The Google Pixel 9a is official, and which means it is time to think about if it is sensible to improve out of your present telephone.
Extra particularly, I would like to try 2024’s Google Pixel 8a and see if it is value doing an annual improve or if it makes essentially the most sense to attend no less than one other 12 months. In any case, Google now helps Pixel telephones for seven years, that means it makes lots of sense to carry on to your present Pixel even when it is a bit older.
However typically, {hardware} upgrades are laborious to disregard. The Pixel A-series has seen among the greatest upgrades within the Pixel line over the previous three years, with massively improved show refresh charges, larger batteries, IP water and mud resistance, and powerhouse cameras along with the identical Tensor processor because the costlier fashions.
So, how has the Google Pixel 8a held up over the past 12 months, and is it value upgrading to the Google Pixel 9a? Let’s have a look.
Design, show, and digicam
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It is laborious to disregard the most important distinction between the Pixel 8a and Pixel 9a: the design. In my Google Pixel 8a evaluate, I lauded the Pixel 8a for its rounded corners and matte end on the again. “It is a telephone that is constructed for human fingers,” I mentioned, and I meant it. The Pixel 8a’s curves and total design are a masterwork in Pixel design, and not one of the Pixel 9 collection telephones can match it.
That features the extremely bland and sq. Google Pixel 9a’s design, which is now utterly flat throughout aside from the rounded corners. It is a travesty, in my estimation, and I am supremely disenchanted in Google’s choice to break what was so nice in regards to the Pixel 8a. Should you love the design like I do, keep on with the Pixel 8a.
The trademark digicam bar can be gone, now changed with a pill-shaped digicam cutout. I nonetheless do not get why Google determined the digicam bar needed to go, but it surely’s one other horrible choice that takes away from the enjoyment of utilizing a Pixel.
The digicam bar was greater than only a trademark image of the Pixel. It additionally gave the telephone a slight raise when set on a desk, making it simpler to select up. Now that the Pixel 9a is totally flat, not solely is it more durable to select up from a desk but it surely’s much less snug to carry as a result of the perimeters are additionally flat. The marginally curved edges to the again of the Pixel 8a had been so significantly better for ergonomics.
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The Google Pixel 8a’s design was monumentally higher, with extra snug curves and a extra distinct look.
The one actual benefit you may discover with the Pixel 9a’s design is that it is now IP68 water and dust-resistant, a slight bump up from the IP67 of the Pixel 8a. Realistically, this does not change a lot for most individuals. IP67 is greater than sufficient even for taking your telephone within the pool or washing it now and again to maintain it clear. IP68 is sweet, for certain, but it surely’s not value upgrading for.
Google additionally upgraded the Actua show this 12 months, growing the brightness from 1400 nits on the Pixel 8a to 2,700 nits on the Pixel 9a. That sounds good on paper, and it may be nice when viewing the show outside and in daylight, however Google continues to disregard these of us who’re PWM-sensitive. With a brilliant gradual 240Hz PWM charge and an excessive brightness of 2700 nits, this show will trigger actual ache for PWM-sensitive people.
The show helps 120Hz and isn’t LTPO, simply because it wasn’t on the Pixel 8a. The one actual improve right here is brightness, which can or could not make a distinction for you. I by no means thought the Pixel 8a’s show was troublesome to see outdoors, and extra brightness is not essentially a superb factor for human eyes (though the alternative might be true, too).
The Pixel 8a’s digicam is already wonderful. The Pixel 9a is not actually an improve right here.
Google swapped out the 64MP predominant rear digicam on the Pixel 8a with a 48MP digicam on the Pixel 9a. Extra megapixels aren’t at all times higher, so whereas this appears like a downgrade on paper, it possible means Google made the selection for a particular purpose. We’ve not put the Pixel 9a’s digicam by the evaluate course of but, so I can not converse on specifics, however I doubt the change in sensor shall be sufficient to improve.
The Pixel 9a nonetheless has a 13MP ultrawide digicam on the again subsequent to the principle sensor, in addition to a 13MP front-facing digicam. In different phrases, there is not any purpose to vary your Pixel 8a out for a 9a only for the digicam.
Efficiency and battery life
It has been a very long time since Pixels had been identified for cutting-edge efficiency, however the Pixel A-series sometimes packs a punch due to its price ticket. For $100 extra, the OnePlus 13R will get you considerably higher efficiency, and simply $350 will improve you to a OnePlus 12R which additionally provides considerably higher efficiency and sooner charging than both of those telephones.
The Tensor G4 within the Pixel 9a can be type of a bizarre improve over the Tensor G3 within the Pixel 8a. It is slower for lots of duties — significantly gaming — however sees an enormous increase in battery life and would not get sizzling the best way the Tensor G3 did. Should you ever had an issue together with your Pixel 8a overheating, this may be purpose sufficient to modify.
But when efficiency issues to you, sticking with the Pixel 8a may be the very best guess. Tensor G4 achieves higher battery life and cooler efficiency by throttling more durable when the going will get robust. Meaning the telephone will decelerate extra usually to maintain itself cool, but it surely’s nonetheless sooner than the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 within the Nothing Telephone 3a, for example.
The Pixel 8a provides higher efficiency however the Pixel 9a guarantees notably higher battery life.
The Pixel 9a’s actual benefit is the battery life. The Pixel 9a upgrades the battery to a 5,100mAh cell, up from 4,492mAh within the Pixel 8a. Since Tensor G4 is already a barely extra battery-efficient chip, this 13% enhance in battery measurement equates to some hours of extra utilization over the Pixel 8a.
The Pixel 8a was the primary Pixel A-series lately with respectable battery life — the Pixel 6a and 7a had been downright horrible in that regard — however the Pixel 9a is the primary time that we must always have the ability to name the battery life “good” because the Pixel 5a. Contemplating the Pixel 5a “solely existed to show Pixels can really do battery proper,” in accordance with our Pixel 5a reviewer, that is a praise for this 12 months’s Pixel 9a.
Regardless of when you determine to improve to the Pixel 9a or stick together with your Pixel 8a, charging speeds are nonetheless fairly gradual. At 23W, this Pixel 9a barely fees any sooner than the unique Google Pixel that launched in 2016.
Must you improve?
Upgrading from the Pixel 8a to the Pixel 9a would not make a lot sense until you’ve got had severe issues with battery life or the telephone overheating. Whereas the Pixel 9a provides some good upgrades — an even bigger battery, brighter show, slight ingress safety improve, and a cooler processor — it does so on the expense of a number of different issues.
It loses the ergonomic design of the Pixel 8a and ditches the digicam bar for an entirely generic “trendy” design, as Google known as it. Tensor G4 is slower than Tensor G3, that means players will not be proud of the improve. It is also value noting that any new software program options that some with the Pixel 9a are already on the Pixel 8a due to the March Pixel Characteristic Drop.
The Pixel 9a is certainly an important purchase for anybody coming from an older or slower telephone, however for Pixel 8a house owners, it simply is sensible to carry on to your Pixel 8a till one thing actually higher comes alongside.
Battery & brightness increase
If the most recent and best are vital for you, the Pixel 9a will get you higher battery life and a lift in brightness over your Pixel 8a. Plus, Android updates by Android 22 are a fairly candy deal.
