Comparing the Pixel 9, Pixel 9a and Pixel 8a.
Pixel 9 in Peony colour, Pixel 9a in Iris colour and Pixel 8a in Bay colour Pixel 9 in Peony colour, Pixel 9a in Iris colour and Pixel 8a in Bay colour

Is your phone struggling to keep up? Ready for an upgrade? Let’s take a closer look at Pixel 9, Pixel 9a and Pixel 8a to help you better decide which could be your next smartphone.

Pixel 9, Pixel 9a and Pixel 8a at a glance. Download chart
Comparison chart of the hardware, battery, camera and water & dust resistance specifications between the  Pixel 9, Pixel 9a and Pixel 8a
Comparison chart of the hardware, battery, camera and water & dust resistance specifications between the Pixel 9, Pixel 9a and Pixel 8a
Contents:
  • Finding your fit
  • Camera: Power of lenses and software over megapixels
  • A battery that can keep up with you
  • Peak performance for work and play
  • Keeping you connected
Finding your fit

The first thing you’ll probably notice about the three mobile phones is their size. At 154.7mm, the Pixel 9a is the tallest, slightly taller than the Pixel 9 – but they share the same 6.3” Actua display1. On the other hand, the Pixel 8a is a little more compact with its 6.1” display.1 All three devices support high refresh rates of up to 120Hz17 , giving you a smooth experience when gaming, streaming and scrolling through your social media feeds. Compact convenience or larger screen size? It comes down to which Pixel’s the best fit for you – and your lifestyle.

Let’s take a look at how they compare. Technical specifications of the Pixel 9 screen size, phone dimensions and rear camera lens megapixels Technical specifications of the Pixel 9a screen size, phone dimensions and rear camera lens megapixels Technical specifications of the Pixel 8a screen size, phone dimensions and rear camera lens megapixels Technical specifications of the Pixel 9 screen size, phone dimensions and rear camera lens megapixels Technical specifications of the Pixel 9a screen size, phone dimensions and rear camera lens megapixels Technical specifications of the Pixel 8a screen size, phone dimensions and rear camera lens megapixels
Splashes and drops, no big deal

With its polished glass back, curved edges and satin metal frame, the Pixel 9 feels every bit as good as it looks. If you prefer a matt back that can resist fingerprint smudges, the two A-Series phones are for you. 

For added peace of mind, the Pixel 9 is made of scratch-resistant Corning® Gorilla® Glass Victus® 2. Gorilla Glass Victus 2 is a step up in durability from the already-tough Gorilla Glass 3 of the Pixel 9a and Pixel 8a – which means these phones are less likely to wind up scratched or scuffed if you drop them.10,16

And if you do find yourself having to brave Mumbai’s monsoon season or Delhi’s summer dust storms, Pixel phones will be able to handle spills and dust as well. The Pixel 8a’s IP67 rating means it can withstand being immersed in up to a metre of water for 30 minutes16 while the Pixel 9 phones’ IP68 rating means longer submersion at depths of more than 1 metre10. All three phones provide dust protection – essential for travelling in our unpredictable and ever-changing weather conditions. 

Camera: Power of lenses and software over megapixels

When it comes to camera performance, megapixels are just one part of the story. It’s the combination of sensor size, lens quality, software, processing power, and aperture that truly matters. The Pixel 9a’s 48 MP main camera delivers faster capture, improved processing, and stunning low-light performance, all powered by Tensor G4, making it our best A-Series camera yet. With Night Sight, it excels in low-light conditions, and thanks to its new lens architecture, it can get much closer with Macro Focus, a first for the A-Series.

So, while the Pixel 8a’s 64 MP sensor might seem like more, the Pixel 9a’s faster, more advanced processing could deliver better results with its 48 MP Octa PD camera, just as the Pixel 9’s 50 MP Octa PD camera offers even more. And for video enthusiasts, the Pixel 9’s three FPS settings, dual exposure, and up to 7x zoom7 can take your videos to the next level.

How the camera features stack up

The AI-powered camera features on each of the Pixel models might just be the unsung hero of your family holiday:

  • Stranger photobombing the family photo? Use Magic Editor9 to erase them.

