SpecEagle
SpecEagle review · Google

Pixel 9a review: The 2025 budget Pixel with Tensor G4 and 7 years of updates.

SpecEagle Editorial·Apr 2025·$499
Overall
78/100
Class rank
#2 of 2
Tier
Mid-range
Buy?
At the right price
The verdict, up front

The cheapest current Pixel.

Pixel 9a hits $499 with Tensor G4, IP68 and 7 OS updates — the value Pixel for AI-first users.

01Display

80/100

80/100 trails the 82-point cohort average for mid-range phones of 2025.

TypeActua OLED, 120 Hz
Size6.3 inches
Resolution2,424 × 1,080 px

02Camera

78/100

78/100 trails the 82-point cohort average for mid-range phones of 2025.

Main48 MP, f/1.7, OIS
Ultrawide13 MP
Selfie13 MP

03Performance

76/100

76/100 trails the 79-point cohort average for mid-range phones of 2025.

ChipsetGoogle Tensor G4
RAM8 GB
Storage128 / 256 GB

04Battery

84/100

84/100 — right at the average for mid-range phones of 2025.

Capacity5,100 mAh
Wired23 W
Wireless7.5 W

05Build

76/100

76/100 trails the 80-point cohort average for mid-range phones of 2025.

06Value

82/100

82/100 trails the 86-point cohort average for mid-range phones of 2025.

What works
  • 7 OS updates at $499.
  • Tensor G4 + IP68.
  • Gemini Nano AI.
  • Bigger 5,100 mAh battery.
What doesn't
  • 23 W charging slow.
  • No telephoto.
  • Tensor G4 trails Snapdragon flagships.
  • No jack.

How this review is built: every section score, spec row and comparison on this page comes from SpecEagle's tracked catalogue — scores weight measured specs against the 2-phone cohort of mid-range devices released around the same time. We don't publish invented lab anecdotes. Spot an error? .