Today the vivo Y19 5G was launched in India - not to be confused with the Y19 from 2019, by the way. The new device comes with a 6.74-inch 720x1600 LCD screen with 90 Hz refresh rate, the MediaTek Dimensity 6300 SoC, a 13 MP rear camera with f/2.2 aperture next to a 0.08 MP decorative sensor, a 5 MP selfie camera with f/2.2 aperture, and a 5,500 mAh battery with support for 15W wired charging.
It measures 167.3 x 76.95 x 8.19mm and weighs 199g. It has IP64 certification for dust and splash resistance, and a side-mounted fingerprint sensor. It runs Android 15 with vivo's Funtouch OS 15 on...
The AMD Radeon RX 9070 is a card that just might be saved by the economic chaos engulfing the GPU market right now.
With 'normal' price inflation pretty much rampant with every current-gen GPU, the price proposition for the RX 9070 might actually make it an appealing pick for gamers who're experiencing sticker shock when looking for the best graphics card for their next GPU upgrade.
That doesn't mean, unfortunately, that the AMD RX 9070 is going to be one of the best cheap graphics cards going, even by comparison with everything else that's launched since the end of 2024. With an MSRP of $549 / £529.99 / AU$1,229, the RX 9070 is still an expensive card, even if it's theoretically in line with your typical 'midrange' offering.
And, with the lack of an AMD reference card that might have helped anchor the RX 9070's price at Team Red's MSRP, you're going to pretty much be at the mercy of third-party manufacturers and retailers who can charge whatever they want for this card.
Comparatively speaking, though, even with price inflation, this is going to be one of the cheaper midrange GPUs of this generation, so if you're looking at a bunch of different GPUs, without question this one is likely to be the cheapest graphics card made by either AMD or Nvidia right now (yes, that's even counting the RTX 5060 Ti, which is already selling for well above 150% of MSRP in many places).
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
Does that make this card worth the purchase? Well, that's going to depend on what you're being asked to pay for it. While it's possible to find RX 9070 cards at MSRP, they are rare, and so you're going to have to make a back-of-the-envelope calculation to see if this card is going to offer you the best value in your particular circumstance.
I'm fairly confident, however, that it will. Had I the time to review this card when it first launched in March, I might have scored it lower based on its performance and price proximity to the beefier AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT.
Looking at both of those cards based on their MSRPs, there's no question that the RX 9070 XT is the much better graphics card, so I'd have recommended you spend the extra cash to get that card instead of this one.
Unfortunately, contrary to my hopes, the RX 9070 XT has been scalped almost as badly as the best Nvidia graphics cards of this generation, so that relatively small price difference on paper can be quite large in practice.
Given that reality, for most gamers, the RX 9070 is the best 1440p graphics card going, and can even get you some solid 4K gaming performance for a lot less than you're likely to find the RX 9070 XT or competing Nvidia card, even from the last generation.
If you're looking at this card and the market has returned to sanity and MSRP pricing, then definitely consider going for the RX 9070 XT instead of this card. But barring that happy contingency, given where everything is right now with the GPU market, the RX 9070 is the best AMD graphics card for 1440p gaming, and offers some of the best bang for your (inflationary) buck as you're likely to find today.
AMD Radeon RX 9070: Price & availability
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
How much is it? MSRP is $549 / £529.99 / AU$1,229, but retail price will likely be higher
When can you get it? The RX 9070 is available now
Where is it available? The RX 9070 is available in the US, UK, and Australia
The AMD Radeon RX 9070 is available now in the US, UK, and Australia for an MSRP of $549 / £529.99 / AU$1,229, respectively, but the price you'll pay for this card from third-party partners and retailers will likely be higher.
Giving credit where it's due, the RX 9070 is the exact same MSRP as the AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE, which you can argue the RX 9070 is replacing. It's also coming in at the same price as the RTX 5070's MSRP, and as I'll get into in a bit, for gaming performance, the RX 9070 offers a better value at MSRP.
Given how the RTX 5070 can rarely be found at MSRP, the RX 9070 is in an even stronger position compared to its competition.
Value: 4 / 5
AMD Radeon RX 9070: Specs
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
PCIe 5.0
16GB VRAM
Specs & features: 4 / 5
AMD Radeon RX 9070: Design & features
No AMD reference card
Will be good for SFF cases
In terms of design, the RX 9070 doesn't have a reference card, so the card I reviewed is the Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 9070.
This card, in particular, is fairly straightforward with few frills, but for those who don't want a whole lot of RGB lighting in their PC, this is more of a positive than a negative. RGB fans, however, will have to look at other AMD partner cards for their fix.
The card is a noticeably shorter dual-fan design compared to the longer triple-fan RX 9070 XT cards. That makes the RX 9070 a great option for small form factor PC cases.
Design: 3.5 / 5
AMD Radeon RX 9070: Performance
About 13% slower than RX 9070 XT
Outstanding 1440p gaming performance
Decent 4K performance
A note on my data
The charts shown below offer the most recent data I have for the cards tested for this review. They may change over time as more card results are added and cards are retested. The 'average of all cards tested' includes cards not shown in these charts for readability purposes.
When it comes down to performance, the RX 9070 is a very strong graphics card that is somewhat overshadowed by its beefier 9070 XT sibling, but goes toe-to-toe against the RTX 5070 where it counts for most users, which is gaming.
