Latest news with #9Pro
Forbes
10-04-2025
- Forbes
Google Pixel 9a Brings Bigger Battery, Better AI For The Same $499
Google Pixel 9a After the initial hiccup in availability, Google's new affordable phone is finally available for purchase. The Pixel 9a adds a bunch of useful upgrades. It comes with a new camera sensor, a faster processor, more AI features (some actually useful and accurate), and a big battery. Unlike Apple, Google didn't raise the price of its budget offering this year. The Pixel 9a debuts at the same $499 as the Pixel 8a – $100 cheaper than the iPhone 16e. I've used the new Google Pixel phone for a couple of days, and here are five things you should know before buying one. Pixel 9a camera module and flat sides Google is moving away from its signature look on the Pixel 9a. It no longer features the Pixel Camera Bar – something Google takes enough pride in to write a blog post. However, this makes way for a cleaner-looking phone, at least from the back. The dual-camera module sits virtually flush and borrows the flat sides from the Pixel 9 and 9 Pro. I have the Iris colorway, and I love it. It looks purple or blue, depending on the lighting, and feels good in hand. It's made of plastic but comes with an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, which is a step up from the Pixel 8a's IP67. Overall, the Pixel 9a has solid build quality despite having less visual personality. Google Pixel 9a display The Google Pixel 9a sports a 6.3-inch screen with a 2424 x 1080-pixel resolution and a 120Hz dynamic refresh rate. It supports 2,700 nits of peak brightness for HDR content. On top of it, you'll find the same Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection as the Pixel 8a. While it gets bright enough for browsing or doomscrolling, I struggled to see the camera viewfinder in direct sunlight. The Adaptive Brightness setting is finicky, and even after manually maxing out brightness, it wasn't enough to snap photos comfortably outdoors. Also, the thick bezels make it look less modern. You'll probably get used to it, but it's worth noting. Google Pixel 9a in Iris variant The Pixel 9a features the same in-house Tensor G4 as the Pixel 9 and 9 Pro. However, it gets 8GB of RAM instead of 12GB. In everyday use, it's fast and snappy. I didn't notice any stutter or lag while multitasking or browsing. It's not built for gaming (check out the OnePlus 13R if that's your thing), but it's good enough for most tasks. That said, I'm skeptical about how it'll hold up in two years, as the world moves toward AI-first phones that demand more RAM. The Pixel 9a packs a large 5,100mAh battery supporting 23W wired charging and 7.5W Qi wireless charging (the faster 15W Qi2 standard is absent). I haven't used it long enough to confirm battery longevity, but so far, it seems on par with the Pixel 8a's average battery life. Hopefully, it'll improve in a week of use. Google Pixel 9a Gemini Google's AI features are what set the Pixel 9a apart. It supports several versions of Gemini, including 2.0 Flash, 2.0 Flash Thinking, 2.5 Pro, Deep Research, and Personalization. My favorite new AI feature is Gemini Live video (requires a Gemini Advanced subscription), which helped me figure out which sofa would best suit my living room. It's great for pointing your camera at your surroundings and asking questions to ideate or brainstorm. Gemini Live video is a refreshing way to interact with your phone, though it still needs to be more reliable for conversations. It's improved since I tested Conversation Mode in the Pixel Buds Pro 2 review, but there's still room to grow. Other fun AI tools include Add Me, Best Take, Pixel Studio, and more party tricks. Google Pixel 9a Camera viewfinder The Pixel 9a swaps the 64MP sensor on its predecessor for a 48MP main camera. Both use pixel binning to combine groups of four pixels for better image quality. It's paired with a 13MP ultrawide camera. I haven't noticed a huge leap in photo quality over the Pixel 8a. Pixel 9a 2x and macro mode You also get a macro mode with the main sensor to shoot close-ups. The results are decent. Portraits show a slightly improved background blur, and shadows carry more detail. Night mode, however, is average. Overall, the Pixel 9a offers a fine camera setup for a $499 phone. Google Pixel 9a The Pixel 9a is a value-for-money phone with Google's software advantages and lots of useful AI tools. It delivers solid hardware, the same chipset as pricier Pixel phones, and a decent display, camera, and battery life. It's a smart choice for anyone upgrading from a three- or four-year-old Pixel. However, there are compelling alternatives to consider. The new Moto G Stylus has a better display and a good enough processor. Meanwhile, the $599 OnePlus 13R offers the best screen in the segment with flagship-level performance, thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Yahoo
