Google's 70,000 yen smartphone "Google Pixel 9a" review. The highest image quality of "Genshin Impact" is slightly stuttery, and "Delta Force" is crisp and comfortable. The camera is good with natural colors

 

The Google Pixel 9a smartphone was released in April 2025. As a low-priced version of the Google Pixel 9, the price starts at 79,900 yen [tax included].

This time, I was able to borrow such a Pixel 9a from the manufacturer, so I actually "Genshin Impact" and "Delter Force" We will focus on the usability as a gamer, such as the feeling of use and heat generation by playing.

Light, easy to hold, and cute

Let's start with the exterior. The color of the terminal that I was able to try this time is "Peony", and the pale pink color is cute. The rounded corners and the thick bezel are also impressive.

In addition to Peony, there are four other colors: blue Iris, white Porcelain, and black Obsidian.

The display is a 6.3-inch OLED. The resolution is Full HD + with 1080×2424 dots. With a maximum brightness of 1800 nits (HDR) and a peak brightness of 2700 nits, it is easy to see outdoors and in the sun. The refresh rate is 60~120Hz and the operation is smooth.

Seen from the front of the main unit, the right side is simple with only the power button and volume button. There is a Type-C port (USB 3.2) and a speaker on the bottom. The speaker is also located at the top of the in-camera and is stereo. It doesn't have an earphone jack or a microSD slot.

Right side

bottom

The back is smooth with a matte finish. The camera has a two-lens configuration, and the design is flat with few protrusions. Camera performance and examples will be introduced at the end.

It weighs about 186g. Personally, I felt that it was light and easy to hold with one hand. Biometric authentication supports face and fingerprint. In particular, since fingerprint authentication is an ultrasonic type, the recognition speed was fast.

The processor adopts the latest model "Google Tensor G4" developed independently by Google. The top-of-the-line Pixel 9 Pro and the top-of-the-line Pixel 9 are equipped with the same thing.

The initial OS is the latest Android 15. It has 8GB of memory and 128GB/256GB of internal storage. "Genshin Impact" alone uses about 30 GB, so if you want to play various games, 256 GB is recommended.

The battery is 5100mAh, and all the high-end models are 4700mAh, so the capacity is up. Fast charging and wireless charging are also available.

Another thing to note is that it supports FeliCa (Osaifu-Keitai). I am grateful for the ability to make various touch payments such as mobile Suica, nanaco, and QUICPay. In addition, OS and security updates are provided for 7 years, which is a nice support for those who want to continue using it for a long time.

We will also introduce Google's official dedicated case. The cover is also pink to match the "Peony" I tried this time. It has a simple design that does not break the original atmosphere.

The material is made of silicone and polycarbonate. It's sturdy and smooth, so it feels good to the touch. It may be interesting to combine them with cases of different colors.

Left: Device only / Right: When the cover is attached

The highest image quality is not slimy, but it is enough to play

This time, I played Genshin Impact and the FPS Delta Force. Delta Force is a free-to-play tactical shooter that focuses on team tactics and features two modes: 24v24 large-scale combat and a route shooter that brings back supplies.

First of all, let's start with the introduction of the features related to the game. The Pixel 9a has a "Game Dashboard" that allows you to control performance such as maximizing frame rates and saving battery, FPS display, silent mode, and shortcuts for recording and screenshots on the screen.

In addition, since both titles did not support performance control, the only thing that was actually used was FPS display and screenshot shortcuts.

About battery consumption and heat generation. I played Genshin Impact for 30 minutes to test it. The in-game settings are set to the highest image quality, and the brightness of the device itself is also maximized.

The battery consumes 11% at 100% → 89%, and the heat generation is 29.6°C → 45.8°C. The battery life is excellent, but the cooling performance is weak. Some people will feel "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

One thing that bothered me was that there was a slight stuttering when the camera viewpoint was moved a lot, or when elemental explosions were activated continuously. It wasn't slimy, but it wasn't enough to detract from the immersion for me personally.

The beam of Nevillette is easy to operate with a smartphone.

