Update: 03/28/2025: Google’s Pixel 9a is coming out in Canada on April 10.
Google officially unveiled the Pixel 9a, which will be available in Canada in April. The handset was poised to launch earlier but was delayed due to a ‘component quality issue,’ Google said in an email to MobileSyrup:
“We’re checking on a component quality issue that’s affecting a small number of Pixel 9a devices.”
Aside from the delay, the search giant’s latest mid-range smartphone boasts a brand-new look sans a camera bar. The Pixel 9a also sports a much larger battery, camera upgrades and more. But perhaps the best part is the price, unchanged from last year’s Pixel 8a — just $679.
What’s new in Pixel 9a
Let’s talk battery first, which I think will be one of the Pixel 9a’s strengths. Google crammed a massive 5,100mAh cell into the 9a. That’s a significant increase from the 4,492mAh Pixel 8a and the 4,700mAh Pixel 9 and 9 Pro.
This is a big improvement on paper, and Google talked up this change too. In a press briefing about the phone, Google said the 9a boasted 25 per cent improved battery life compared to the Pixel 8a, claiming over 30 hours of battery life or up to 100 hours with extreme battery saver.
I’ll still need to test it thoroughly to see how the Pixel 9a holds up in real-world use (stay tuned for the full MobileSyrup review!), but given how battery life has been for me on the Pixel 9 Pro, I’m optimistic about the 9a.
Next, let’s look at the camera. Google equipped the Pixel 9a with a 48-megapixel primary camera, which at first glance might look worse than the 8a’s 64-megapixel camera. However, looking beyond the megapixel count, this should be an overall improvement in camera quality as it’s the same sensor Google uses in the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
Speaking of the cameras, this is also where the new design comes in. The Pixel 9a is noticeably lacking a camera bar, a mainstay of the Pixel line’s design since the Pixel 6 series. Instead, the Pixel 9a sports a camera module that’s nearly flush with the back of the phone. I say nearly because the glass is slightly rounded — Google said the design was inspired by a water drop.
From left to right: Obsidian, Porcelain, Peony, Iris.
While it definitely gives water drop, I have some early concerns about durability with the camera’s raised glass dome. Google says the Pixel 9a is the “most durable A-Series phone yet,” so we’ll see how that camera bump bubble holds up. It also sports IP68 water and dust protection.
That covers most of what’s new, but there are a few other things worth highlighting. The Pixel 9a sports Google’s Tensor G4 chip, which should support most of the same AI and Gemini features as Google’s other Pixel 9 devices. It will get seven years of updates, just like Google’s other Pixels.
How to get the Pixel 9a in Canada
The Pixel 9a won’t have a pre-order window in Canada and will be available from Google and retail partners starting in April. It starts at $679 for the 128GB version, but a 256GB variant is also available. The phone comes in four colours: Obsidian, Porcelain, Iris, and Peony.
Google is also bundling a few freebies with the phone, including three months of Google One cloud storage, three months of YouTube Premium, and six months of Fitbit Premium.
MobileSyrup will have a full review of the Pixel 9a in the coming weeks.
Images credit: Google
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