Friends, today let’s talk about a phone that is getting the most hate after the iPhone 16—Google Pixel 9a. I bought this phone from Flipkart for 50,000 rupees, and have been using it for two weeks. To tell the truth, this phone is not as bad as people are saying.
If you have a little patience and wait for the price drop, then this phone can become a very solid option below 45,000. So let’s go, and see what the real thing is about Pixel 9a.
Why hate? First of all, let us understand that
This phone seems a bit overpriced for Rs. 50,000, I agree with that too. Google could have priced it a little better, because now Pixel phones are being made in India itself. But if you look at the history of Pixel, you will definitely get a discount in a month or two.
Some Indian reviewers have said a lot of bad things about it, but I think those people are not looking at the full picture. This phone is not perfect, but it performs quite well in every department.
Camera
Let’s first talk about Google’s real favourite – the camera. The Pixel 9a’s main camera is absolutely top-class in this price range. Photos are super sharp, colors are completely natural, not overprocessed. Be it day or night, this camera delivers reliable shots every time. It’s quite impressive even in low light. Detailing could have been a little better, but overall, it feels like a flagship.
The 2x portrait mode is also very clean. Skin tones are natural, details are good, and the background blur is pretty smooth. Selfies are also quite solid—natural tones and sharp details.
The ultra-wide camera isn’t bad either, and its color consistency is better than the OnePlus 13R or the Vivo V50. Yes, there is a little softness at the edges in ultra-wide shots, especially in direct sunlight or low light, like I took a photo of the Krishna temple.
This phone is better than the Galaxy A56 for videography as well. Stabilisation is smooth, dynamic range is good, but footage can be a little soft in low light. You can shoot up to 4K 30fps with both the ultra-wide lenses, and the colour consistency between both lenses is amazing.
There is a little noise and softness at the edges in ultra-wide videos, but selfie videos are good. You can shoot up to 4K 30fps, there is stabilisation, skin tones are natural, and the field of view is quite wide. Microphone quality is also top-notch.
Design
I personally liked the design of the Pixel 9a. It is compact, lightweight, and feels very comfortable in the hand. There is also IP68 dust and water resistance, which is a bonus. The best thing? No camera bump! It is rare to see a phone like this in 2025. But Google has made some mistakes in three things:
- One, there is a plastic back which looks a bit cheap;
- Two, there is an old Gorilla Glass 3 on the display, which has already got scratches;
- And three, the bezels are a bit big.
- My suggestion? Apply a screen protector and back cover as soon as possible.
Display
If you ignore the bezels, the Pixel 9a’s OLED display is simply stunning. It’s so bright that outdoors is no problem—it’s even more visible than some flagship phones of 2025. The display can also be dimmed while watching IPL or Champions League at night, which is absolutely perfect. Touch response is very smooth, haptics feel almost like a flagship, and the fingerprint sensor is also in the right place.
Yes, it’s not an ultrasonic sensor like the Pixel 9, but it’s fast and accurate. Speakers are loud and clear, making it a pleasure to watch videos. HDR video playback is supported on OTT platforms, but Dolby Vision is not there. However, after the recent Netflix update, HDR videos look amazing. Check out Freefast.in for more details!
Battery
In terms of battery life, Pixel 9A won my heart. I am getting 8-9 hours of screen-on time, which means 1-1.5 days of backup for most users. There is only one problem—charging speed. Even with the 65W GaN charger, it takes more than 1.5 hours to get fully charged. It is a bit slow, but the battery life is so good that this can be forgiven.
Performance
Now a little disappointment. The Tensor G4 chip, which Samsung has made, is not made for gaming. Those playing PUBG or Mobile Legends will be stuck at 60fps, and the phone gets a little warm after 10-15 minutes of playing. For gamers, the Poco F7 or OnePlus 13R is better.
But for daily use—scrolling, multitasking, social media—the Pixel 9A is absolutely smooth. The Pixel UI is clean and well-designed, and 7 years of updates (up to Android 22) will be available. That means even after two-teen years this phone will run with the latest OS—give it to mom or younger brother, they will also be happy.
Final Verdict
So is Pixel 9A perfect? Absolutely not. If the price was a little less, the build quality felt a little more premium, and gaming was better, it would have been a different matter. When the price drops below 45,000 (and looking at the history of Pixel, it will), this phone will be a steal deal.
So friends, this was my full review of Pixel 9A. What do you think? Is this phone worth this price, or is any other phone better? Do let us know in the comments and keep visiting Freefast.in for tech reviews!