On the synthetic side, the RTX 9070 puts up some incredibly solid numbers, especially in pure rasterization workloads like 3DMark Steel Nomad, beating out the RTX 5070 by 13%. In ray tracing heavy workloads like 3DMark Speed Way, meanwhile, the RX 9070 manages to comes within 95% of the RTX 5070's performance.
As expected though, the RX 9070's creative performance isn't able to keep up with Nvidia's competing RTX 5070, especially in 3D modeling workloads like Blender. If you're looking for a cheap creative workstation GPU, you're going to want to go for the RTX 5070, no question.
But that's not really what this card is about. AMD cards are gaming cards through and through, and as you can see above, at 1440p, the RX 9070 goes blow for blow with Nvidia's midrange card so that the overall average FPS at 1440p is 114 against Nvidia's 115 FPS average (72 FPS to 76 FPS average minimums/1%, respectively).
Likewise, at 4K, the two cards are effectively tied, with the RX 9070 holding a slight 2 FPS edge over the RTX 5070, on average (50 FPS to 51 FPS minimum/1%, respectively).
Putting it all together, one thing in the Nvidia RTX 5070's favor is that it is able to tie things up with the RX 9070 at about 26 fewer watts under load (284W maximum power draw to the RTX 5070's 258W).
That's not the biggest difference, but even 26W extra power can mean the difference between needing to replace your PSU or sticking with the one you have.
Under normal conditions, I'd argue that this would swing things in favor of Nvidia's GPU, but the GPU market is hardly normal right now, and so what you really need to look at is how much you're being asked to pay for either of these cards. Chances are, you're going to be able to find an RX 9070 for a good bit cheaper than the RTX 5070, and so its value to you in the end is likely going to be higher.
Performance: 4.5 / 5
Should you buy the AMD Radeon RX 9070?
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
Buy the AMD Radeon RX 9070 if...
You want a fantastic 1440p graphics card The RX 9070 absolutely chews through 1440p gaming with frame rates that can fully saturate most 1440p gaming monitors' refresh rates.
You don't want to spend a fortune on a midrange GPU While the RX 9070 isn't cheap, necessarily, it's among the cheapest midrange cards you can get, even after factoring in scalping and price inflation.
Don't buy it if...
You want great creative performance While the RX 9070 is a fantastic gaming graphics card, its creative performance (especially for 3D modeling work) lags behind Nvidia midrange cards.
Also consider
AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT The RX 9070 XT is an absolute barnburner of a gaming GPU, offering excellent 4K performance and even better 1440p performance, especially if you can get it close to MSRP.
Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 The RTX 5070 essentially ties the RX 9070 in gaming performance in 1440p and 4K gaming, but has better power efficiency and creative performance.
I used my complete GPU testing suite to analyze the card's performance
I tested the card in everyday, gaming, creative, and AI workload usage
Test System Specs
Here are the specs on the system I used for testing:
Motherboard: ASRock Z790i Lightning WiFi CPU: Intel Core i9-14900K CPU Cooler: Gigabyte Auros Waterforce II 360 ICE RAM: CorsairDominator DDR5-6600 (2 x 16GB) SSD: Samsung 9100 Pro 4TB SSD PSU: Thermaltake Toughpower PF3 1050W Platinum Case: Praxis Wetbench
I spent about two weeks with the AMD RX 9070, using it as my primary workstation GPU for creative work and gaming after hours.
I used my updated benchmarking process, which includes using built-in benchmarks on the latest PC games like Black Myth: Wukong, Cyberpunk 2077, and Civilization VII. I also used industry-standard benchmark tools like 3DMark for synthetic testing, while using tools like PugetBench for Creators and Blender Benchmark for creative workload testing.
I've reviewed more than three dozen graphics cards for TechRadar over the past three years, which has included hundreds of hours of dedicated GPU testing, so you can trust that I'm giving you the fullest picture of a graphics card's performance in my reviews.
The AMD Radeon RX 9070 is a card that just might be saved by the economic chaos engulfing the GPU market right now.
With 'normal' price inflation pretty much rampant with every current-gen GPU, the price proposition for the RX 9070 might actually make it an appealing pick for gamers who're experiencing sticker shock when looking for the best graphics card for their next GPU upgrade.
That doesn't mean, unfortunately, that the AMD RX 9070 is going to be one of the best cheap graphics cards going, even by comparison with everything else that's launched since the end of 2024. With an MSRP of $549 / £529.99 / AU$1,229, the RX 9070 is still an expensive card, even if it's theoretically in line with your typical 'midrange' offering.
And, with the lack of an AMD reference card that might have helped anchor the RX 9070's price at Team Red's MSRP, you're going to pretty much be at the mercy of third-party manufacturers and retailers who can charge whatever they want for this card.
Comparatively speaking, though, even with price inflation, this is going to be one of the cheaper midrange GPUs of this generation, so if you're looking at a bunch of different GPUs, without question this one is likely to be the cheapest graphics card made by either AMD or Nvidia right now (yes, that's even counting the RTX 5060 Ti, which is already selling for well above 150% of MSRP in many places).
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
Does that make this card worth the purchase? Well, that's going to depend on what you're being asked to pay for it. While it's possible to find RX 9070 cards at MSRP, they are rare, and so you're going to have to make a back-of-the-envelope calculation to see if this card is going to offer you the best value in your particular circumstance.
I'm fairly confident, however, that it will. Had I the time to review this card when it first launched in March, I might have scored it lower based on its performance and price proximity to the beefier AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT.
