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In 2021, Google introduced the “camera bar” to its lineup of Pixel phones. The idea behind putting a giant bump along the entire width of the phone’s rear was ostensibly to give the camera’s lenses more space, but really, it was as much a marketing move as a practical one: While other phones continue to make do just fine with a small square in the corner, the camera bar gives Pixels a unique look that Google acknowledges is a “trademark of the lineup.”
Unfortunately for the search giant, it’s a bad trademark. I hate it.
Much to the chagrin of my pockets and purses, almost every Pixel Google has released since the 6 has had a camera bar in some form. It traps dust, it gives cases an ugly hump, and it makes it harder to hold the phone in one hand or in landscape mode.
Luckily, after years of Google’s strict adherence to the camera bar, there’s finally an option for people like me. Earlier this year, Google released its budget-oriented Pixel 9a, the first phone from the company to omit the camera bar since its debut model. That immediately made it my favorite Google phone you can buy right now, and even with the Pixel 10 on the horizon, it looks like it’s going to be relevant for years to come.
How does the Pixel 9a compare to the Pixel 9?
Google Pixel 9a in various colors
Credit: Michelle Ehrhardt
Every spring, Google releases an “a” model of its most recent Pixels, cutting a few specs and slashing the price to match. I’ve generally been pretty impressed with these devices—their compromises are largely hard to spot, and they mostly provide the same overall experience as their forebears. Still, I’ve been hesitant to declare these versions a better choice than the full models, until now.
The Pixel 9a is almost neck-and-neck with the Pixel 9, and thanks to the redesigned camera, I’d say it’s less of a strict downgrade and more of an alternative choice with different priorities.
It has the same processor as the Pixel 9 (the Google Tensor G4), the same size screen (6.3-inches), the same max refresh rate (120Hz), and is actually a little lighter and has a slightly larger battery. It’s got less memory, yes, and fewer megapixels on the camera, but if you mostly use your phone for web-based apps, it will be essentially offer you the same capabilities as any other Pixel 9, right down to Audio Eraser and other Pixel-exclusive software.
If not for its lack of a camera bar, I could probably hand you a 9a and tell you it was a 9, and you’d go for months without noticing the difference.
Why the camera bar hate?
Google Pixel 9 from the back
Credit: Michelle Ehrhardt
I’ve got a few issues with the Pixel camera bar, although many of them might sound like nitpicks, depending on your tastes. It makes Pixels a bit harder to fit into a tight pocket or a small bag, and I think it makes them less comfortable to hold horizontally, which can be a pain for gamers. The edges can also be a bit of a dust magnet, at least if you put a case on it, and the camera bar is thick enough that it’s hard to lay a Pixel down completely flat.
But for me, the real issue is that it’s ugly. That’s highly subjective, I’ll admit, but it’s a common enough complaint that Google has made pains to defend the camera bump. How bad it is varies from phone to phone, but on the base Pixel 9, it’s a third as thick as the phone itself. That’s some nasty work, and if you’re like me, it’s pretty self-evident why you might prefer an alternative.
How does the Pixel 9a’s camera hold up?
That’s why I was so happy when I saw that the Pixel 9a got rid of the camera bump in favor of a nearly flush pill in one of the corners. It’s unobtrusive, easy to fit a case around, and far enough out of the way that the Pixel 9a lays completely flat when placed on its rear. It’s like the camera cutout on an iPhone or Galaxy, but smaller.
What do you think so far?
To be fair, the change does come with some caveats. While the regular Pixel 9’s camera has a 50 MP wide lens and a 48 MP ultrawide lens, the Pixel 9a only has a 48MP wide lens and a 13 MP ultrawide lens. But here’s my hot take: You’re buying a phone, not a camera. While most of us have replaced dedicated cameras with our smartphones, it’s worth considering whether you’re the type of person who needs the absolute prettiest pictures at all times, or if you’d prefer a less unwieldy device with a smaller price tag. While I do think you can spot a mild difference between the 9 and 9a’s shots, for casual photographers, the 9a should still hold up just fine.
Here’s a few examples of Pixel 9a shots, from various distances and in different lighting conditions:
Photos taken on the Pixel 9a
Credit: Michelle Ehrhardt
And the same, but for the regular Pixel 9:
Photos taken on the Pixel 9
Credit: Michelle Ehrhardt
Isn’t the Pixel 10 coming out soon?
Even if I’ve convinced you on the Pixel 9a over the 9, there is an elephant in the room—the Pixel 10 is set to come out later this month. However, as Google has officially revealed, it’s still going to have a camera bar, and a pretty thick-looking one at that.
I was hoping that the 9a was a sign of things to come for Google’s non-budget phones, but alas. If you’re a fellow camera bar hater, the Pixel 9a is going to remain a relevant option for you long after the base Pixel 10 release, especially because the 10a likely won’t come out until next year, if historical precedent stands.
It seems the Pixel 9a might even be a decent option if you’re an iPhone fan, as leaks have recently suggested the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max might be getting their own elongated camera bump, although the trustworthiness of those rumors is still up in the air.
Regardless of your preferences, the Pixel 9a is a damn good piece of kit for $500, a big discount from the $800 Pixel 9. If you mostly use your phone for calls, texting, and the internet, it’s not just a good compromise—it’s the best Google phone you can buy.
