Last year I reviewed the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL and I felt it was only for die-hard Pixel fans and those who wanted the purest Android experience without the extra features and bloatware. The combination of a less than competitive flagship processor and a relatively high selling price made it a little difficult to recommend to the general public. But with the Google Pixel 9a, I feel like there’s finally a Pixel model that’s not only recommendable but also more reasonably priced.
SPECIFICATIONS
Google Pixel 9a
6.3″ OLED screen, 120Hz
Active Display, HDR10+
Google Tensor G4 processor (4nm)
1 X 3.1 GHz Cortex X4 chip
3 X 2.6 GHz Cortex A720
4 X 1.95 GHz Cortex A720
Mali-G715 MP7 Graphics Chip
RAM 8 GB LPDDR5X
Internal Storage 128 GB UFS 3.1
Primary Camera 48MP f/1.7, OIS (Primary)
13MP f/2.2 (Ultra Wide)
13MP f/2.2 Selfie Camera
5100 mAh battery
23W wired charging
7.5W wireless charging
SIM/Telephony 1 Nano, 1 eSIM
5G Sub 6
NFC Yes
No Audio Jack
Waterproof IP68
Cap Scanner Scan System ultrasonic fingerprint
Face scan
Selling price RM 2699 (8/128GB)
SCREEN
With a 6.3″ OLED 120Hz screen, it is the same size as the one used on the Pixel 9. Both do not support the LTPO system. The difference between the 9a and 9 Pro XL screens that I reviewed last year lies in the thicker screen bezel. The thickness is uniform on all four corners of the screen and is very noticeable when compared to the screens of more premium flagship devices on the market.
The screen is of a flat type so there is no issue of content overflowing to the sides. The viewing angles are also very satisfactory with every touch detected quickly. There is HDR10 support on popular streaming applications such as Neflix, Apple TV+ and YouTube.
BIOMETRICS
The precise screen bezel is the first indicator where cost cuts are made by Google. The second less noticeable change is the use of an optical type under-screen fingerprint scanner. In fact, the difference between optical and ultrasonic is not noticeable except when the finger is wet or dirty. In normal use, unlocking can still be done quickly with the sensor location located in an easily accessible position.
DESIGN
The Pixel 9a has a body that feels sturdy and premium in the hand just like the Pixel 9 Pro XL, iPhone 16 Pro XL and Oppo FInd X8 that I reviewed previously. This is the most optimal body design of the device right now. The comfortable flat sides matched with the non-glossy finish make the device not slippery and a little difficult to get dirty.
The power button and audio rocker are placed on the right side. The configuration is still the power button on the top and the audio rocker button on the bottom like the Pixel 9 Pro XL. I don't know why Google placed them upside down compared to other Android devices on the market.
Below is the USB-C charging port with an audio grille groove on the left and a SIM tray on the right. Moving up is the microphone hole. There is no 3.5mm audio jack, no infrared emitter and no audio grille on top for stereo audio that shoots to the sides.
The 9a's body is thicker than the 9 Pro XL but it doesn't have a big camera bump and is equipped with a larger 5100 mAh battery. Big for a Google Pixel but in May 2025, this is just a modest size after Vivo and Realme both offer battery capacities of over 6500 mAh in devices with bodies that are still as thin as Instagram influencers.
The back panel is made of metal and without a camera bump it can be placed flat on a table. The dual cameras on the back are simply covered by an oval metal ring. I've read some comments online that say this design is ugly.
I might be in the minority who would prefer a flat design like this, although it's not handsome but it makes the device more practical than a hump like a cow's boil. The body of the device just passes the IP68 standard which allows it to be taken diving or swimming for a short period of time.
SOFTWARE – The Most Original Google Android
The software is the reason why many people want to use the Pixel. It's the purest version of Android 15 without bloatware and unattractive third-party launchers. This is the first positive thing about the 9a because last year's 9, 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL were criticized for still using Android 14. The device will receive 7 Android version updates and 7 years of security patches for peace of mind throughout use.
The software runs quite smoothly as it is matched with the Google Tensor G4 chip just like the other Pixel 9 series. The difference is that the 9a is only equipped with 8GB of RAM without virtual RAM features and only 128GB of UFS 3.1 storage. Only this model in Malaysia which I feel is a big mistake. Common applications alone already take up 20-30GB of storage and games like COD Mobile and Geshin Impact can take up to 70GB. Without micro SD support, 128GB of storage will be filled up quickly.
In addition to the lightest software, it still comes with interesting features such as Pixel Studio, Screenshot, Magic Editor, Add Me, Reimagine, Gemini and Circle to Search. In my review of the 9 Pro XL I said Gemini Live is disappointing because it does not integrate various applications into the phone.
Pixel Studio
After six months, Gemini can now be used as a replacement for Assistant. Smarter, faster and with camera support makes it the best virtual assistant on a smartphone. Google will add more features as shown at Google I/O last week. At this point what Gemini and Circle to Search offer is many times better than Apple Intelligence because it has features that I can say are not just cheap gimmicks.
Pixel Magic Editor
BENCHMARKS
Three benchmark tests were conducted with the scores recorded as below. For comparison the Pixel 9a is compared to 6 other flagship devices that we has previously reviewed.
