Google Pixel 9a review

Design, build quality, handling

The Pixel 9a continues Google's tradition of modeling its budget phone after the design of the flagship Pixel series. But this time, a noticeable change sets it apart from its predecessors.

In terms of general shape, the Pixel 9a mirrors the Pixel 9 almost exactly. The front glass, which once had a slight curve, is now completely flat. The aluminum frame connects to the glass at sharp right angles, creating a uniform, flat design. The rear panel has also been flattened to match the overall aesthetic.

The standout change is the absence of the signature visor-a design element that's been present since the Pixel 6. While the visor was already toned down on the Pixel 9, the 9a eliminates it entirely. In its place is a nearly flush camera glass that only loosely hints at the design of its more premium siblings.

This shift results in a design that feels a bit uninspired. In its attempt to align with the rest of the Pixel 9 lineup, the camera glass ends up looking a little awkward without the surrounding frame. On the plus side, the back of the phone is almost entirely flat, which is rare these days. Even phones with a single rear camera tend to feature a noticeable bump. Here, the minimal lip around the camera is barely noticeable when the phone is laid flat-it doesn't wobble at all.

Google Pixel 9a

Another curious design decision: the bottom speaker is now on the right side instead of the left, a departure from Google's usual placement. This actually works in the user's favor when holding the phone in landscape mode, as your right palm won't block the sound.

That said, Google still places the volume and power buttons in reverse order compared to nearly every other smartphone brand, which is a minor irritation for anyone switching from a different device.

The Pixel 9a is available in a total of four colors. In keeping with Google tradition, they all have slightly odd names: Obsidian, Porcelain, Iris and Peony.

As already mentioned, the front side of the Pixel 9a is pretty much flat. The display bezels are pretty huge, to be honest, but at least there are no visible sensors. Everything is hidden away underneath the display.

The phone uses a standard optical under-display fingerprint reader. It is snappy and accurate, so we have no complaints about it.

Build quality is a mixed bag. The front is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3, which, while serviceable, is more than a decade old and has long since been superseded. The back is made of plain plastic - a standard choice for the Pixel A-series - but Google could have pushed for a glass back, like many competitors in this price range.

The plastic here has a smooth matte finish that might fool some into thinking it's glass, but pressing on it reveals its thinness as it subtly gives way. Smudges are also an issue - barely visible on the white model but very noticeable on the black one.

One notable improvement is the IP68 rating, a step up from the IP67 rating found on the previous Pixel 8a.

In terms of size, the Pixel 9a is slightly larger in all dimensions than the compact Pixel 9. It's not quite large, but it's not small either - landing comfortably somewhere in between. Still, it remains smaller than most Android phones in its price bracket.