  • Wanting a group photo with your besties but no one’s around to take it for you? Use Add Me to merge two photos, so everyone can be included.8

  • Spotted a lotus blooming in the wild on your morning walk? Macro Focus can help you capture the most intricate objects in stunning detail.

Add Me and Macro Focus are only available on the Pixel 9 phones, but all three smartphones include many of our well-loved camera features such as Best Take, Super Res Zoom and Night Sight.

Add Me

Take a picture. And be in it, too.

Super Res Zoom

Get super close up from super far away.

A person leans out of a car, smiling, in dim pink light. Night Sight

Amazing photos after dark.

Add Me

Take a picture. And be in it, too.

Super Res Zoom

Get super close up from super far away.

A person leans out of a car, smiling, in dim pink light. Night Sight

Amazing photos after dark.

Compare some of their key camera and video features.

Camera features:

Pixel 9

Pixel 9a

Pixel 8a

Super Res Zoom up to 8x7

Super Res Zoom up to 8x7

Super Res Zoom up to 8x7

Add Me8

Add Me8

-

Macro Focus

Macro Focus

-

Night Sight

Night Sight

Night Sight

Astrophotography

Astrophotography

Astrophotography

Portrait Mode

Portrait Mode

Portrait Mode

Photo Unblur

Photo Unblur

Photo Unblur

Long Exposure

Long Exposure

Long Exposure

Magic Editor with
Auto Frame and Reimagine9

Magic Editor with
Auto Frame and Reimagine9

Magic Editor15

Video features:

Pixel 9

Pixel 9a

Pixel 8a

Audio Magic Eraser19

Audio Magic Eraser19

Audio Magic Eraser19

Macro Focus Video

Macro Focus Video

-

10-bit HDR video

-

-

Cinematic Blur

Cinematic Blur

Cinematic Blur

Cinematic Pan

Cinematic Pan

Cinematic Pan

Astrophotography timelapse

Astrophotography timelapse

Astrophotography timelapse

Speech enhancement

Speech enhancement

Speech enhancement

A battery that can keep up with you

Catching up on social media, checking the weather, scheduling the day – we ask a lot of our phones, and that’s before we’ve even left the house. The last thing you need to worry about is whether your phone will last the day when you’re on a long commute.

Luckily, this Pixel lineup comes with a dependable, all-day battery. The Pixel 9 and Pixel 8a feature 24+ hour battery life2,13, and the Pixel 9a – with the biggest battery yet in an A-series phone – can last over 30 hours2. So whichever Pixel you choose, you’re unlikely to be caught short.

And if you’re going off-grid and find you do need that little bit extra, you can get up to 72 hours on a Pixel 8a on Extreme Battery Saver mode13 – or an incredible 100 hours on the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9a20. Because you shouldn’t have to organise your life around charging your phone.

All three mobile phones come with fast charging and wireless charging. Even better, the Pixel 9 can charge to 55% in about 30 minutes using the Google 45 W USB-C ® charger4 and wirelessly charge other Qi-certified phones or accessories on its back6. Which means you’re back to your favourite YouTube videos sooner.

Peak performance for work and play

Perhaps the most noticeable difference between the three models is what’s under the hood. Both the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9a boast the Tensor G4, Google’s most powerful chip to date. The Tensor G4 improves fundamentals like battery life and performance – on average it’s 20% faster browsing the web and 17% faster opening apps than Tensor G3. It’s also more power efficient for taking photos, shooting videos and streaming YouTube content, so you can get more out of every charge.

Powering Google’s AI features is no small task. It requires our phones to process large amounts of data – images, audio and sensor data – in real time. With the additional memory of the Pixel 9 (12 GB) over the A-series phones’ 8 GB, it can process this data faster (especially if you’re using more than one AI-powered feature at the same time) and make your experience smoother. 

