The Pixel 9a reminds me of the Pixel 5 in the best way

When the primary renders of the Pixel 9a leaked, I had a really unfavourable intestine response to the cellphone’s design. It seemed low cost, it lacked character, and I believed Google had ruined one in all its Pixel line’s most iconic design options — the digital camera bump. Going for a nondescript flat digital camera module appeared to cut back the Pixel 9a to a generic-looking finances Android cellphone, not a singular one stuffed with Google’s character and its digital camera and AI wizardry.

I wasn’t too enthusiastic about testing the cellphone, however when it dropped at my doorstep and I unboxed that eco-friendly cardboard, I used to be a bit surprised. Possibly it’s the flashy — actually flashy — “Peony” fuchsia-pink colour, possibly it’s the aluminum body with flat edges, however the Pixel 9a seems something however low cost. And now that I do know why precisely Google went for this design, I’m way more inclined to take a look at it positively.

The Pixel 9a seems dashing, and Google’s method to minimalism lands on simply the best facet of “good.” I’ve flashbacks of the Pixel 5 in my head whereas it — an enormous praise in the event you ask me.

I’m unsure what precisely appeals to me in regards to the Pixel 9a. Objectively talking, it’s a quite simple cellphone. An aluminum body, entrance glass with giant bezels across the show (bigger than most trendy telephones, at the very least), and a again plate with a small oval cutout for the 2 cameras. On paper, there isn’t something particular occurring with it.

In actuality, although, it jogs my memory a whole lot of my beloved Pixel 5 — unassuming flat digital camera bump and all. It’s a easy cellphone, merely designed, not making an attempt to be greater than it’s or punching above its weight. There are not any pointless thrives across the cameras, no further buttons, no bizarre supplies, and no cumbersome or surprising bumps.

It doesn’t attempt to impress, in contrast to the Pixel 8a, which at all times seemed prefer it was making an attempt to oversell and over-flex its medium digital camera setup to me. These two cameras hardly required such a show-offy bump. In addition to, it’s not just like the digital camera bar was universally cherished; our remark part is stuffed with simply as many individuals who dislike it as those that prefer it.

It helps that the 9a doesn’t really feel like a slippery rounded pebble in my hand, both, however as a substitute provides off a strong and hefty impression. The flat sides, again panel, and entrance glass are apparent reminders of the Pixel 9 collection, or the opposite elephant within the room — the iPhone. However now that I do know why precisely trendy telephones are shifting to this flat sandwich design, I don’t look down on it as a lot anymore.

I’d slightly have a cellphone that’s simpler to restore, back and front, and is paving the best way towards the European Union’s upcoming necessities round replaceable batteries, than a fabulous and distinctive design that gained’t stand the check of time and may’t be simply repaired. Google’s method, whereas seemingly “copying Apple,” is simply doing what makes essentially the most sense to be able to reply these rigorous necessities come August 2026.

After all, there are nonetheless instances after I have a look at the Pixel 9a and assume that I miss the digital camera bump. Up to now few years, I’ve acknowledged dozens and dozens of Pixels round me within the metro, on the road, at eating places, or round points of interest, due to that iconic digital camera bar. Simply final week, when the sport grasp on the finish of an escape room supplied to snap a photograph, he pulled out his cellphone, and I instantly flagged the Pixel 7 regardless that it was in a case.

Would I acknowledge the Pixel 9a if it have been in a case? Most likely not. Or, on the very least, it could take a bit extra scrutiny and a few getting used to as a way to begin associating Google with this new flat-camera design. And that’s the largest draw back to this complete look. Google labored arduous to construct telephones that look completely different, that entice the attention due to their distinctive digital camera visor, and now that’s gone for the A collection. Any further, these telephones must forge their very own id, and so they have an even bigger uphill battle than flagship Pixels.

At first, I believed Google had bulged the whole cellphone up, engulfing the digital camera module to make room for the larger 5,100mAh battery. However that’s not the case. The Pixel 9a has the very same 8.9mm thickness because the Pixel 8a with out its digital camera bump. So Google didn’t take a shortcut to slot in the bigger battery. It actually shrunk every part down, as a substitute.

When you hearken to the Made by Google podcast’s Pixel 9a episode (warning: YouTube hyperlink), you’ll hear Director of Product Administration for the cellphone, Soniya Jobanputra, clarify across the minute-six mark how Google was in a position to obtain that. It took switching to a thinner, lighter plastic OLED show as a substitute of the thicker, heavier glass OLED. And in the event you assume that feels like a downgrade, fairly the other: plastic OLED is higher-end, extra versatile and sturdy, and will be discovered on the flagship Pixel 9 collection. Google additionally needed to make room within the finances for that improve.

So, technically, I can’t chalk the improved battery life as a perk of this design. It will’ve occurred whether or not the digital camera bump was flush or not. No, the actual advantages, I believe, are that there’s much less fragility across the digital camera visor, and it’s a lot simpler to scrub.

No extra worrying about that protruding digital camera bar and no extra concern in regards to the glass’ sturdiness there. It’s a sense I haven’t had since I gave up the Pixel 5 as my day by day driver and upgraded to the Pixel 6 Professional. Plus, any case ought to have a lip to encompass and additional shield the digital camera. It doesn’t damage to have a cellphone that lies flat on a desk, both. The variety of instances my Pixel 8a slipped and slipped till it fell on the ground is… nicely, let’s simply say greater than you possibly can rely on two fingers.

Not having to take care of mud across the digital camera bump is one other massive profit. You might have a look at the pictures above and assume, “What mud?” What you don’t know, in the event you haven’t used a Pixel with a digital camera bump earlier than, is the ridiculous quantity of mud particles that magically collect across the digital camera and cling to it. I’ve to do a whole lot of cleansing in Lightroom to make these pictures presentable, so right here’s an unedited photograph of the mud for you. Discover the way it’s in every single place across the Pixel 9’s digital camera, whereas there’s very, little or no on the Pixel 9a. Yup.

Look, I’m not going to assert that is the most effective cellphone within the Pixel collection. I like my zoom lenses, 16GB of RAM, and sooner charging manner an excessive amount of to present them up. However there’s one thing fairly easy and particular in regards to the Pixel 9a; it’s a cellphone constructed for use, to not be strutted round, and I recognize that.

For all I do know, I may simply be falling for the flashy pink colour. Possibly if I noticed it in white or black, I wouldn’t lend a hand. However I actually assume the minimalist design can be rising on me. My colleague Joe Maring noticed sense earlier than I did; he was satisfied by the Pixel 9a’s seems earlier than the cellphone even launched. Though I disagreed with him staunchly over the previous couple of weeks, I’m a grown lady, and I admit I used to be fallacious. It is a rattling nice cellphone, and at $499, with a high-end Tensor G4 processor and a bigger 5,100mAh battery? You wouldn’t remorse the cash spent on it. I simply want it had extra RAM for higher future-proofing for years to come back.