Google has launched a redesigned version of its budget Pixel phone, updating the chip and battery life.
It’s worth noting that the mentioned device debuted a few weeks after Apple unveiled the budget iPhone 16e.
The new Pixel 9a was announced on Wednesday, March 19th. The cost of this device is $499. It is worth noting that this figure is similar to the price of last year’s Pixel 8a. At the same time, the iPhone 16e starts at $599. Apple launched sales of this device in February. The technology giant is positioning the smartphone that debuted last month as a more financially affordable alternative to the iPhone 16.
Google will launch sales of the Pixel 9a next month. Some consumers were interested in the phones of this company. In this case, the devices have such positive characteristics from the user’s point of view as artificial intelligence capabilities and integration with Google services. At the same time, the mentioned phones failed to become a product that has a fundamental impact on the situation in the premium segment of the market for corresponding technology products. Currently, the specified segment is dominated by Apple and Samsung. At the same time, the cost of Google phones, acceptable to a significant part of consumers, has become a factor contributing to the positive dynamic in the context of scaling the company’s share in the smartphone market. According to IDC, in the third quarter of last year, the company recorded the highest-ever sales volume of phones.
According to media reports, the iPhone 16e has become a new source of competition for Google in the low-cost smartphone sales sector. Currently, the Pixel 9a is only $100 cheaper than Apple’s mentioned device. It is worth noting that both smartphones have similar technical specifications. At the same time, Google’s device has the advantage of a high-quality camera.
In addition to the updated internal elements, the Pixel 9a received a new design with flat edges instead of curved ones. Overall, this design matches the general look of the more expensive Pixel 9, which debuted last year.
The smartphone announced on Wednesday also received a flat back. This solution removes the camera bump from prior models. The back of the Pixel 9a has two cameras. These include a 48-megapixel main camera and a 13-megapixel additional camera for ultra-wide photos. The main sensor’s megapixels are a downgrade from the 64 megapixels on Pixel 8a. At the same time, Google claims that the system has been improved to let in more light. A macro focus mode has also been added.
The Pixel 9a’s screen is larger than its predecessor. The screen size has been increased to 6.3 inches from 6.1 inches. The diagonal of the iPhone 16e screen is 6.1 inches.
Pixel 9a’s panel can reach 2,700 nits of brightness outdoors, compared with a 2,000-nit limit on Pixel 8a.
The battery life is rated at 30 hours on a single charge instead of 24 hours in the past. Google stated that in a battery saving mode, it can last as long as 100 hours. The previous figure was 72 hours.
The list of color modifications of the smartphone announced on Wednesday includes black, white, pink, and light blue.
The Pixel 9a has 128 gigabytes of internal storage at a starting price of $499. For $599, customers will be offered 256 gigabytes of storage.
In the new smartphone, the in-house Tensor G3 processor was replaced by a new Tensor G4. This is the first Pixel phone to feature a fourth-generation processor from Google. Announced on Wednesday, the smartphone has improved protection against water and dust, moving from the IP67 standard to IP68.
