Google has officially launched the Pixel 9a in India, bringing its latest A-series smartphone packed with AI capabilities, a bigger display and an upgraded camera system, all at a more accessible price point than the flagship Pixel 9 (review) series, and last year’s Pixel 8a (review).
Pixel 9a Specifications and Features
Google has positioned the Pixel 9a as its most durable A-series phone yet, featuring a metal frame and improved IP68 water and dust resistance, over the IP67-rated Pixel 8a. The Pixel 9a is available in three colours: Obsidian, Porcelain, and Iris.
The Pixel 9a features a 6.3-inch AMOLED display with a 20:9 aspect ratio and Full HD+ (1080 x 2424 pixels) resolution at 422.2 PPI. The 120Hz refresh rate provides smooth scrolling, while the scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass 3 offers protection against daily wear.
Google claims the display delivers brightness levels of up to 1800 nits for HDR content and peaks at 2700 nits, ensuring better sunlight legibility over the 8a.
The Pixel 9a’s dual rear camera system features a 48MP main camera paired with a 13MP ultrawide lens. It also includes Macro Focus capabilities for capturing details up close.
The Night Sight feature, a Pixel favourite, enables low-light photography, while Astrophotography mode, another first for the A-series, allows users to capture star-filled skies and even short clips of the stars.
Other standout camera features that trickle down from the flagship Pixel 9 lineup include:
- Add Me: Ensures no one is left out of group photos by allowing the photographer to be included.
- Real Tone: Accurately represents all skin tones in photos and videos
- Magic Editor: Offers AI-powered photo editing tools including automatic reframing and image expansion.
- Reimagine: Allows users to transform parts of photos by simply typing what they want to see.
- Best Take: Creates perfect group photos by combining elements from multiple shots
The Pixel 9a is powered by the Tensor G4 processor, the same as the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro phones, and has Google’s Gemini AI assistant built directly into the device. Users can press and hold the power button to access Gemini, which helps with writing, planning, and learning on the go. The assistant can extract information from Gmail invitations and suggest relevant locations in Maps.
For those who prefer voice interaction, Gemini Live enables natural, flowing conversations that can follow along even when users change topics mid-sentence.
The Pixel 9a launches with Android 15 and comes with Google’s promise of seven years of OS, security updates, and Pixel Drops from launch. This extended support means the 9a will remain relevant and secure through 2032.
The battery life on the Pixel 9a also gets an upgrade to 5,000mAh with Google promising over 30 hours of use.
Security features include the Titan M2 security coprocessor, Google VPN at no extra cost, and theft protection that automatically locks the device if suspicious activity is detected.
Pixel 9a Pricing and Availability
The Pixel 9a comes with 8GB of RAM and 128GB or 256GB of storage options to choose from. It is priced starting at Rs 49,999 for the base 128GB variant and Rs 56,999 for the 256GB variant. It will go on sale in April across offline and online stores.
Also Read: Google Pixel 9a vs Pixel 8a: What’s new?
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Siddharth Chauhan
Siddharth reports on gadgets, technology and you will occasionally find him testing the latest smartphones at Digit. However, his love affair with tech and futurism extends way beyond, at the intersection of technology and culture. View Full Profile