The Pixel 9 and Pixel 9a also come with your built-in AI assistant, Gemini, to find information and get things done across your Google apps – like Maps, Calendar, Gmail, and YouTube Music.21 Need to refine a speech or brainstorm ideas on where to go for your next holiday? Just hold the power button on your Pixel 9 or Pixel 9a to start a free-flowing, natural conversation with Gemini.22

Keeping you connected

Solo. With the family. Across India. Abroad. Culture. Adventure. Relaxation. However you travel, whatever you travel for, and wherever you choose to go, it’s becoming more and more important to keep in contact. All three Pixel phones allow you to connect to the 5G network26 and the latest Wi-Fi 7 protocol on the Pixel 9 so you can enjoy lower latency for your video calls.

 A person holding onto a Pixel 9 with his luggage

To help manage your work and personal communications when you’re on the go, each of the three models supports dual SIM: both a physical Nano SIM and an eSIM27 – so you can keep up without needing two phones, whether you’re exploring the beaches of Goa or attending business meetings in Bangalore.

Picking your perfect Pixel

So, which Pixel is the right one for you? Well, that depends on what you need from your phone.

If you’re looking for our premium design with superior camera quality, fast charging and good performance for AI-powered features, Pixel 9 is a good option. Most of Google’s features and high build quality at a lower price? The Pixel 8a provides good value for money in Pixel phones, with its compact form factor, decent display and performance. Or, if you’re looking for a Pixel which provides that balance between design, features and price, perhaps the Pixel 9a could be for you, with its durable build, bright display, unmatched battery life and full suite of AI-powered camera and video features.

Whichever you choose, you’ll get a Pixel phone that simply works out-of-the-box, along with the usual Pixel perks. Like stock Android (so no unnecessary apps), being among the first to receive new Android updates via Pixel Drop28, up to 7 years of OS and Security updates29, and built-in AI-powered features including Gemini Live, Gemini Extensions, and photo-editing features like Best Take and Magic Editor.

Ready for your next upgrade? Pixel 9a, Pixel 9 and Pixel 8a are now available on the official Google Store. Shop with discounts, instant cashback and no-cost EMI savings.

Shop these phones
Pixel 9
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Pixel 9a
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Pixel 8a
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  1. Screen has rounded corners. When measured diagonally as a rectangle, the screen is 6.1 inches (for Pixel 8a) and 160 mm (for Pixel 9 and Pixel 9a). Actual viewable area is less. Dimension may vary by configuration and manufacturing process.

  2. Estimated battery life based on testing using a median Pixel user battery usage profile across a mix of talk, data, standby and use of other features. Battery testing conducted on a major US operator network. Battery testing conducted in California in mid-2024 on pre-production hardware and software using default settings. Tests began with phones fully charged. Battery life depends upon many factors, and usage of certain features will decrease battery life. Actual battery life may be lower. Over time, Pixel software will manage battery performance to help maintain battery health as your battery ages. See g.co/pixel/batteryhealth for details.

  3. Estimate of typical capacity based on testing and expected cell behaviour.

  4. Fast wired charging rates up to 27 W are based on the use of Google 45 W USB-C® Charger plugged into a wall socket. Actual results may be slower. Adaptors sold separately. Charging speed based upon testing with device batteries drained to 1% and charged with Google 45 W USB-C® Charger. Charging testing conducted by Google in early 2024 on pre-production hardware and software using default settings with the device powered on. Charging speed depends upon many factors including usage during charging, battery age and ambient temperature. Actual charging speed may be slower.

  5. Wireless charging rates up to 15 W charging with Google Pixel Stand (2nd gen). Up to 12 W with Qi-certified EPP chargers (sold separately). Actual results may be slower. 

  6. Designed to charge Qi-certified devices. Use of reverse wireless charging significantly reduces Pixel battery life. Cases may interfere with charging and will reduce charging speed. Charging speeds may vary. See g.co/pixel/wirelesscharging for more information.

