Google Pixel 9a

Technical specifications

I was tempted by the Pixel 9a due to positive reviews and the price of 1800 zł for the 256 GB version. I was looking for the smallest possible phone at a low price with 256 GB... And I do not understand the praise and positive reviews of this phone... This pure Android is not so pure at all, full of spam and unnecessary applications from Google, such as Pixel Buds, YouTube Music, or Google TV... Another issue is the huge bezels around the screen, they look bad, but one can get used to them... Especially in a case. I do not play games, so I thought after reading the reviews that I would not be at risk of overheating... And here is my surprise ? this phone can get hot while browsing the internet and watching YouTube... Not to mention Android Auto... It is impossible to use it wirelessly and charge it wirelessly... Because the phone gets hot... First, there is a message: "In order to increase performance, disconnect the phone from charging", and then there is a message: "Turn off the screen in order to increase performance". I also see this second message with Android Auto via cable, the phone is lying in the shade and it is the first time such things have happened to me... My previous Nova 5T handled it well... Recently, while driving on the A1 motorway near Toruń, it completely lost mobile network coverage and the navigation stopped working... Interestingly, an old, aged, and not very efficient Samsung A20e on the same network in the same place had coverage and I had to switch phones... The same with Wi-Fi at home... For all household members it works without problems on Oppo Reno 6 5G, Motorola G31, or Huawei Nova 5T, and this phone connects and disconnects... I only see the message "limited transmission". Probably the Samsung Exynos 5300 modem, on which Google saved money, is to blame for everything... Perhaps in the Pixel 10a with the Exynos 5400 it is better, but I have not had it in my hand, so I will not confirm... Nevertheless, problems with coverage and the network mean that the Pixel 9a does not meet my basic requirement for a phone... Being reliable and having no coverage problems... It reminds me of the E52 that I once had. It was a good phone, but it deprived me of job offers several times because it could end a call on its own... And here it will probably be similar... It has quite good stereo speakers, but the iPhone 15 sounds much better in my opinion, likewise, photos on the iPhone 15 are much better, especially night ones... As for me, the photos show weak sensors and artificial boosting by the software... The only plus is the relative handiness for modern bulky devices... I regret not buying the Neo 60 Edge, maybe the processor is weaker, but there are no problems with coverage and Wi-Fi... And that is the basis for me in a phone.

Is this a phone for up to 600 PLN?

Regarding the original phone with the original Android. Very expensive storage. The cost of branded memory (USB, SD), for example Samsung, is about 0.40 PLN per 1 GB, but in the Pixel, if we want to increase the available storage by 128 GB, we have to pay about 5 PLN per GB, which is more than 10 times the market price of memory (as of 12-2025). During the first startup, I had the option to start the phone without creating an account and without network access. After a week of use and some updates, I did a hard reset and a surprise! To start the phone, I must log in to the network and create an account! Since Google asks for this so persistently, it is intimidating to refuse. I provided the WiFi password like a subordinate rather than a customer. The vibrations while typing create the impression that the housing is loose and something is creaking - those are my feelings. I had to turn off the vibrations completely because I could not get used to it. Photos are slightly better than on the Samsung A52s. Where only blurry pixels are visible on the Samsung after a large zoom, on the Pixel, for example, text can be read. Strange system behavior. A photo opened from a USB drive in the Gallery app has very poor quality (blurred details), and the same photo copied to the phone memory and opened in the same app already has very good quality. The phone lay in a drawer for 7 days, i.e., about 168 hours. Only the system without a SIM card, without WiFi, without turning on the screen, just the system itself. The battery status showed 52%, meaning a consumption of 48 percent, which gives about 0.3% per hour. Charging power decreases over time. With a non-original charger, at the beginning, the battery is charged with a power of 15 W; above 80% charge, this power drops to 5 W. Lack of application grouping into folders in the drawer. Everything is on one long list; it becomes extremely disorganized with a larger number of applications. The battery is a bit disappointing - with a very similar way of use, it lasts only about 10-15% longer than a 3-year-old Samsung. And now a huge plus: the GrapheneOS system. The ability to disable network access for almost every application gives real benefits, but also the feeling that I am managing the phone, not Google algorithms. Just a warning: configuring GrapheneOS to your own preferences and a usable state (fonts, colors, keyboard, etc. details) is an extremely difficult and exhausting process. For example, the original SMS program: it exists and works, but it is so lacking in ergonomics that it is unusable. Finding another program (not from Google, which does not spy, does not send everything to its servers, has the ability to copy a fragment of a message and not just the whole thing, and meets several other requirements) takes a dozen or so minutes. And it is like that with almost everything. The quality of voice calls is correct, data transmission quality too, but there are some significant fluctuations here - from a state of being almost offline to the speed of a fixed-line connection in the same place at the same minute. I did not notice such behavior in the previous phone. After a month, I claim that it was worth paying more than the standard price. Oh, selling a phone with 128 GB of available memory at this price without the possibility of SD card expansion is cruelty combined with exploitation.