Looking at both of those cards based on their MSRPs, there's no question that the RX 9070 XT is the much better graphics card, so I'd have recommended you spend the extra cash to get that card instead of this one.
Unfortunately, contrary to my hopes, the RX 9070 XT has been scalped almost as badly as the best Nvidia graphics cards of this generation, so that relatively small price difference on paper can be quite large in practice.
Given that reality, for most gamers, the RX 9070 is the best 1440p graphics card going, and can even get you some solid 4K gaming performance for a lot less than you're likely to find the RX 9070 XT or competing Nvidia card, even from the last generation.
If you're looking at this card and the market has returned to sanity and MSRP pricing, then definitely consider going for the RX 9070 XT instead of this card. But barring that happy contingency, given where everything is right now with the GPU market, the RX 9070 is the best AMD graphics card for 1440p gaming, and offers some of the best bang for your (inflationary) buck as you're likely to find today.
AMD Radeon RX 9070: Price & availability
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
How much is it? MSRP is $549 / £529.99 / AU$1,229, but retail price will likely be higher
When can you get it? The RX 9070 is available now
Where is it available? The RX 9070 is available in the US, UK, and Australia
The AMD Radeon RX 9070 is available now in the US, UK, and Australia for an MSRP of $549 / £529.99 / AU$1,229, respectively, but the price you'll pay for this card from third-party partners and retailers will likely be higher.
Giving credit where it's due, the RX 9070 is the exact same MSRP as the AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE, which you can argue the RX 9070 is replacing. It's also coming in at the same price as the RTX 5070's MSRP, and as I'll get into in a bit, for gaming performance, the RX 9070 offers a better value at MSRP.
Given how the RTX 5070 can rarely be found at MSRP, the RX 9070 is in an even stronger position compared to its competition.
Value: 4 / 5
AMD Radeon RX 9070: Specs
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
PCIe 5.0
16GB VRAM
Specs & features: 4 / 5
AMD Radeon RX 9070: Design & features
No AMD reference card
Will be good for SFF cases
In terms of design, the RX 9070 doesn't have a reference card, so the card I reviewed is the Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 9070.
This card, in particular, is fairly straightforward with few frills, but for those who don't want a whole lot of RGB lighting in their PC, this is more of a positive than a negative. RGB fans, however, will have to look at other AMD partner cards for their fix.
The card is a noticeably shorter dual-fan design compared to the longer triple-fan RX 9070 XT cards. That makes the RX 9070 a great option for small form factor PC cases.
Design: 3.5 / 5
AMD Radeon RX 9070: Performance
About 13% slower than RX 9070 XT
Outstanding 1440p gaming performance
Decent 4K performance
A note on my data
The charts shown below offer the most recent data I have for the cards tested for this review. They may change over time as more card results are added and cards are retested. The 'average of all cards tested' includes cards not shown in these charts for readability purposes.
When it comes down to performance, the RX 9070 is a very strong graphics card that is somewhat overshadowed by its beefier 9070 XT sibling, but goes toe-to-toe against the RTX 5070 where it counts for most users, which is gaming.
On the synthetic side, the RTX 9070 puts up some incredibly solid numbers, especially in pure rasterization workloads like 3DMark Steel Nomad, beating out the RTX 5070 by 13%. In ray tracing heavy workloads like 3DMark Speed Way, meanwhile, the RX 9070 manages to comes within 95% of the RTX 5070's performance.
As expected though, the RX 9070's creative performance isn't able to keep up with Nvidia's competing RTX 5070, especially in 3D modeling workloads like Blender. If you're looking for a cheap creative workstation GPU, you're going to want to go for the RTX 5070, no question.
But that's not really what this card is about. AMD cards are gaming cards through and through, and as you can see above, at 1440p, the RX 9070 goes blow for blow with Nvidia's midrange card so that the overall average FPS at 1440p is 114 against Nvidia's 115 FPS average (72 FPS to 76 FPS average minimums/1%, respectively).
Likewise, at 4K, the two cards are effectively tied, with the RX 9070 holding a slight 2 FPS edge over the RTX 5070, on average (50 FPS to 51 FPS minimum/1%, respectively).
Putting it all together, one thing in the Nvidia RTX 5070's favor is that it is able to tie things up with the RX 9070 at about 26 fewer watts under load (284W maximum power draw to the RTX 5070's 258W).
That's not the biggest difference, but even 26W extra power can mean the difference between needing to replace your PSU or sticking with the one you have.
Under normal conditions, I'd argue that this would swing things in favor of Nvidia's GPU, but the GPU market is hardly normal right now, and so what you really need to look at is how much you're being asked to pay for either of these cards. Chances are, you're going to be able to find an RX 9070 for a good bit cheaper than the RTX 5070, and so its value to you in the end is likely going to be higher.
Performance: 4.5 / 5
Should you buy the AMD Radeon RX 9070?
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
Buy the AMD Radeon RX 9070 if...
You want a fantastic 1440p graphics card The RX 9070 absolutely chews through 1440p gaming with frame rates that can fully saturate most 1440p gaming monitors' refresh rates.
You don't want to spend a fortune on a midrange GPU While the RX 9070 isn't cheap, necessarily, it's among the cheapest midrange cards you can get, even after factoring in scalping and price inflation.
Don't buy it if...
You want great creative performance While the RX 9070 is a fantastic gaming graphics card, its creative performance (especially for 3D modeling work) lags behind Nvidia midrange cards.