  7. Not available for all cameras, apps or modes.

  8. Results may vary.  Not available for all cameras, apps or modes. 

  9. Results may vary.

  10. Designed to comply with dust and water protection rating IP68 under IEC standard 60529 when each device leaves the factory, but the device is not waterproof or dust proof. The accessories are not water or dust resistant. Water resistance and dust resistance are not permanent conditions and will diminish or be lost over time due to normal wear and tear, device repair, disassembly or damage. Phone is not drop/tumble proof and dropping your device may result in loss of water/dust resistance. Damage from drops, tumbles, slips and other external forces are not covered under warranty. Liquid damage voids the warranty. See g.co/pixel/water for details.

  11. Up to 23 watts (wired charging). Based upon use of the Google 45 W USB-C® Charger plugged into a wall socket. Actual results may be slower. Adaptors sold separately.

  12. Wireless charging rate up to 7.5W with Qi-certified EPP chargers (sold separately). Actual results may be slower.

  13. For 'over 24 hours': Estimated battery life based on testing using a median Pixel user battery usage profile across a mix of talk, data, standby and use of other features. Average battery life during testing was at least 31 hours. For 'Up to 72 hours': Estimated battery life based on testing using a median Pixel user battery usage profile across a mix of talk, data, standby and use of limited other features that are default in Extreme Battery Saver mode (which disables various features including 5G connectivity). For both claims: Battery testing conducted on a major US operator network in California in late 2023 on pre-production hardware and software using default settings, except that, for the 'up to 72 hours' claim only, Extreme Battery Saver mode was enabled. Tests began with phones fully charged. Battery life depends upon many factors and usage of certain features will decrease battery life. Actual battery life may be lower.

  14. Up to 18 watts (wired charging). Based upon use of the Google 30 W USB-C® Charger plugged into a wall outlet. Actual results may be slower. Adapters sold separately.

  15. Requires Google Photos app. May not work on all images.

  16. Designed to comply with dust and water protection rating IP67 under IEC standard 60529 when each device leaves the factory but device is not waterproof or dustproof. The accessories are not water- or dust-resistant. Water and dust resistance are not permanent conditions; they diminish or are lost over time due to normal wear and tear, device repair, disassembly or damage. Dropping your device may result in loss of dust or water resistance. Liquid damage voids the Limited Warranty but you may still have certain rights available to you under applicable consumer law. For more information, see g.co/pixel/water.

  17. Not available for all apps or content.

  18. HDR brightness measured at 100% on-pixel ratio. Peak brightness measured at 5% on-pixel ratio. 

  19. May not work on all audio elements.

  20. Estimated battery life based on testing using a median Pixel user battery usage profile across a mix of talk, data, standby and use of limited other features that are default in Extreme Battery Saver mode (which disables various features including 5G connectivity). Battery testing conducted on a major US operator network. Battery testing conducted in California in mid-2024 on pre-production hardware and software using default settings, except that Extreme Battery Saver mode was enabled. Tests began with phones fully charged. Battery life depends upon many factors, and usage of certain features will decrease battery life.  Actual battery life may be lower.

  21. Features may differ depending on subscription and results may vary. Some extensions require setup. Country availability may vary. Check responses for accuracy.

  22. Results for illustrative purposes and may vary. Check responses for accuracy. Compatible with certain features and certain accounts. Internet connection required. Available on select devices, languages and countries. Only available to users 18 years and older.

  23. Gemini mobile app is available in selected languages and countries. Internet connection required. Check responses for accuracy.

  24. Storage specifications refer to capacity before formatting. Actual formatted capacity will be less.

  25. Compared to Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. Based on internal testing of pre-production devices.

  26. Requires a 5G data plan (sold separately). 5G service not available on all operator networks or in all areas. Contact operator for details. 5G service, speed and performance depend on many factors, including operator network capabilities and signal strength. Actual results may vary. Some features not available in all areas. Data rates may apply. See g.co/pixel/networkinfo for info.

  27. Feature is operator dependent. Not supported by all operators or in all countries. Contact your operator for details.

  28. See g.co/pixel/updates for details on when your Pixel is eligible to receive Pixel Drops. Availability of some Pixel Drops may vary.

  29. Pixel updates for 7 years from when the device first became available on the Google Store in the US. See g.co/pixel/updates for details.

  30. Maximum resolution and field of view not available for all camera apps or modes.