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Pixel 9 vs Pixel 9a

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Starting at

£294.80

£799 new

See options

Starting at

£266.76

£499 new

See options
Pixel 9Starting at £294.80See options
Pixel 9aStarting at £266.76See options

In a nutshell

They share the same 6.3-inch screen size, the same Google Tensor G4 chip and the same 120Hz refresh rate. The Pixel 9a has the lower launch price, longer OS support until 2032 and a bigger battery. The Pixel 9 counters with more memory with 12GB of RAM and Wi-Fi 7.

At 128GB, the Pixel 9 launched at £799 and the Pixel 9a at £499.

Available models

Pixel 9

Capacity

Condition grades in stock

Excellent, Great, Good

Pixel 9a

Capacity

Condition grades in stock

Great, Good

Durability

Pixel 9 83/100
Pixel 9a 89/100

The Pixel 9a should be supported for longer, with OS updates until 2032 against 2031 on the Pixel 9.

Software support:The Pixel 9 should get OS updates until 2031 and the Pixel 9a until 2032. That gives the Pixel 9a the longer support window.

Front glass:The Pixel 9 has Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the front and the Pixel 9a Gorilla Glass 3.

Water and dust:Both are rated IP68, the same protection against dust and water.

Frame:Both use the same aluminium frame.

Released

2024
2025Newer

Updates until (est.)

2031
2032Supported for longer

Water resistance

IP68
IP68

Frame

Aluminium
Aluminium

Weight

198g
–

Release date

22 August 2024
10 April 2025

Front glass

Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Gorilla Glass 3

Dimensions

152.8 x 72 x 8.5 mm
154.7 x 73.3 x 8.9 mm

Biometrics

Fingerprint; Face Unlock
Fingerprint; Face Unlock

Security updates until

2031
2032

Repairability

–
EU repairability class B (index 3.53/5)

Performance

Pixel 9 88/100
Pixel 9a 85/100

The same Google Tensor G4 chip in both, so expect the same everyday speed.

Memory:The Pixel 9 has 12GB of RAM against 8GB on the Pixel 9a, which helps keep more apps open in the background.

AI features:Both support Google's AI features, the same AI suite.

Storage:Both launched in the same 128GB and 256GB sizes.

Chip

Google Tensor G4
Google Tensor G4

RAM

12GBMore memory
8GB

Storage options

128GB, 256GB
128GB, 256GB

AI features

Yes
Yes

Screen quality

Pixel 9 93/100
Pixel 9a 93/100

The same 6.3-inch size and the same 120Hz refresh rate on both.

Panel:The Pixel 9 uses an Actua OLED panel at 2424 x 1080 and the Pixel 9a an Actua pOLED panel at 2424 x 1080.

Brightness:Both peak at the same 2700 nits, by the makers' figures.

Screen size

6.3"
6.3"

Screen type

Actua OLED
Actua pOLED

Refresh rate

120Hz
120Hz

Resolution

2424 x 1080
2424 x 1080

Peak brightness

2700 nits (maker figure)
2700 nits (maker figure)

Camera

Pixel 9 54/100
Pixel 9a 49/100

The Pixel 9 has the higher-resolution 50MP main camera.

Main camera:The Pixel 9 has a 50MP main camera against 48MP on the Pixel 9a, which leaves more detail to crop into.

Ultrawide:The Pixel 9 has a 48MP ultrawide and the Pixel 9a a 13MP one.

Zoom:Neither has a telephoto lens. Only the Pixel 9 offers a 2x crop from its main sensor.

Selfies:The Pixel 9a has a 13MP selfie camera against 10.5MP on the Pixel 9.

Main camera

50MPMore megapixels
48MP

Ultrawide

48MPMore megapixels
13MP

Telephoto

None
None

Optical zoom

None
None

Front camera

10.5MP
13MPSharper selfies

Video recording

4K 60fps 10-bit HDR
4K 60fps

2x zoom

Crop from the main sensor, no telephoto lens
–

Battery

Pixel 9 73/100
Pixel 9a 75/100

The Pixel 9a has the bigger battery.

Capacity:The Pixel 9a has the bigger battery, 5100mAh against 4700mAh.

Wireless charging:For wireless charging, the Pixel 9 supports Pixel Stand 15W, Qi 12W and the Pixel 9a Qi 7.5W.

Battery

4700mAh
5100mAhBigger battery

Wired charging

27W
–

Wireless charging

Pixel Stand 15W, Qi 12W
Qi 7.5W

Connectivity

Pixel 9 86/100
Pixel 9a 81/100

The Pixel 9 has the newer Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi 7.

Wi-Fi:The Pixel 9 has Wi-Fi 7 against Wi-Fi 6E on the Pixel 9a, which only pays off with a newer router.

5G:Both have the same 5G support.

Port:Both have the same USB-C (USB 3.2) port.

SIM:Both take the same Nano-SIM + eSIM setup.

5G

Yes
Yes

Port

USB-C (USB 3.2)
USB-C (USB 3.2)

Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi 7
Wi-Fi 6E

SIM

Nano-SIM + eSIM
Nano-SIM + eSIM

Bluetooth

Bluetooth 5.3
Bluetooth 5.3

Our verdict

Buy the Pixel 9 if you want more memory with 12GB of RAM and Wi-Fi 7. Buy the Pixel 9a if you want the lower launch price and longer OS support until 2032.

Buy the Pixel 9 if

  • You want more memory with 12GB of RAM
  • You want Wi-Fi 7
Shop from £294.80

Buy the Pixel 9a if

  • You want the lower launch price
  • You want longer OS support until 2032
  • You want a bigger battery
Shop from £266.76

FAQs

The Pixel 9 should get OS updates until 2031 and the Pixel 9a until 2032. That gives the Pixel 9a the longer support window.

Neither has a telephoto lens. Only the Pixel 9 offers a 2x crop from its main sensor.

Every Reboxed phone has a minimum of 80% battery health. If you want the closest thing to new, some phones offer our New Battery Upgrade, professionally installed before your phone is dispatched. If it's available, you'll see it on the product page.

Pristine, Excellent, Great and Good. Pristine has zero blemishes and at least 90% battery health. Good can show noticeable wear on the casing but works perfectly. Every grade is TechCheck certified and comes with a 12-month warranty.

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