Also consider
AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT The RX 9070 XT is an absolute barnburner of a gaming GPU, offering excellent 4K performance and even better 1440p performance, especially if you can get it close to MSRP.
Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 The RTX 5070 essentially ties the RX 9070 in gaming performance in 1440p and 4K gaming, but has better power efficiency and creative performance.
I used my complete GPU testing suite to analyze the card's performance
I tested the card in everyday, gaming, creative, and AI workload usage
Test System Specs
Here are the specs on the system I used for testing:
Motherboard: ASRock Z790i Lightning WiFi CPU: Intel Core i9-14900K CPU Cooler: Gigabyte Auros Waterforce II 360 ICE RAM: CorsairDominator DDR5-6600 (2 x 16GB) SSD: Samsung 9100 Pro 4TB SSD PSU: Thermaltake Toughpower PF3 1050W Platinum Case: Praxis Wetbench
I spent about two weeks with the AMD RX 9070, using it as my primary workstation GPU for creative work and gaming after hours.
I used my updated benchmarking process, which includes using built-in benchmarks on the latest PC games like Black Myth: Wukong, Cyberpunk 2077, and Civilization VII. I also used industry-standard benchmark tools like 3DMark for synthetic testing, while using tools like PugetBench for Creators and Blender Benchmark for creative workload testing.
I've reviewed more than three dozen graphics cards for TechRadar over the past three years, which has included hundreds of hours of dedicated GPU testing, so you can trust that I'm giving you the fullest picture of a graphics card's performance in my reviews.
Samsung is currently in the process of finally rolling out One UI 7 based on Android 15 to its devices, following a months-long delay. Next up will be One UI 8, based on Android 16, which will hopefully arrive in a more timely fashion.
When it does, it will have the ability to AI summarize any online video through Samsung's built-in Internet browser. This has been discovered as it's currently in testing.
Once it's implemented, you will be able to AI summarize any online video you come across in Samsung's browser, and on the Galaxy S25 series the AI magic will happen entirely...
Vivo announced FunTouch OS 15 was last year and it has since been making its way to vivo and iQOO devices. Artificial Intelligence features are all the rage these days and vivo has now detailed all of the AI features found in FunTouch OS 15.
AI Erase kicks off the photography-related AI features, allowing users to remove unwanted elements from their photos. The feature is implemented in the Edit section of the Albums app.
AI Live Cutout is another useful trick that allows users to isolate subjects and items from photos via a long press.
AI Photo Enhance...
It’s getting harder and harder to keep up with the number of apps AI isn’t namechecked in these days, but arguably no fitness app pushes the technology harder than Zing.
The app launched in 2021 and has found success putting a face and a name on your robo-trainer, pushing users further each time while using algorithmic data to calculate the best workouts and rest periods.
While that’s not out of the ordinary, the app even features chatbot-like conversations you can have with your trainer, making it feel as though you’re talking to a human.
The AI’s positivity is a little too much at times (please don’t make me do more squats…), but it adds a personal layer to a field that’s dominated by very good but very sterile alternatives.
Zing Coach: Price and availability
(Image credit: Zing / Future)
Free trial for 1 week
Subscription service costs £19.99/$19.99/AUS price per month
Zing is free to try for a week, but it’ll cost you around £20/$20 for a month thereafter. Thankfully, the annual plan is drastically cheaper, which comes in at £59.99/$59.99/AUS.
That actually makes it cheaper than Fitbit Premium (when paid annually).
Zing Coach: Design and UX
(Image credit: Zing / Future)
A lot of elements
AI is one tap away
Personalization Level is handy
While most fitness apps have an easy-to-read dashboard with some key metrics, Zing’s huge array of features could make it more cluttered than its rivals.
Instead, the whole thing ends up feeling pretty intuitive, with a series of tabs along the bottom of the screen. Workout takes you to your next session, while Analytics shows your progress, muscle recovery, and a handy ‘Personalization Level’ to help you know when the app has got the hang of how you work out.
Then there’s a ‘Circles’ feature for competing or training with friends, and a section for your unique plan’s progress. In the middle of it all, the ‘Zing’ logo gives you access to the AI chatbot with a single tap.
That chatbot can handle pretty much anything you throw at it, like “what’s the difference between deadlifts and Romanian deadlifts?” or “what’s an easy meal plan to follow?” Not needing to jump between menus to ask those kinds of questions means you can get back to your day, or get an answer right when you need it mid-session.
Zing Coach: Features
(Image credit: Zing / Future)
AI workout plans with chatbot-like advice on hand
Body scan adds extra personalization
In many ways, Zing is a lot of tools in one. It offers AI-built personal workout routines where you can specify your fitness levels, equipment, and goals, but it can also help generate a meal plan, hydration targets, and much more.
It also ties nicely into other services, notably Apple HealthKit, which means it can read data that other apps have left there. That means that, even if you’re not using one of Zing’s own workouts and you’re tracking a run on Strava instead, it’ll credit you the activity towards your streak.
There’s an additional Body Scan purchase that can help you calculate your lean mass, body fat, and more. The app can then use this data to calculate your optimal fitness plan.
This feels a little like magic, using your phone’s camera to analyse the data from you standing in a certain position, or leaning on photos you’ve taken earlier.
It’s a snapshot that then feeds into the data Zing helps you work with, giving it more data points to help it hit your goals.
Unlike many of its rivals, Zing can actually watch you work out to help you adjust your form, too, as well as fitness and flexibility tests.
