Google's Pixel 9a is getting an April launch in Australia

Alex Choros - Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor

Last updated 20 March 2025

Google has joined in on the wave of mid-tier phone launches, announcing its latest affordable Pixel overnight. The Pixel 9a will join other recently announced devices, including the iPhone 16e, Samsung's Galaxy A56, OPPO's Reno 13, and the Nothing Phone 3a Pro, in the under $1,000 price segment.

Google has kept the starting price of the Pixel 9a in line with last year's model, with the device retailing for $849 locally. The 256GB variant will sell for $999, however, which is a $50 price hike compared to last year.

The Pixel 9a will go on sale in Australia in April. There isn't a confirmed release date yet, and there isn't a pre-order period.

While the entry-level price hasn't changed, there are a few welcome upgrades.

To start, the Pixel 9a is a little bigger. It has a 6.3-inch screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, up from 6.1-inch in the Pixel 8a. The screen is also a little brighter and more scratch-resistant. The water resistance rating has also been increased from IP67 to IP68.

Google has given the Pixel 9a a bit of a redesign. The camera bar is gone, resulting in a more streamlined look.

As for the cameras themselves, the Pixel 9a has a 48MP primary lens, 13MP ultra-wide lens, and 13MP selfie camera. While the primary camera has a lower resolution than last year's model, it has a larger sensor behind it and a wider aperture.

Other key specifications include the same Tensor G4 processor found in the rest of the Pixel 9 family, 8GB of RAM, and a 5,100mAh battery. Google is promising the Pixel 9a will get seven years of operating system upgrades and security updates. That's a best-in-class promise for an Android device, on par with the pricier Pixels and Samsung's flagships like the Galaxy S25.

The Pixel 9a will be available in black, white, pink, and purple. Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone will all have it available on a mobile plan, and JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman, Officeworks, and Google will sell the phone outright.

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Alex Choros

Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor | X | Instagram | Threads | LinkedIn

Alex Choros is the Managing Editor of WhistleOut Australia and an award-winning journalist. He's been writing about consumer technology for over a decade and is an expert on the Australian telco sector, to the point where he knows far too many phone and internet plans by heart. In addition to leading the WhistleOut editorial team, Alex is responsible for ruining the office Sonos with his troubled taste in music.

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