My first Pixel:
1. 100% pure Android, no overlays or slowing software from other companies as is the case in phones from China. It works quickly and smoothly.
2. Size: compact 6.3-inch screen - it is not an oversized device even though it is slightly thicker than, for example, the Motorola neo series. It is worth buying 9H tempered glass and a transparent 0.3 mm slim case because with larger 1.5 mm armor cases, the phone becomes bigger. No camera island - a perfectly flat back that fits just right in a pocket.
3. 8 gigabytes of RAM is enough if someone does not use Google AI Gemini/assistant - it can be turned off. Additionally, a modern and fast Tensor G4 processor, nothing lags. 128 gigabytes of internal memory is enough if you do not plan to collect large amounts of data or photos. The latest system with a few applications takes up about 23 gigabytes.
4. Good/very good camera - if someone is not a professional photographer, it is sufficient for everyday use without any problems.
5. Free VPN from Google.
6. Despite the compact size, a 5100 mh battery. IP68 protection, the phone is pleasantly cool to the touch, does not heat up, and operates stably.
7. Currently Android 16 with a guarantee of updates until 2032.

I have been using it for 3 weeks, including during an intensive outdoor vacation. So far it has been performing well, the battery lasts a long time, connectivity apart from GPS is good (the navigation itself is quite weak, it often loses signal), and photos after being processed by AI filters look very nice. The system is clear and smooth, although it has many quirks - a duplicated app screen, many advertisements, and Wi-Fi turning on unnecessarily. I really like the gesture control because it is a very convenient feature and can make life easier. I would not be surprised if this model often stops working during an attempt to unlock the screen because it is extremely troublesome. A big disadvantage is the fingerprint reader, which recognizes my thumb in 2/3 of cases, and the face unlock, which only works correctly in very good light. Finally, there is the entry of the lock code, which is also very irritating because the digits are tiny and arranged in a strange row. Ultimately, I think this phone is worth what I paid for it, which is ~ 1800 PLN

I bought the phone for 3 main reasons:

1. Fairly compact size
2. Battery
3. Pure Android

But from the beginning. Build quality is at a very average level. The plastic on the back is so thin that even with slight pressure it "waves" like a paper notebook cover. Even the cheapest Chinese phones are more solidly built. The screen of almost 6.3 inches is quite handy (with an emphasis on "quite"), bright and clear even in the sun. The battery is supposedly large, but its charge level drops at an extremely fast pace. It supposedly has 5100 mAh, but it lasts as if it had at most 4000 mAh. A disappointment here. The processor gets very hot, even during ordinary tasks such as browsing websites like Onet or Interia (I do not play games, I have literally 2-3 applications installed). The camera takes good photos, the video recording is good, a plus here. Speakers OK. Generally, the phone is not bad, but it should be several hundred units cheaper. If the world does not end, the next one will probably unfortunately be a Chinese brand phone.

I have been using the Pixel for a month, so I believe I can provide an opinion. A negative one, as I generally regret the purchase. Starting with the positives, the battery is an advantage, the photos are good, especially portraits, and video editing - increasing call volume and noise reduction - works very effectively, and that is all. After switching from a four-year-old Redmi Note Pro, I expected something better, but here the ergonomics of operation are a disadvantage. The fingerprint reader practically does not work, the list of recently opened applications often freezes and you cannot switch to another application, which is particularly annoying when you want to copy transfer data from an email or another website. One must hope that perhaps something will improve in a future update... If anyone ever asks, I will definitely not recommend it. I realize that this is the cheapest model in Google's offer, so it cannot be exceptionally good, but it is simply of poor quality. Thank you for your attention.

I am reluctant to spend more than 2,000 on a smartphone. I bought this one as a new release during the launch week and I do not regret it. I also received a coupon for a smartwatch and a discount on JBL headphones; such a promotion was available in the Google Store Online in May last year. I am very satisfied with the smartphone and I am not surprised by the positive opinions and reviews on the internet worldwide. This device works best in English-speaking countries, like here in the UK. I bought it directly from the USA and I do not regret any dollar spent on this equipment. The AI functions are at the highest global level, and the photos taken with this device are outstanding! No other smartphone takes such refined and sharp photos. The battery lasts for a whole day of browsing the internet, and inductive charging allows you to forget about chargers and cables; it is enough to place the smartphone on an induction pad overnight. I recommend it!

I decided to share my opinion because it has been a long time, and to be honest, a very long time since I have dealt with such interesting and at the same time well optimized and efficient equipment. It may not be a perfect device, but in its price range (up to about 2,500), it is 100% ideal. From the moment of taking it out of the box, you can feel that you are in contact with premium equipment, a smartphone created to be used without complications. I have comparison to much more expensive devices such as Samsung Fold, iPhone 14 Pro, Motorola RAZR, OnePlus, or ASUS ZenFone and I will say that in my opinion it is a more enjoyable smartphone, maybe not better (certainly not in everything), but much more interesting and after personalization (and pure Google Android system is a rather complex subject for personalization) it is an excellent piece of equipment, "highest quality" .. I RECOMMEND !

Photo editing is very good with gif animations; without it, photos are like those from any other phone. One needs to get used to the call tone, because on the latest Android 16 the VoLTE and other options are hidden and by default it processes slightly worse than, for example, Samsung devices. The harsh sound from the speaker can be controlled with the Wavelet program by selecting legacy and all default options, which is sufficient. The battery lasts about 2 days because the software is already refined; this is not the Pixel 10. With a rugged case, the size resembles the Samsung A5x series, but the image seems better even though the p-oled does not maintain black levels as well in my opinion, as the screen is brighter. For the photos and the refined software, it is worth it. I am testing Smart Launcher for now because Pixel Launcher has too few options.