In 2025, a smartphone is a near-indispensable device for journey. It’s what many people depend on for boarding passes and practice tickets, to not point out intensive GPS navigation and taking tonnes of images when you arrive.
These situations (and lots of extra) place lots of calls for in your cellphone, so that you want a tool that’s as much as the duty. Simply earlier than a visit to New York on the finish of April, I reviewed Google’s Pixel 9a, a mid-range handset that basically impressed me whereas largely at house.
Nevertheless, roaming the streets of Manhattan was a distinct kettle of fish altogether. It could’ve made extra sense to change to the dependable Pixel 9 Professional XL, which I’d had a optimistic expertise with on one other journey and used for a full three months, however I took the chance anyway.
And in most areas, the Pixel 9a didn’t let me down. Throughout my time in NYC, 5 sensible advantages of the cellphone got here to the fore. Nevertheless, it additionally revealed a significant draw back that may stop me from recommending it for journey.
A wonderful design
When visiting a significant metropolis for the primary time, I do know I’ll be utilizing Google Maps usually. That was no completely different in New York, the place I relied on it to navigate from place to put, discover eating places and make an itinerary.
As you may think about, that concerned me spending lots of time holding the cellphone whereas on the road. Once I wasn’t gazing up on the dizzying New York skyline, I used to be watching my cellphone display, which is the place the Pixel 9a’s light-weight, compact construct got here into its personal.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Even with a case utilized, the Pixel 9a was comfy to carry all day lengthy
At 186g, it’s removed from the lightest cellphone on the market – it’s no 162g Galaxy S25! However in comparison with the Pixel 9 Professional XL (221g) and Galaxy S25 Extremely (218g), it’s an enormous step in the proper course so far as I’m involved. Even with a case utilized, the Pixel 9a was comfy to carry all day lengthy.
The compact design additionally labored in its favour. The 6.3-inch display was lots sufficiently big to see the whole lot, but far more pocketable than enormous handsets. Speaking of the display…
Chris Corridor / Foundry
What a show
The Pixel 9a’s show may be smaller than most flagships, however its high quality remains to be up there with a number of the best possible.
Its P-OLED display appears simply pretty much as good as any common OLED to me, making it simply as nice for watching YouTube movies as shopping the online or navigation. Content material appears clear and crisp, whereas the quick 120Hz refresh fee ensured that the whole lot remained silky-smooth and fluid.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Nevertheless, what impressed me most in New York was the brightness. The 949-nit most got here into its personal on Brooklyn Bridge and in Central Park, the place the brilliant daylight might’ve affected visibility.
As an alternative, the Pixel 9a was simple to learn and use in each surroundings that I wanted it – you may’t at all times say that a couple of mid-range cellphone.
Heavyweight efficiency
So much has been made from Google’s choice to make use of its personal Tensor chipsets in Pixel telephones, with the most recent Tensor G4 inferior to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite in most benchmark checks.
Nevertheless, because the Pixel 9 collection confirmed, efficiency remains to be lots robust sufficient for the overwhelming majority of individuals. And bear in mind, the Pixel 9a is a mid-range cellphone – in comparison with similarly-priced handsets, Google’s cellphone stacks up nicely.
I feel my utilization in New York was pretty typical for a traveller – Google Maps, Chrome, WhatsApp, YouTube and taking a great deal of images. The efficiency of the Pixel 9a didn’t blow me away, however it didn’t let me down both. Crucially, there have been no slowdowns or bugs that stopped me in my tracks, even when multitasking.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Until you propose on severe cell gaming or utilizing different high-intensity apps whilst you’re away, the Pixel 9a has all of the efficiency you want.
Nice battery life, lastly!
Battery life has lengthy been thought of a weak spot of Pixel A telephones.
Beforehand, the most important capability we’d seen was the Pixel 8a’s 4492mAh cell, which is able to final a full day of reasonable utilization, however not far more.
The Pixel 9a has the perfect battery life I’ve ever skilled on a Pixel cellphone
That merely wouldn’t lower it for a full, heavy-usage day in New York, the place I knew I’d be away from a charger for 12+ hours. So, I used to be cautiously optimistic for the huge improve to a 5100mAh cell within the Pixel 9a, and it didn’t disappoint.
Even on these extremely demanding days, the place brightness was near most, GPS and cell information had been completely on and tons of of images had been being taken, the Pixel 9a nonetheless had cost to spare by bedtime.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
I’d go so far as to say the Pixel 9a has the perfect battery life I’ve ever skilled on a Pixel cellphone. Contemplating its compact design and comparatively inexpensive price ticket, Google has aced battery life.
23W charging is far more disappointing, however I nonetheless discovered it in a position to get a full day’s battery within the time it took me to prepare within the morning.
Killer pictures…
I’ve saved the perfect factor concerning the Pixel 9a to final, and it in all probability received’t come as a shock: the cameras. And particularly, the 48Mp essential rear lens.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
On paper, it’s a small downgrade from different Pixel 9 telephones, however I doubt you’ll discover (I actually didn’t). Pictures are persistently vibrant and well-exposed, providing robust dynamic vary and wonderful low-light talents.
As I stated in my full evaluate, it’s an in depth second to the Pixel 9 Professional XL on the subject of point-and-shoot pictures. In different phrases, you may open the digital camera app, hit the shutter button with out altering any settings, and persistently get nice outcomes. See a variety within the gallery under.
While you’re asking strangers to take images of you on the Prime of the Rock or in Central Park, that’s vital. It additionally highlights one other of the Pixel 9a’s strengths: real looking pores and skin tones.
That’s additionally obvious on the 13Mp front-facing digital camera. I took my justifiable share of selfies in New York, they usually almost at all times got here out wanting nice.
The 13Mp ultrawide just isn’t fairly pretty much as good, however it’s greater than serviceable when capturing unbelievable views of the New York skyline. Not like some telephones, there isn’t an enormous drop-off in high quality when switching from essential to ultrawide.
…besides whenever you need to zoom
All three of the lenses on the Pixel 9a carry out nicely, however it’s one Google has omitted that I actually miss.
On the Pixel 9 Professional and 9 Professional XL, you get a 48Mp periscope telephoto lens which gives 5x optical zoom and 30x digital zoom. That makes an enormous distinction whenever you’re distant from the topic you need to seize, as was usually the case in New York.
However once I turned to the Pixel 9a, I needed to make do with sub-par digital zoom. Google’s preset choices solely go as much as 2x, which is about so far as I felt comfy going. Something additional, and the standard rapidly deteriorates, topping out at 10x.
A key instance of this was when taking the Staten Island Ferry, which passes by the Statue of Liberty on its journey. I didn’t have time to go to Liberty Island itself, however nonetheless wished a high-quality picture of the monument. And not using a telephoto lens, that was principally unimaginable.
The sundown shot under is sweet, however it might’ve been so a lot better.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
The ferry was certainly one of many conditions the place I wanted I had a telephoto lens in my pocket. I took over 1,000 images throughout my week in New York, however would have taken many extra if I had correct zoom capabilities.
Contemplating it’s such a basic a part of the expertise for me, I can’t advocate the Pixel 9a for journey, particularly if you happen to’re visiting a metropolis like New York.
All three of the lenses on the Pixel 9a carry out nicely, however it’s one Google has omitted that I actually miss
Should you don’t thoughts a much bigger, heavier cellphone, the Pixel 9 Professional XL remains to be my prime advice. Nevertheless, there are many nice options in our information to the perfect telephones you should purchase which may go well with you higher.