The new Pixel 9a is there, and it shoots the crown of the mid -range phone. But with this latest version, I believe that Google targets a new potential customer: existing iPhone users.
Let's look at the evidence.
In many ways, Pixel 9a is the closest thing we have ever seen an iPhone that executes Android. The curved edges, a relatively compact design and double rear cameras are very reminiscent of the ordinary iPhone 16. If you have removed the Google logo from the rear, many people could not distinguish them.
Chris Martin / Foundry
Of course, although Android 15 is very different from iOS 18, the software experience of Google and Apple has become much more aligned in recent years. As long as you have not been strongly invested in Apple's ecosystem, you should not encounter many problems when you go from Android to the iPhone.
The best part? The Pixel 9A begins at only £ 499 / $ 499 at launch. Not only £ 200 $ 200 cheaper than the ordinary iPhone 16, but also £ 100 $ 100 less than the iPhone 16th, which has much lower specifications.
Of course, you will have to abandon Imessage and FaceTime, but there are many alternatives in 2025. If the Pixel 9a operates as its specifications suggest, it will be an easy recommendation … including for many current iPhone users.
In many ways, Pixel 9a is the closest thing we have ever seen an iPhone that executes Android
And, with a purely practical sense, the Pixel 9a has a lot of others for that.
The relatively compact design will appeal to many people at a time of huge phones. Returning the impressive display of the Pixel 8A and the class cameras is not a bad thing, while Google addressed one of the key weaknesses of this phone – the battery life.
On the software side, Android 15 is filled with AI features, including Google Gemini. Pixel phones are also the first online for future updates, which will continue for seven years.
It is a convincing package that is likely to try many people far from other Android phones. But that also facilitates the passage of an iPhone.
However, as sewingEone who reviews the phones to live, I find that the Pixel 9a is a disappointing update. Compared to Pixel 8A from last year, the only real improvements are a passage to the last Tensor G4 chipset and a larger 5100 mAh battery.
The phone has also lost much of his personality. Instead of the Pixel 8A -shaped Rear Rear Camera Module Visor 8a or the pill -shaped design of the Pixel 9 series, the two double cameras of the 9a (48mp hand, 13MP ultrawid) seem to sit almost to rinse with the rear of the phone.
And the rest of the design is roughly as generic as possible. The 6.3 -inch Full HD + 6.3 -inch screen (1080 x 2424) is completely flat, sitting in a thin telescope and rounded corners. It is a proven formula that we recently seen on countless phones.
So for phone lovers like me, there is very little to excite. If you are on the market for a unique or innovative phone, it is not. If it is a priority for you, the NOTHING (3A) and (3A) Pro phone are much better mid -range options.