Zing: Performance
(Image credit: Zing / Future)
Links into your existing workouts
AI coaching is more personable than rivals
Zing Coach leans heavily on its AI tools, and while that may evoke a groan from those of us who have seen those letters thrown into everything, here it actually makes sense.
Each time you build a workout, the app kicks into gear with a full-screen animation showing what you should be doing, while always keeping that chatbot handy in the bottom corner if you have any questions.
Every animation feels so carefully designed that it honestly feels a little like it’s been built by the UI gurus at Apple. It’s clean, easy to tweak, and full of information.
It can even integrate with your calendar to set a new workout routine, adding an appointment schedule on the days you choose.
Perhaps my favorite feature, however, is the workout ‘Boosts’. When you finish an exercise in any other app, be that from tracking a walk to lifting weights, Zing will give a notification that it can help you eke out a little bit more from your session with a quick 15-minute workout.
The way it then dovetails into apps like Strava, Strong, Fitbod, and more makes it feel like a genuinely impressive all-encompassing app rather than one you train with and then forget about until you get to the gym next time.
Zing Coach: Should I buy?
(Image credit: Zing / Future)
Buy it if...
You’re looking for a holistic view of your health
Zing surprised us with its deep toolset that includes just about anything you need, along with a cheerful AI companion.View Deal
You're curious about an AI trainer
AI is all the rage, but Zing actually leverages it in a way that helps you understand why you’re doing each exercise, rather than having it just be a box to check.View Deal
You want fantastic tools on a budget
The annual membership is the way to go, and it’s easily worth what it costs — which is less than some of its rivals.View Deal
Don't buy it if...
You want something simple
As good as Zing is, you might not need all of its features. Just running? Strava’s free plan remains fantastic, for example, as does the built-in functionality on Apple Watch or Fitbit.View Deal
Being the same size as its predecessor, the new camera unit simply slots into the housing and is held in place with a magnet. Installation and set-up proved easy and I was up and running in minutes. The new camera is noticeably better, offering an improved dynamic range and color, but most importantly it is now 2K in resolution which can be activated with a Bird Buddy Premium subscription.
There is a good level of control over the notifications you receive, with the options to receive every possible visit to your feeder, or just the smart notifications of the visits that may be of interest, such as new bird species. Within the app, visits, or 'Postcards' as they are called, are saved to Collections, where you can go in and see all of the different birds (and other animals) that have stopped by. You can also see other Postcards that users around the world have chosen to share.
(Image credit: Future)
The overall Bird Buddy system is very design-oriented and full of nice touches, from the way that the optional solar panel roof can be fitted, to the food hatch on the rear, the bright yellow or blue color of the feeder and the neat but stylish packaging and app design; everything has been thought out with a purpose.
There is a range of additional accessories for the Bird Buddy, including the solar panel roof. This neatly slots into position, and as long as it is angled into sunlight for a part of the day, it should provide enough power that you don't need to remove the camera for charging, especially during the summer. Other accessories include a 3-in-1 Nutrition kit, which provides a water bottle, a fruit spike and a 'Jelly Tray', each designed to meet different birds' nutritional needs.
One area that could be seen as lacking are the additional features that other cameras offer. For example, the Birdfy range is effectively repackaged home security cameras, with all the capabilities such cameras provide, such as built-in lights and alarm systems - both of which can also be used (usually unsuccessfully) to scare away squirrels. If you are looking for a birdfeeder camera that doubles up as a security camera for your garden, then Bird Buddy won't be the camera for you, it doesn't have those features.
For those who purely want to enjoy the avian visitors to their garden and share those images with family and friends on social media, the beautifully designed Bird Buddy app and high-quality photos and video footage will provide hours of pleasure. There is still the buzz of excitement when you get a notification of a new bird species stopping at your feeder.
Bird Buddy Smart Bird Feeder Pro: price and availability
Available now, lsit price $279/ £160
There are plenty of optional accessories
You'll need a premium subscription to unlock the best features
The Bird Buddy Smart Feeder Pro cost $279 / £219 but is currently reduced by 35% from its original price and can be had for $189 / £160.77 at the time of writing.
If you want the Solar Roof version, it is priced at a reasonable $219 / £186.29. The Bird Buddy can be purchased directly from the Bird Buddy website, which has US and EU store options. It is also available on Amazon via their Global Store, so it should be available worldwide. It can also be purchased from John Lewis and Curry's in the UK.
The optional add-ons are the Perch Extender ($24), Solar Roof ($59), 3-in-1 Nutrition Set ($39), Wall Mount ($29), and Suet Ball Holder ($14). Again, each of these is available via the Bird Buddy website or Amazon, depending on your location. Prices are converted to GBP.
There are two optional Premium subscription services available in Individual and Family versions. As detailed, these provide a range of new features, most importantly 2K Ultra video resolution and unlimited online storage of footage. The Family option allows you to grant family members access to the live feed from your camera. To find out more about the differences in the plans, see Bird Buddy Plans.
Bird Buddy Smart Bird Feeder Pro: specs
Bird Buddy Smart Bird Feeder Pro: design
Compact All-In-One design
Great design touches to keep everything neat and tidy
Solar Roof reduces the need to remove and recharge the camera
Setting up the Bird Buddy Smart Feeder Pro was straightforward. After reviewing the previous version of the camera, I already had the app installed, so installation was as simple as selecting "add a new Bird Buddy" in the app menu and following the on-screen instructions. The instructions are very clear and have a human feel to them. Setup is simple, and you don't need previous experience to easily pair the camera to your phone and then your Wi-Fi system.
