It’s powered by the same Google Tensor G4 chip found in Pixel 9 Pro – the phone on the cutting edge of AI. It works fast, the battery lasts all day,² and it has an incredible camera.³

But is it the best budget phone out there? 

Obviously, we’re big Pixel fans. So let’s step away from the subjective stuff – like how the Pixel 9a color choices are way more fun and the design is cooler – and look at the facts.

Pixel phones are known for their excellent photography, and Pixel 9a is no exception. With a 48 MP main camera and 13 MP ultrawide camera, the dual rear camera system will do your pictures justice – whether indoors or outdoors, in bright or low light, far away or up close. The iPhone 16e? Single camera system.

But getting the shot is just the beginning. The more important differences occur during editing. iPhone 16e has some editing features, but Pixel 9a comes with an unparalleled suite of AI editing tools built in.

You can take a group photo, then swap in the photographer. With Add Me, Pixel magically merges both photos so everyone makes it in the pic.⁶ Best Take is also great for group photos, letting you choose everyone's favorite look from the many options in your impromptu photoshoot. Then edit to your heart's content with Magic Editor – resize, retouch, reimagine, and remove elements within your pics.⁷ Add to the fun with Pixel Studio by making memes, stickers, and more that you can use anywhere you type.⁸

Other low-cost smartphones mimic some of these features, but Pixel 9a is the only one with all of them.

While some phones promise the AI is coming soon and others build on top of Google’s technology, Pixel is the only phone to deliver the best of Google hardware, software, and AI. 

It all starts with how Gemini works across apps: It uses Google apps like Gmail, Maps, YouTube Music, Drive, and more to find information and get things done.⁹

Use Gemini Live to learn, brainstorm, and discuss almost any topic. No typing needed – simply speak naturally, and Gemini follows along even if the topic changes mid-sentence.¹⁰

With Circle to Search, just circle something with your finger and Pixel will get you info, shopping links, and more. ¹¹No need to flip over to another app and type in a search term.

And because talking to people is still a primary function of phones, there’s Call Assist. It reduces background noise and enhances voices to make calls clearer. It also filters out spam calls and finds out who’s calling from unknown numbers.¹²

It’s safe to say no other low-cost smartphone has an AI suite that compares to Pixel 9a.

You might not be able to see the difference from a block away, but get these phones in your hands and you’ll notice the little extras that make Pixel 9a stand out from the competition. The display is bigger and can reach 2700 nits peak brightness, compared to iPhone 16e’s 1200 nits – differences you’ll notice when you’re looking at your phone on a sunny day.^13,14 The battery is similar, but *price spoilers* you’d hope that a phone that costs 20% more would also have 20% more battery. And Pixel 9a guarantees seven years of operating and security updates in addition to regular new features in Pixel Drops.¹⁵ Apple only guarantees five years of updates. 

This one’s easy. Pixel 9a starts at $499 with 128 GB of storage. Over at Apple, the same storage space starts at $599.

That didn’t turn out to be much of a comparison, did it? And this isn’t even everything. Learn more about Pixel 9a.