The Google Pixel 9a — Google’s latest budget phone — is shaping up to be one of the year’s best values. Its spec sheet is pretty impressive, offering a 120Hz OLED display, a 48MP primary camera, seven years of software updates, and an IP68 dust/water resistance rating. Throw in a healthy dose of AI features, and it’s a strong offering for just $499.
We’re still waiting for Google to start preorders and launch the Pixel 9a, and having had some time to sit and wait since the phone’s announcement on March 19, it’s gotten me thinking about it a bit more critically. While the phone overall looks solid, I can see why some folks aren’t entirely thrilled with the Pixel 9a. Whether you’re concerned about long-term performance, AI feature availability, 5G support, or something else, there are valid concerns to have with Google’s latest.