As Bird Buddy sent me the new Nature Cam to install in my existing Bird Buddy feeder, I simply removed the cable linking the original camera to the Solar Roof and pulled out the camera, which is held in a recess with a strong magnet. Fitting the new camera was the reverse procedure, with the magnet reassuringly ensuring the camera was locked in tight. Again, the USB-C charging port was connected to the Solar Roof.
As supplied by Bird Buddy, the feeder has a mount that can be connected to a post, or it comes with a rope for hanging from a tree or feeding pole. I opted to hang the feeder from a branch of a tree and tried to position it so that the solar panel was oriented to get as much sunlight as possible.
The feeder itself is made from strong plastic. It has a small panel at the top of the rear that can be opened to pour in bird feed. In fact, the feeder comes with a Feed Scoop. It can be a little bit fiddly given I had to climb a ladder, with the feeder is swinging from a tree, but it is quite a neat solution. There is an optional Wall Mount that allows you to swivel the feeder around for easy access to the rear for loading food.
(Image credit: Future)
The feeder was placed around 12m from the nearest Wi-Fi access point, which was in my house and through a glass window. I had no problems connecting to the camera when wanting to view, although there was a short delay while I had to wait for the live view to appear on my phone. In reality, this was no longer than if I tried to connect to view my Ring camera live view.
If you have followed any of my previous bird feeder reviews, you will know I have an issue with squirrels raiding the feeders in my garden. The Bird Buddy has no Squirrel deterrents like the Birdfy feeder cameras. However, the good news is that little damage has been done to the housing despite it being scratched and chewed by squirrels, over the course of a year and a half hanging in my garden.
Having the feeder hanging rather than strapped or mounted to the tree has made it more difficult for the squirrels to get to it, but they still find ways of jumping and climbing to reach the food. At least the feeder is still intact.
The other thing worth noting is both Individual and Family subscriptions are possible. The primary reason for a subscription is to unlock the Ultra 2K resolution, which has noticeably better, less compressed image quality.
The subscription also adds the Remote Feeder Unlock to see feeders from around the world, Unlimited Cloud storage of your photos and video, the Name That Bird feature, which allows you to give a nickname to a specific bird individual bird, Bird Care which will alert you about injured or sick birds and offer advice on how to keep your birds healthy, and finally Bird Buddy Experiments which give the user access to new features that may be trialled.
Although you can add family and friends to your account to see video clips from your feeder, the Family Premium subscription allows friends and family to log in and see the live view from your feeder.
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Bird Buddy Smart Bird Feeder Pro: performance
2K video available via a subscription only
The image quality from the Nature Cam is noticeably better than that of the original camera if you fork out for a subscription which unlocks 2K resolution. Do so, and images have more fine detail, and the HDR image brings out more colour and detail.
There are limitations; the camera sensor is still 1/2.7", which is about on par with a smartphone camera. However, the low resolution offers reasonable dynamic range performance, which can be seen in shadow details.
Highlights are easily blown out, as you would expect, and direct sunlight can cause lens flares, so it is important to position the feeder, and therefore the camera, at an angle where these will be minimized, or at least at times of day when you are most likely to get footage from the camera.
Light is everything when it comes to photography, and the placement of the camera in relation to the sun can make a big difference in the images you get from the camera.
It should be noted that the Bird Buddy creates portrait-orientation videos, which are perfect for viewing on a smartphone. However, if you eventually want to view them on a TV screen or computer, you might want to look elsewhere for the best viewing experience.
Compared to other bird feeder cameras I have tested, there is more of a delay in receiving notifications, so you won't always catch the bird on the live stream. However, the Postcards you receive are a nice touch. You can turn notifications off entirely and check in on the app occasionally to catch up the action you have missed.
The camera focuses well on smaller birds, with plenty of room on the feeder for them to perch and pick at the feed. However, larger birds struggle to land and also to balance on my hanging feeder. The optional perch add-on would be a great addition for most users. It allows larger birds to land and their heads to be further from focus. If you want to capture larger birds clearly, I would recommend getting the perch as an accessory.
I have had the original Bird Buddy Smart Feeder hanging outside in my garden for over a year. It has seen bright sunshine and freezing snow, and the recyclable plastic structure is in tact, although the color has faded slightly from the UV light. I had the new Nature Cam installed for a few months for testing, and it has also seen heavy rain, freezing conditions, and bright sunshine. It is in great condition, and it is still performing perfectly.
The Solar Roof has been a great accessory, and in the winter months, the camera doesn't need to be taken in and charged despite the lower light levels. In the summer, I know I might have to reposition it to avoid foliage casting shadows on the roof, but this may be negated by the fact that there will be more daylight hours.
Video and photo samples
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Should you buy the Bird Buddy Smart Bird Feeder Pro?
Buy it if...
You love garden tech
If you love gadgets, the Bird Buddy Smart Bird Feeder Pro is a great addition to your garden. If you have the premium subscription it is possible to link to Alexa to get a summary of daily visits, with more features on the way. However, I struggled to get this feature to work.
You love birds and wildlife
This one is obvious, but if you love the wildlife in your garden, the Bird Buddy Smart Feeder is great. You can collect the Postcards from birds that have visited almost like they are Pokémon, with a daily round-up of the number of different species and visits you have had each day. The small AI generated information about the birds is also a great way to learn and engage with the nature in your garden.