When playing Genshin Impact, if you are concerned about stuttering based on the highest image quality, you can adjust it by lowering items such as rendering accuracy and shadow quality. In addition, as mentioned above, it gets quite hot when it is set to the highest image quality, so it is difficult to start it for a long time. If you want to play with gusto, you can lower the image quality to high or medium quality.

The average loading time is about 10 seconds. The frame rate was kept in the 50fps range during exploration and hovered between 40~50fps during battle.

Even if it's not slimy, if you want to play "Genshin Impact" for the time being, you can play it without worrying about it.

Delta Force automatically adjusts the frame rate when you change the quality so that it doesn't detract from the playing experience. For Pixel 9a, select "ultra high image quality". The frame rate setting is now "High".

It's fun to get around while keeping track of the position of enemy troops, such as securing rooftops and attacking from the flanks.

On the other hand, if you set the frame rate to "Superlative", the image quality is automatically set to "Fine", which is two levels lower. Choose your preferred settings for image quality or frame rate. No matter which one you choose, the frame rate is about 40 fps on average. The feel of the operation did not change much. In my opinion, I recommend playing in ultra-high quality.

The image quality settings are finely divided, and there are 6 levels: smooth, standard, exquisite, high-quality, ultra-high-quality, and ultimate. Ultimate was not an option on the Pixel 9a.

There are 8 levels of frame rate: low, medium, high, ultra-high, superlative, 90 FPS, 120 FPS, and 144 FPS. In fact, I was able to choose from low ~ superlative.

I played about 10 battles mainly in the 24-on-24 large-scale battle mode "Warfare", and I didn't feel any stuttering even when there was a lot of artillery fire in the melee.

In ultra-high image quality, the depiction of buildings and other objects is detailed and the sense of realism is improved. I played an FPS on my smartphone for the first time, and I was hooked because it was crisp.

When I checked the system requirements for "Delta Force", the processor with the recommended specs was "Snapdragon 865". It means that it works safely with the model that appeared in 2019, so it is possible to play with the Pixel 9a without any problems.

Camera performance & examples are also introduced!

The camera is equipped with a wide-angle of 48 million pixels and an ultra-wide-angle (ultra-wide) of 13 million pixels. The zoom performance is up to 8x super-resolution zoom, and 0.5x and 1x (standard) are optical equivalents. Image stabilization is also available.

Let's take a look at the photos that were actually taken. The day view and night view taken at 1x look like this. Although the night scene is slightly whiter due to the correction, the overall color of the building, such as the lights of the building and the color of the building, is natural and clear.

Left: Day view / Right: Night view

Next is a zoom photo taken of a succulent at 1x, 2x, and 8x. Up to 2x is a good picture that is taken beautifully. The 8x zoom has some roughness in the details, but there is little discomfort at first glance. Considering that there are 70,000 units, it can be said that the camera performance is excellent enough.

A balanced type smartphone that allows you to enjoy games and cameras with high-end performance one step ahead

Although there is some stuttering, I am personally happy that I was able to play "Genshin Impact" in the highest quality on a smartphone in the 70,000 yen range. The performance of the camera is good, and the camera shoots with clear colors, so the satisfaction is high. It seems to increase the motivation to take pictures.

I'm also grateful that it supports Felica and that I can continue to use it for a long time with OS and security updates that last for 7 years. Finally, sales information. The price of Pixel 9a is 79860 yen [including tax] for the 128GB model and 94900 yen [including tax] for the 256GB model. It will be available in four colors: Iris, Peony, Porcelain, and Obsidian. There is also an official special case in the same color that does not destroy the design of the smartphone, so why not consider purchasing it as well? The price will be 4900 yen each [tax included].

Basic Specifications

• OS：Android 15
• Processor: Google Tensor G4, Titan M2 security coprocessor
• Memory: 8GB
• Storage: 128GB/256GB
• Display: Approx. 6.3-inch OLED (1080x2424 dots)
• Body color: Iris, Peony, Porcelain, Obsidian
• Dimensions: 154.7 mm (height) x 73.3 mm (width) x 8.9 mm (depth)
• Body weight: about 186g
• Battery life: Approx. 30 hours