Google’s business model is simple when it comes to its budget line of phones. Wait a few months after releasing the new flagship phone to sell a more affordable version that takes the best bits, like the chip and display. That’s exactly what happened with the Google Pixel 9a, releasing roughly eight months after the Pixel 9 and missing some of Google’s best AI features. The Pixel 9a is significantly cheaper because it offers less memory, worse cameras, and uses less premium-feeling materials– the flagship model has a glass back instead of a plastic one.
With the announcement of the iPhone 17 lineup, you may be weighing your options. Should you get the base model iPhone 17 or the budget Pixel 9a? Currently, the Pixel 9a retails for $499 as opposed to the iPhone 17’s $799 due to a slower chipset and inferior cameras. If budget is your primary concern, then it’s the Pixel 9a, despite the iPhone 17 offering genuinely excellent value. No question. Conversely, if you value performance, the iPhone 17 is the winner. However, the Pixel 9a’s performance is enough for most people. It offers everything you need at a price point that’s very attractive. Better yet, unlike other budget Android phones, the Pixel 9a is backed by Google, meaning you get seven years of security updates.
The Tensor G4 is slow but not bad
Whether it’s phones, laptops, or desktops, Apple’s chips are top-tier. When stacking Apple’s silicon against Google’s, it’s not a fair fight. The A19 and A19 Pro chip, which can be found inside the iPhone 17 lineup, beats Google’s Tensor G4 chip in single-core and multi-core performance. Apple’s chip also has better integrated graphics, useful for gaming.
If you’re doing high-end tasks, like video editing or gaming, an iPhone 17 may be better. But for everyone else, the Google Pixel 9a delivers more than enough performance for everything from browsing the web and writing emails to scrolling social media and “Balatro.” That’s why we dubbed the Pixel 9a the midrange king. This chip, while not as beefy in terms of performance as Apple’s, can handle Gemini Nano, which is an on-device version of Google’s AI. This means the phone can handle some AI tasks on the device instead of handing off to a server, leading to faster results. For example, Gemini Nano is responsible for Pixel Screenshot, a feature that allows you to search for screenshots based on what’s in the frame, such as a clothing item or location.
Pixel 9a cameras are saved by software features
Both the Pixel 9a and the base iPhone 17 have two cameras. The iPhone 17’s camera system is better, with not one but two 48 MP cameras. The main camera uses a 26 mm lens, while the other has a 13 mm ultra-wide lens. For videographers, the iPhone 17 offers more shooting options and is able to shoot 4K footage at more frame rates. Cinematic mode, which adds a movie-like depth of field effect, is another plus.
On the other hand, the Pixel has one 48 MP wide-angle camera and one 13 MP ultra-wide. Hardware-wise, the Pixel 9a can’t compete, even with the 48 MP main camera. Yet, the Pixel 9a’s camera delivers. That’s because Google has been at the forefront of computational photography since before the company began making the Pixel line of phones. Features like Night Sight, Top Shot, and Astrophotography are all standouts. When an image isn’t quite right, you can tweak it with AI Enhance or use Portrait Blur, which lets you add bokeh after the fact. Magic Eraser is arguably, the most mind-blowing feature, letting you remove anything from an image, from an object to a person. So, while the camera itself may be lackluster in comparison, the images aren’t.