You want a stylish feeder cam
Of all the bird feeder cameras available, I think the Bird Buddy Smart Bird Feeder Pro is the most neat and stylish both in the physical design of the feeder and also the app.
Don't buy it if...
You want to view on TV
The video quality is good, however, as it is recorded vertically, it is better for viewing on a smartphone and sharing on social media. If you want to watch footage on a television it may not be the best choice.
You have squirrels
I have tested quite a feeder feeders and squirrels have fed from all of them. And despite the design and materials of the Bird Buddy withstanding damage from squirrels, it doesn't have the squirrel deterrents like some other feeders.
You don't want to buy accessories
For the best experience I would recommened that you buy the Solar Roof and the Perch for the Bird Buddy; the solar roof virtually elimates the need to charge the camera, the perch addition makes a better experience for larger birds to land - resulting in better photos and video.
How I tested the Bird Buddy Smart Bird Feeder Pro
I hung the feeder in a tree for 6 months
It was connected to my home Wi-Fi
I monitored the birds visiting daily via the Bird Buddy app
I tested the Bird Buddy Smart Bird Feeder Pro by hanging it from a tree in my garden that birds (and squirrels) regularly visit. The feeder was strapped to the tree, and the camera was set up using an iPhone and the Bird Buddy app.
I left the feeder up there for months through all weather conditions. During that time, I monitored the birds visiting via the app in real-time and reviewed photos and videos that had been captured.
I have also looked at AI recognition and the various capabilities of the app.
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The Google Pixel 9a is a solid Android phone that punches far above its weight in important ways, even if the new direction for A-series phone design is a letdown. I'll try not to spend this whole review dwelling on how ugly this phone is – the photos speak for themselves – but I was surprised that Google abandoned its excellent Pixel design for this phone.
The Pixel 9a performs as well as the Pixel 9 in almost every way. It takes photos that look nearly as good as the pics I get from my Pixel 9 Pro. It has most of the latest AI features that make the Pixel a compelling choice for Google fans. I just wish it looked like a Pixel.
Don’t get me wrong; I love the color of the Peony review sample that Google sent me. Actually, TechRadar got two samples, and both were pink, so clearly Google likes this color as much as we do. The color is a perfect match with the Peony silicone case that Google supplied, and I kept the phone covered for most of my time testing it.
The Pixel 9a, Pixel 9, and Pixel 9 Pro (left to right) (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Putting the phone in its case was like putting lipstick on a pig. For the Pixel 9a, Google took the sharp, stylish, distinctive design language it used the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro and threw it in the garbage.
This phone is flat and boring. The camera bump is apologetic, rather than the bold statement the bump on the Pixel 9 makes. You would be forgiven for mistaking this phone for a cheap Motorola or Nokia, or an off-brand phone you find in the back of your carrier store.
I don’t get it. The best explanation I can muster is that the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro camera bar is expensive to produce, and the A-series phones are supposed to be a bargain. But Google cut plenty of other corners on this phone that should have offset the cost of a better design.
For instance, the camera sensors are much, much smaller than the sensors on the Pixel 8a. The main sensor is less than half the size, and that’s a massive drop for the most important spec in terms of camera quality. The Pixel 9a still manages to snap great photos, but this downgrade should have saved Google enough money to pay for a fancy new dress.
The Pixel 6a, Pixel 7a, and Pixel 8a (left to right) all look like the other Pixel phones in their series (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
The Pixel 8a also launched with the same 8GB of RAM as the Pixel 8. The Pixel 9a keeps the 8GB of memory, but the Pixel 9 now offers 12GB (and the Pixel 9 Pro packs 16GB!), which makes a difference when it comes to running all of the AI features on the phone.
The Pixel 9a has a larger battery than the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro, even though all three phones have a 6.3-inch display. However, in my time with the Pixel 9a, battery life was good but not extraordinary, and our Future Labs tests show that its battery life is somehow not measurably better with that larger cell inside.
Is the Pixel 9a a letdown? Not at all! Google’s AI features remain the most useful smartphone AI tools you’ll find – I regularly use the AI phone call features to hang up on spammers, wait on hold for me, or record an especially important phone call.
Google Gemini on the Pixel 9a has also gotten much better – and it even improved during my two weeks with the phone, as Google added the ability for Gemini to use the camera and discuss what it sees.
For the price – $499 / £499 / AU$849 – you won’t find a phone that feels so polished and capable. You may find more camera features on a phone like the Samsung Galaxy A56, but you won’t get better photos than you’ll take with the Pixel 9a, especially not macro shots, which is the Pixel 9a’s new specialty.
Trying to beautify the Pixel 9a as best I can (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
You might find snappier performance elsewhere, but the Pixel 9a’s Tensor G4 chip is powerful enough to for Google to guarantee seven years of major Android and security updates, and that’s the best promise you’ll get in this price range. If you need a bargain phone and you don’t want to replace it, like, ever, the Pixel 9a would be the first phone I recommend.
Except for one small thing: the Pixel 8a might be just as good. The Pixel 9a isn’t much faster, and it doesn’t do anything the Pixel 8a can’t do, other than offering the latest Google AI features. If the AI aspect of Google’s phones isn’t enticing, you might be just as satisfied saving even more money and getting the Pixel 8a, especially if it goes on sale again soon.