The Google Pixel 9a is missing a crucial life-saving feature
Launched earlier this week, the Pixel 9a packs Pixel 9's magic in a condensed, more affordable form. With a lower price, though, the Pixel 9a loses some perks of the more premium Pixel 9 phones, including some defining Gemini AI features. Despite running the same Tensor G4 chipset as the Pixel 9 and the 9 Pro, the Pixel 9a loses on a life-saving feature: satellite-based SOS functionality. Google confirmed the lack to Android Authority, validating you won't be able to call or text in cases you get stranded without network — as you would be able to with the Pixel 9, 9 Pro, and the 9 Pro Fold phones. Google offers these services on premium Pixel phones in the U.S., Canada, UK, and parts of Europe. The reason behind Google skipping satellite connectivity from the Pixel 9a is an older modem. Unlike the Pixel 9 series, which uses the newer and more advanced Samsung Exynos 5400 modem, the 9a uses the previous generation Exynos 5300. The newer modem is what enables 5G non-terrestrial networking (NTN) that is used to connect with low-orbit communication satellites when cellular network is absent. Meanwhile, the older Exynos 5300 modem is what we have seen on previous phones such as the Pixel 7 and 8 series. Notably, these phones also suffered with poor cellular reception, irrespective of carriers or location, as well as heating issues due to the modem. It's unclear if Google has worked around the issued while deploying it in the Pixel 9a. While Google sent an update addressing the issue on Pixel 8 and Pixel 7 phones in April last year, they resurfaced in June for certain users. We hope that's not the case with the Pixel 9a but will know better when we have the device for testing. While Google's modem situation may appear similar to the iPhone 16e — another stripped down version of a premium, the $600 iPhone comes with satellite connectivity with Apple's in-house C1 modem. More interestingly, even while the modem doesn't support mmWave 5G spectrum, it doesn't fall far behind the iPhone 16 in network speeds in most testing scenarios.
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- Yahoo
Asus's next gaming phone has a very familiar look
Asus' ROG Phone 9 Pro is a powerful, sleek handset that's optimized for gaming, and now we've learned the company plans to release the ROG Phone 9 FE — not from an official source, but from a huge leak that revealed the specs and several images of what the new model will look like. Here's what we know so far. The ROG Phone 9 FE is expected to release before the end of 2025, although a more specific launch window isn't available. The phone is slated to arrive with a 6.78-inch FHD+ display and a maximum brightness of 2,500 nits. That's more than enough to browse the web or play your favorite mobile game in direct sunlight. The phone is also expected to sport a 165Hz refresh rate (up to 185Hz in Game Genie mode) and Gorilla Glass Victus 2; in other words, the same display as the ROG Phone 9 and 9 Pro. You should expect a slightly downgraded battery of 5,500mAh versus the 5,900mAh in the Phone 9 and 9 Pro, according to 91mobiles. The ROG Phone 9 FE isn't messing around in terms of specs, either. It will run on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, boast 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. It will also have a 50MP main camera, a 13MP ultrawide camera, and a 5MP macro camera. The front camera is a whopping 32MP for snagging the perfect selfie. The main spec downgrade is the lack of a telephoto camera lens on the FE. What kind of gaming phone would it be if it didn't come with a headphone port? The handset is equipped with a 3.5mm jack, dual-stereo speakers, and is compatible with Wi-Fi 7. You'll be able to game competitively with this phone with ease, especially if you pair it with a mobile controller. Even if you don't, its AirTrigger controls (programmable touchpads) make it easy to play with just your phone, no accessory required. The phone weighs in at 225g and is 163.8 x 76.8 x 8.9mm, and we only know of the Phantom Black color so far. The design remains largely the same as previous iterations, with only a few subtle differences, such as the addition of an '09' script down the side. It appears a version of Asus's popular ROG Vision rear display will be part of the phone too. Gaming phones have grown in popularity over the last few years, and now you can find plenty of options so that you don't have to pause Stardew Valley before leaving the house — just take it with you.
