare the full imagination sheet or continue with the evaluation of our editor directly In the following text.
Size comparison
Google
Pixel 9A
154.7 x 73.3 x 8.9 mm
(6.09 x 2.89 x 0.35 inch)
Google
Pixel 9
152.8 x 72.0 x 8.5 mm
(6.02 x 2.83 x 0.33 in)
Despite sharing two pixels the same screen diagonal, 9A has large dimensions, but low weight. There are many reasons for that.
First, the pixel 9 is more compact because it has thin bezels around the screen. 9A has absurd thick bezels, even for a budget phone in 2025. It makes 9A long and wider. It is also slightly thicker, which can be caused by large batteries.
As a weight difference, we reflect this to the choice of materials. Pixel 9 features the feature of an aluminum frame and posted by an aluminum frame, while the 9A build the 9A build the front on the front side an anonymous gorilla glass sheet and a plastic back, which is light.
In all, Pixel 9 is better option given slimmer bezels, good construction materials and more compact dimensions.
Performance comparison
Google
Pixel 9A
Old
120Hz
1080×2424
Pixel
422
owner
1930
NIT
Google
Pixel 9
Old
120Hz
1080×2424
Pixel
422
owner
2232
NIT
On paper, two devices should have the same performance with the same performance. Both are 6.3-inch OLED with the same advertised maximum brightness. However, according to our trials, the Pixel 9A has the maximum brightness (about 1,900 knots) compared to the Pixel 9 (more than 2,200 knits).
Both phones rarely reach the level of maximum brightness in the industry, but the difference between the two can be seen as an indication that the phones use different panels.
In addition, there is no feature inequality between the two – both phones support the same original HDR10+ video standard and up to 120Hz refresh rates.
battery life
Both handsets share the same chipset and the same display, but the Pixel 9A has a 5,100 mAh battery advantage, as opposite to 4,700 mAh-powered vanilla pixel 9. However, it seems that large battery does not translate into real battery life benefits.
Pixel 9 score is slightly better on almost all tests, pushing Active use score It is slightly higher than 9A.
We can only guess what the reason can be and as we pay attention to our Pixel 9A review, it can be a more power Hungeri display panel very well.
Charging speed
Google
Pixel 9A
5100 mahar
15min
25%
30min
47%
full
101min
Google
Pixel 9
4700 mahar
15min
29%
30min
55%
full
85min
In theory, Pixel 9 should be slightly faster to charge only Pixel 9A, looking at the small difference in charging rate – 23W vs 27W in favor of regular 9. However, this was not completely true in our real -life testing.
Pixel 9 actually charged just a little faster in the first 15 to 30 minutes of the charging cycle, but it completed the full charge in 85 minutes, while Pixel 9A took 101 minutes.
In particular, Pixel 9 also has rapid wireless charging – 15W (with pixel stand, otherwise 12W) instead of 7.5W charging power of 9A.
Speaker test
Regarding speakers, we can easily say that Pixel 9A is a clear winner here. Sure, the Pixel 9 speakers are loud, but the tuning of 9A is very good. The bass is more prominent, the track does not tin like Pixel 9, and the overall sound is very hot and full.
Display
Both handsets rely on the same in-house Google Tensor G4 SOC that began with the Pixel 9 series last year. Even though 9A is more inexpensive, it still shakes the same “flagship” chipset.
Google
Pixel 9A
4 nm
128GB 8GB RAM
Base configuration
Google
Pixel 9
4 nm
128GB 12GB RAM
Base configuration
Memory configurations are the same, but not the same. Both handsets provide only 128GB or 256GB storage, but Vanilla Pixel 9 gives you 12GB of RAM, while 9A resides for 8GB.
Benchmark performance
Google
Pixel 9A
Antutu 10
1,254,417
Geekbench 6
4,527
3d mark wild life
2,630
Google
Pixel 9
Antutu 10
1,224,020
Geekbench 6
4,489
3d mark wild life
2,587
As expected, there is no difference in performance. The small differences you see in benchmark results are well within the statistical error.
Camera comparison
Camera hardware is probably the main difference between two handsets. The more affordable Pixel 9A resides for a small 48MP main sensor and a 13MP ultravide camera, while the standard Pixel 9 also has a very large 50MP main sensor and also a large 48MP ultravide unit.
Selfie hardware is also different. 9A gets a 13MP shooter, while Pixel 9 has a 10.5MP camera, with a 13MP selfie size on 9A.
image quality
At first glance, two ultravide cameras capture close-equal photos, but if you see enough enough, you will see that the 48MP ultravide unit on Pixel 9 made the objects very fast. This is due to autofocus capacity. Objects are introduced equally in distance, though.
Pixel 9A: 0.6x • 1x • 2x • 0.6x • 1x • 2x
Pixel 9: 0.6x • 1x • 2x • 0.6x • 1x • 2x
Once again, the main camera of Pixel 9 provides a more pleasant rendering with a little puncture colors and a tad sharp objects. You can see a big difference in 2x zoom mode, where the larger sensor shows a clear advantage.
The difference as a gap becomes wide. Ultravide and main cameras of Pixel 9 produce cleaner and sharp images with broad dynamic range. Differences for most will probably be negligible, but it is worth noting.
Pixel 9A: 0.6x • 1x • 2x • 0.6x • 1x • 2x
Pixel 9: 0.6x • 1x • 2x • 0.6x • 1x • 2x
We did not find any meaningful difference between selfie cameras. Both are excellent.
Selfie: Pixel 9A • Pixel 9
video quality
Below we have some frame graves from videos taken by two phones at each focal length, so it is easy to compare each other.
Videos of the day videos from two pixels are almost the same. Pixel 9’s main camera video is so small and more wide ever. The difference is negligible, though.
Pixel 9A 4K Screchngrabs: 0.6X • 1x • 0.6X • 1x
Pixel 9 4k Screpngrabs: 0.6X • 1x • 0.6X • 1x
Pixel 9 to night video sharper, somewhat cleaner and quite bright.
Decision
Naturally, Pixel 9 tops most aspects. It provides a good camera experience, a bright performance, a more premium design and a slight better battery life and charging. Perhaps the price difference will be understood for most people, especially for customers in Europe, where the difference is only € 100.
Conversely, if you do not consider thick bezels bad, Pixel 9A mostly provides the same user experience. The performance is still one of the brightest in the city, the performance is equal, and the camera hardware is not far behind. Stereo speakers are even better on 9A. Therefore, if you consider yourself a casual everyday user, save a few rupees and go for Pixel 9A.
- Low price.
- Better speaker.
- Similar user experience.
Get for Google Pixel 9A:
| 128GB 8GB RAM | $ 449.00 |
€ 464.00 |
| 256GB 8GB RAM | $ 549.00 |
€ 581.69 |
| Show all prices | ||
- Rapid charging speed and better battery life.
- Slightly bright performance.
- Better camera performance at night and additional versatility of AF on ultravide.
Get for Google Pixel 9:
| 128GB 12GB RAM | $ 530.00 |
€ 581.90 |
| 256GB 12GB RAM | ₹ 74,999 |
$ 514.99 |
| Show all prices | ||
