Like clockwork, the big G has announced the Google Pixel 9a following a string of leaks — and it’s looking a little different than some may remember. The new mid-ranger no longer boasts its most prominent feature, the camera bar, swapping it out for a flat pill-shaped cutout, and comes furnished with several hardware upgrades.
Here’s the catch: the device still starts at S$799, the same price attached to its predecessor at launch, which seems to be a pretty worthy investment. For starters, the brand’s alternative to Apple’s new entry-level iPhone 16e offers a slightly bigger and brighter OLED display, measuring 6.3 inches and 2,700 nits, respectively, versus 6.1 inches and 2,000 nits previously. The remaining specifications are unchanged, including a 120Hz refresh rate, 20:9 aspect ratio, and 2,424 x 1,080-pixel resolution.
It’s also lighter than before, tipping the scales at 186 grams instead of 188 grams, and comes armed with the Tensor G4 chip that powers its entire Pixel 9 series. The under-the-hood boost isn’t the only beefed-up component — the Pixel 9a now includes IP68 water resistance, up from IP67, a 5,100mAh battery compared to 4,492mAh, and up to 23W wired charging.
Camera-wise, fans can expect a 48-megapixel (MP) rear shooter (versus 64MP previously) and a 13MP ultrawide camera, alongside a new series-first macro mode. The sensor is smaller this time, coming in at 1/2 inches as opposed to 1/1.73, with the full specifications as follows:
- 48 MP Quad PD Dual Pixel with OIS & CLAF
- f/1.7 aperture
- 82° field of view
- 1/2″ image sensor size
- 13 MP ultrawide camera
- f/2.2 aperture
- 120° field of view
- 1/3.1″ image sensor size
The dual camera setup is accompanied by a 13MP selfie shooter and various photography features, such as Super Res Zoom up to 8x, Astrophotography, Frequent Faces, and Add Me. Meanwhile, notable editing tools include Magic Eraser, Magic Editor, Auto Frame, Best Take, and more.
As expected, the handset will offer the whole suite of Google AI and Gemini capabilities like Circle to Search and Pixel Studio right out of the box, plus seven years of OS upgrades and security support.
The Google Pixel 9a is available in Obsidian, Iris, Peony, and Porcelain, with the base model priced at S$799 for 8GB of RAM and 128GB of ROM. A 256GB iteration will also be available for S$939, and both will be available from 16 April 2025 via Google Store, Amazon SG, COURTS Online, Singtel Online, Shopee, Lazada, Metapod, iShopChangi, Best Denki and Atrix.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
