After a mountain of leaks, Google has lastly introduced the Pixel 9a. There's an excellent probability you clicked on this text to learn the way the 9a compares to its predecessor. The excellent news is you got here to the correct place. Even higher, it's a good comparability.
Pixel 9a vs Pixel 8a
For starters, the Pixel 9a contains a new design. As an alternative of borrowing the design language of Google's dearer gadgets, the brand new telephone has its personal identification. Gone is the divisive digicam bar that has outlined current Pixel telephones. As an alternative, the principle digicam module is almost flush with the rear of the telephone. Moreover, the brand new handset presents barely higher ingress safety. It's IP68-certified in opposition to water and dirt, up from IP67 on the 8a. The Pixel 9a will even be obtainable two pretty new colours: Iris and Peony. Sadly, Google received't provide an Aloe colorway this time round, a minimum of not at launch.
Outdoors of these modifications, the 9a sports activities a bigger 6.3 show. Like with the 8a, Google has gone with a FHD panel, which means the 9a's display screen is barely much less dense attributable to it being a bit bigger total. Nevertheless, it's the higher show. The 9a's pOLED panel is able to reaching a peak brightness of two,700 nits, up from 2,000 nits on the 8a. It's additionally HDR10+ licensed, with a 120Hz refresh price. That extra brightness will make it simpler to see the 9a's display screen in shiny daylight.
Internally, the 9a options Google's newest Tensor G4 SoC, paired as soon as once more with 8GB of RAM. Google has additionally outfitted the 9a with a bigger 5,100mAh battery, up from 4,492mAh on the 8a. Simply as importantly, the 9a is able to charging at a quicker 23W. That's nonetheless gradual in comparison with a tool just like the Nothing 3a Professional, which is appropriate with 50W energy adapters, however an enchancment over the 8a's glacial 18W. Oh, and should you have been hoping for Qi2 assist, I'm sorry to say the 9a is restricted to charging at 7.5W wirelessly.
As for cameras, Google hasn't modified its successful system. The 9a contains a 48MP primary digicam with f/1.7 lens and optical picture stabilization (OIS). On paper, which may appear to be a downgrade from the 8a's 64MP primary sensor, however they each function a 0.8µm pixel pitch, which means they're able to capturing the identical quantity of sunshine, and it seems Google sourced a more recent sensor for the 9a. In any other case, the Pixel 9a seems to function the identical ultrawide and selfie cameras as its predecessor. As at all times, if you purchase a Pixel telephone, you're shopping for it for Google's computational pictures options, and also you get all the standard standouts like Night time Sight, Finest Take and extra.
Pixel 9a vs iPhone 16e and Nothing 3a Professional
The iPhone 16e continues to confound since its announcement in February. At $599, it's a full $100 dearer than the Pixel 9a, and evaluating the 2 based mostly on {hardware} alone, Google's new midrange telephone is the higher deal. You get a considerably larger battery, a 120Hz show and a whole additional digicam. After all, whether or not you can purchase the 9a over the 16e will completely rely in your desire for Android over iOS. In the event you like favor Apple's software program, the Pixel 9a received't do it for you.
The extra attention-grabbing comparability is between the 9a and Nothing's new Cellphone 3a Professional. For $40 much less, you get a good larger display screen, a extra authentic design and, most notably, a periscope digicam that provides 3x optical zoom. An amazing telephoto is actually laborious to search out at this worth vary, so the 3a Professional could be price contemplating for that motive alone. The tradeoff is Google's software program assist is unmatched, and 3a Professional comes with a restricted guarantee within the US.
|
Pixel 9a |
Pixel 8a |
iPhone 16e |
Nothing 3a Professional |
|
|
Worth |
$499/$559 |
$499/$559 |
$599 / $699 / $899 |
$459 |
|
Dimensions |
154.7 x 73.3 x 8.9 mm (6.09 x 2.89 x 0.35 inches) |
152.1 x 72.7 x 8.9 mm (6 x 2.9 x 0.4 inches) |
146.7 x 71.5 x 7.8 mm (5.78 x 2.82 x 0.31 inches) |
163.52 x 77.5 x 8.9 mm (6.44 x 3.05 x 0.33 inches) |
|
Weight |
186g (6.56 ounces) |
188g (6.7 ounces) |
167g (5.88 ounces) |
211g (7.44 ounces) |
|
Display screen measurement |
6.3 inches |
6.1 inches |
6.1 inches |
6.77 inches |
|
Display screen decision |
1080 x 2,424 pixels (421ppi) |
1,080 x 2,400 pixels (430ppi) |
1,170 x 2,532 pixels (460 ppi) |
1,080 x 2,392 pixels (387ppi) |
|
Display screen kind |
pOLED |
pOLED |
OLED |
AMOLED |
|
SoC |
Tensor G4 |
Tensor G3 |
Apple A18 |
Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 |
|
RAM |
8GB |
8GB |
8GB |
12GB |
|
Battery |
5,100mAh |
4,492mAh |
4,005mAh |
5,000mAh |
|
Storage |
128 / 256 GB |
128 / 256 GB |
128 / 256 / 512 GB |
256 GB |
|
Rear cameras |
Broad: 48MP, f/1.7 Ultrawide: 13MP, f/2.2 |
Broad: 64MP, f/1.89 |
Broad: 48MP, f/1.6 |
Broad: 50MP, f1/1.9 Ultrawide: 8MP, f/2.2 Periscope telephoto: 50MP, f/2.6 |
|
Entrance digicam |
13MP, f/2.2 |
13MP, f/2.2 |
12MP, f/1.9 |
50MP, f/2.2 |
|
Water / mud ranking |
IP68 |
IP67 |
IP68 |
IP64 |
|
Wi-Fi |
Wi-Fi 6E |
Wi-Fi 6E |
Wi-Fi 6 |
Wi-Fi 6 |
|
Bluetooth |
v6.0 |
v5.3 |
v5.3 |
v5.4 |
|
OS |
Android 15 |
Android 15 |
iOS 18 |
Android 15 / Nothing OS 3.1 |
|
Colours |
Obsidian / Porcelain / Iris / Peony |
Obsidian / Porcelain / Aloe / Bay |
Black / White |
Black / Grey |
This text initially appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cellular/smartphones/heres-how-the-pixel-9a-compares-to-the-competition-141043690.html?src=rss
