For me, the Pixel 9a is the clear winner. It provides 90% of the Pixel 9’s experience at a $300 discount. The Pixel 9’s extra features aren’t essential for my needs, and I value the Pixel 9a’s enhanced battery life.

With Google announcing the Pixel 9a today--but not launching it belatedly until early April--it's useful to understand the trade-offs.

The Pixel 9a looks a little different from last year’s Pixel 8a. The corners aren’t as rounded and instead match that iPhone-like style the rest of the Pixel 9 family adopted. It’s boring until you consider the Pixel 9a shines in design in all the places Apple’s diehard fans wish the iPhone 16e did.