Snapdragon 8 Elite – Poco F7 Ultra
Snapdragon 8 Elite – Xiaomi 15
Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy – Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Dimensity 9400 – Oppo Find X8 Pro
Apple A18 Pro – Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max
Tensor G4 – Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
AnTuTu 3D
Score Device
Google Pixel 9a 936,851
Poco F7 Ultra 2,372,609
Xiaomi 15 2,341,598
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 1,946,864
Oppo Find X8 Pro 2,629,017
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max 1,720,751
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL 1,016,712
Geekbench 6
Single Core Multi Core Device
Google Pixel 9a 1695 4336
Poco F7 Ultra 2276 7108
Xiaomi 15 2918 8917
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 2957 9435
Oppo Find X8 Pro 2663 8959
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max 3359 8129
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL 1916 4644
3DMark Wildlife Extreme
Chip Score
Google Pixel 9a 2666
Poco F7 Ultra 5756
Xiaomi 15 Not possible
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 6135
Oppo Find X8 Pro 6251
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max 4560
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL 2567
In all the tests the scores recorded by Tensor G4 are not comparable to Snapdragon 8 Elite. However, its scores are not far behind compared to Pixel 9 Pro XL. Despite the price difference of over RM3000, its performance is still competitive with its siblings in the Pixel 9 series
The Pixel 9a is still not a gaming device in my opinion. Regular games like COD Mobile, PUBG Mobile, Mobile Legends and Subway Surfer can all be run on high settings. The only issues arise when trying to play Wuthering Waves, Genshin Impact or COD Warzone. The process of generating shaders for Wuthering Waves is very slow when compared to the Poco F7 Pro (with 8 Elite) that I reviewed a few weeks ago.
The performance of common applications is excellent, despite the fact that the 9a only has 8GB of RAM. Google insists that the 9a is an AI device, so all the power of the Tensor G4 is given to processing these features directly from the device.
CAMERA
The Pixel camera has a high reputation even for affordable models. Five years ago I reviewed the Pixel 4a and I have to admit that despite being less powerful, the quality of the images it can take is beyond the capabilities of some devices sold at a higher price.
This tradition continues with the 48MP wide-angle main camera, 13MP ultra-wide angle and 13MP selfie. In low and unsatisfactory lighting situations, the pictures taken still look bright, sharp and accurate color reproduction with the real situation. Locations with light sources are not broken and there are no noise problems.
In good lighting situations, the pictures taken remain stable. Objects look sharp and this can also be seen in the macro mode. The definite disadvantage is that the 9a is only equipped with two cameras instead of three like the majority of modern phone devices. The 9a's zoom performance is affected with the quality of the pictures only being good up to 2X. There is indeed a Super Res feature but at the 8X setting the pictures taken start to lose sharpness and the color accuracy decreases.
BATTERY
The 5100mAh battery can last all day but not 24 hours. If unplugged from the charger at 6 am, it needs to be recharged at 10 pm. The usage life is comparable to the Pixel 9 Pro XL even though the screen is not of the LTPO type.
Battery recharging is also slow as it is limited to 23W. The battery recharging time from 0-100% is 95 minutes. I noticed that 23W charging is only done until the battery reaches 50W before the power is reduced as the battery charge level increases. This is to ensure that the battery is protected from damage.
Estimated notification when charging will end.
But dear readers, is it reasonable or not that the 2025 device only supports 23W? Another thing is that the charger is not included with every purchase. I praise Google for providing an estimated notification when charging will end with a display of hours instead of minutes like other Android devices. This feature is very useful and there have been rumors that it will be imitated by iOS 26.
AUDIO
The two stereo speakers used are satisfactory. In the majority of situations the audio is balanced and clear, but the audio from the bottom speaker is noticeably louder due to the larger grille. For the best audio experience, use earphones or headphones.
IN THE BOX
Here's what's included in the box.
1x Google Pixel 9a
1x USB-C to USB-C charging cable.
1x Manual.
1x SIM pin.
CONCLUSION
The Google Pixel 9a is the most rational Pixel device in Malaysia. If you want the purest Pixel experience without worrying about regrets (like Fahim) because you pay a lot for less solid performance, the Pixel 9a is the lowest-risk investment. It has Tensor G4, best-in-class software support, very satisfactory battery life and main camera performance that doesn't tarnish the Pixel's good name.
The downsides are that it's not a gaming device, slow charging, only dual cameras and only 128GB of storage in Malaysia. This small storage makes no sense at all because modern apps and photos are all huge. In Malaysia, the Google Pixel 9a is priced at RM2699. As in the competitor chart above, you can see when compared to two other small-screen devices, the iPhone 16e and Xiaomi 15, the Pixel 9a is rationally priced.
But let me suggest two other alternative devices that you might want to buy, namely the Poco F7 Pro (starting at RM2299) with a better chip and a bigger battery. The Honor 400 Pro (RM2699) is also another alternative device because it is equipped with a tri-camera, a bigger battery and much faster charging.
Pros
Premium compact design is very comfortable in the hand.
The purest Android software.
Leading Pixel camera capabilities.
7+7 years of software support.
IP68 water and dust resistance.
Good battery life.
Cons
Charging is only 23W which is slow for modern devices.
Stock Android is not for everyone.
There are only two main cameras on the back.