Price
The base Pixel 9a costs $499 and comes with 128GB of storage, while the 256GB model is $599.
The Pixel 9 is available with the same storage options. The 128GB Pixel 9 costs $799, and double the storage costs $899.
If your pocketbook is the only thing that matters, the Pixel 9a wins.
Winner: Pixel 9a
Design
The Pixel 9a and 9 share similar designs with flat screens, flat side edges, and rounded corners. The Pixel 9a measures 6.1 by 2.9 by 0.4 inches (HWD) and weighs 6.6 ounces, while the Pixel 9 is slightly smaller and heavier at 6.0 by 2.8 by 0.3 inches and 7.0 ounces.
The phones look almost identical when viewed from the front, though the Pixel 9a has a thicker bezel around its screen than the Pixel 9. Things differ greatly on the rear panel. The Pixel 9a features a virtually flat back, and a thin, raised module outlines its two cameras. The regular Pixel 9 features the camera bar that's been a signature of the Pixel lineup since the Pixel 6. It's made of metal and traverses the width of the phone. The camera bar is a bold design choice, and the 9a dials it back. One benefit of the 9a's design is that it more easily slips into your pocket.
As for colors, the Pixel 9a comes in Iris (lavender), Obsidian (black), Peony (pink), or Porcelain. The Pixel 9 is available in Obsidian, Peony, Porcelain, or Wintergreen. The 9a has a matte finish, while the 9 is glossy.
Both phones are IP68-rated and equally protected against dust and water. The 9a relies on the older Corning Gorilla Glass 3 to protect its screen, while the 9 uses the newer and tougher Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on its front and back panels.
Considering how alike the two devices are, this could almost be a toss-up. Due to its better durability, the Pixel 9 edges out the 9a here (unless the camera bar is a no-go for you).
Winner: Pixel 9
Display
Both phones have the same display. It's a 6.3-inch OLED screen with a resolution of 2,424 by 1,080 pixels, a variable refresh rate (60 to 120Hz), and a maximum brightness of 2,700 nits (1,800 nits typical).
Since the screens are identical, this one is a tie.
Winner: Tie
Performance
The Pixel 9a and Pixel 9 share the same Tensor G4 processor, though the 9a comes with 8GB of RAM while the 9 bumps that to 12GB. In everyday use, I found that extra RAM didn’t make much of a difference in performance.
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In benchmark tests, the two managed to record similar scores. In Geekbench 6, which measures raw CPU power, the Pixel 9a scored 1,704 on the single-core test and 4,425 on the multi-core one, which is remarkably close to the Pixel 9's scores of 1,742 and 4,573. Here is a detailed benchmark breakdown of the Pixel 9 lineup:
Both phones support sub-6GHz and C-Band 5G, Bluetooth 5.3, and NFC. The Pixel 9 takes its 5G support a step further than the 9a with mmWave for the fastest possible speeds from compatible networks. Moreover, the Pixel 9 has Wi-Fi 7 compared with the Pixel 9a's slightly older Wi-Fi 6E. If you need the fastest wireless connections possible, the 9 edges out the 9a.
Google packs a 5,100mAh battery into the Pixel 9a—one of the biggest ever in a Pixel—while the 9 has a slightly smaller 4,700mAh cell. In our battery rundown test, where we stream a 1080p video over Wi-Fi with the screen at full brightness, the Pixel 9a lasted 13 hours and 15 minutes compared to the Pixel 9's 11 hours and 45 minutes. That bigger battery makes a difference.
As for software, Google promises seven years of OS updates, Pixel feature drops, and security fixes for both devices. More importantly, both devices offer many of the same software tricks, such as Add Me (to add the photographer to a picture), Best Take (to replace faces in group photos), and Audio Magic Eraser.
Thanks to its faster wireless connectivity, the Pixel 9 wins this round, but the Pixel 9a's battery life makes this a close, depending on your priorities.
Winner: Pixel 9
Cameras
The Pixel 9a features a 48MP main shooter with an f/1.7 lens and optical image stabilization (OIS), a 13MP f/2.2 ultra-wide camera, and a 13MP f/2.2 selfie camera. The Pixel 9 uses a 50MP f/1.68 main camera with OIS, a 48MP f/1.7 ultra-wide camera, and a 10.5MP f/2.2 selfie camera. Both support Super Res Zoom up to 8x, which uses Google's software to create clearer images when zooming in.
Both phones use pixel binning to produce 12MP final images.
The rear cameras on both phones shoot video at up to 4K resolution and 60 frames per second (fps). The Pixel 9a can also shoot 4K30, while the Pixel 9 adds 4K24 to the mix. Both let you capture slow-motion video at up to 240fps. The Pixel 9a's front-facing camera shoots video at 4K30, while the 9 can shoot at up to 4K60.
Both devices produced nearly identical results in tests. However, the Pixel 9 wins in this category thanks to its more robust video capture options.
Winner: Pixel 9
Verdict: Which Pixel Is Right For You?
Google has made it difficult to choose—and that is a good problem to have.
Based on our in-depth reviews of the Pixel 9a and Pixel 9, here is our guidance:
- If you want to dip your toe into the Google ecosystem for the lowest price, the Pixel 9a is the obvious pick.
- If you are a power user and demand the utmost performance, more RAM gives the Pixel 9 an edge.
- If you're a Pixel fan and want the best battery life you can get, the Pixel 9a is worth checking out.
- If video is most important to you, the Pixel 9 captures a wider range of resolutions and speeds.
Check out our full reviews of the Pixel 9a and Pixel 9 to get all the details.