Actually, if you’re considering the Pixel 9a and you want the best possible bargain, you may want to wait a bit longer. The Pixel 8a went on sale in May of 2024 and the price dropped by $100 for one deal in the US in August. The current global economic uncertainty aside, Google loves to goose sales of its A-series phones with a great deal, so look out for price drops on the Pixel 9a. Or just buy the Pixel 8a – because at least that phone looks like a Pixel.
Google Pixel 9a review: Price and availability
The Pixel 9a in Obsidian, Porcelain, Iris, and Peony (top to bottom) (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Priced at $499 / £499 / AU$849 for 128GB of storage and 8GB of RAM
Available in Peony, Iris, Porcelain and Obsidian
The Pixel 9a is available now for $499 / £499 / AU$849, after a delay caused by a mysterious 'passive component' issue. My review sample did not seem to have any performance problems or build-quality issues, so I guess we’ll never know what held back the Pixel 9a for a few weeks.
The Pixel 9a costs the same as last year’s Pixel 8a did at launch, but this year there's no competing iPhone SE at an even lower price to consider. Apple has effectively vacated the $500 phone market by selling the new iPhone 16e for a laughable $599 / £599 / AU$999.
If you’re looking for a $500 phone, the Pixel 9a is one of your best options, along with the Samsung Galaxy A56. Samsung hasn’t started selling that phone in the US as I write this, but we have reviewed it, and we know it’s coming to the US later this year.
See! A bargain phone can look cool, not clunky (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
You might also consider the Nothing Phone 3a Pro, a quirky Android that costs $459 / £449 / AU$849, though it’s only available in the US through a beta program.
Of all the phones in this price range, the Pixel 9a should get software and security updates for longer than the rest. The Pixel gets a seven-year promise, while Samsung gives you six years, and the rest of the Android world promises three or fewer.
Value score: 5/5
Google Pixel 9a review: Specs
The Pixel 9a hiding behind the Pixel 9 because it knows that it's ugly (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
The Pixel 9a uses the same Google Tensor G4 chipset as the Pixel 9 Pro and the rest of the Pixel 9 family. This is Google’s biggest strength with its bargain phones, because the Tensor contains the magic sauce that lets Google promise seven years of major OS updates for its latest phones (though none of them have actually been around for seven years, yet).
The Tensor G4 isn’t a performance beast, but it’s good enough for the Pixel 9a to get by, albeit with a bit of sluggishness. The initial setup process especially was a slog, as the phone gets bogged down when you try to download a lot of apps and then, you know, use them.
The paltry 8GB of RAM inside became noticeable when I used the AI features, and the Pixel 9a inexplicably doesn't have the new Screenshots app that debuted on the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro. That app gathers all of your screenshots and runs them through the AI so you can ask questions about what it sees; I guess 8GB of RAM is not enough for that level of on-device processing.
I'm very nervous about the next seven years with this phone, if we’re already seeing Google omit features on day one that the rest of the Pixel 9 phones have. I suspect that whatever Android update the Pixel 9a gets in seven years will be only a portion of what the rest of the Pixel phones will receive, but at least security holes should be plugged.
Google Pixel 9a review: Design
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
A major departure from Pixel design
The ugliest Pixel phone ever
Let’s start with a compliment: I like the colors. I like the Peony pink and the lavender Iris hues, and even the Porcelain and Obsidian look premium, not basic. I also like that the cases match perfectly with the phone, giving the handset some needed dimension and texture.
Okay, that’s all the nice I have in me for this phone's design. I’m only being mean to the butt-ugly Pixel 9a because I really liked the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro redesign, and I can’t believe Google didn’t carry the new look down to the bargain basement.
The Pixel 9a is just a flat slab of plastic broken by a round camera bump. It has no personality or character – it looks like somebody punched a Pixel 9 square in the nose and flattened its whole face.
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
The Pixel 9a has the same-size screen as the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro, but the bezels are noticeably thicker. The phone is nicely rounded, like the Pixel 9, but the back is a matte-finish plastic, not shiny glass. Google says 23% of the Pixel 9a is recycled materials, by weight.
To be fair, the Pixel 9a is thinner than the Pixel 9 if you count the camera bump – that bar adds 3mm to the thickness of the latter phone. If you really want a phone that is borin… er, flat, this is a good pick.
Google also says the Pixel 9a is the most durable Pixel A-series phone yet. It can withstand a dunk in up to 1.5m of fresh water for 30 minutes, so feel free to drop it in the toilet and give it a flush, then rinse it in the sink.
Design score: 3/5
Google Pixel 9a review: Display
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Very bright and colorful display
Questionable Adaptive Display settings should be turned off
The Pixel 9a has an excellent screen that's very bright and colorful, continuing Google’s dominance in this aspect of the smartphone world. This would be a great display for a phone at any price, but it’s a standout feature on a bargain phone; you won’t find a better or brighter screen on a phone this cheap.
I was feeling a bit let down by the display for my first few days with the Pixel 9a, but then I turned off the Adaptive Display mode and things got much brighter. For some reason, Adaptive Display was keeping my phone very dark no matter where I used it, but when I took control the experience got exponentially better.
The screen can refresh at up to 120Hz, but frankly I’m not sure the phone can keep up with any content moving that fast. Scrolling through the apps and settings menus felt more stuttery on the Pixel 9a than on the Pixel 9 Pro, and I can only assume that more RAM would pick things up.
The phone has Gorilla Glass 3 on the front, which is durable but not as scratch-resistant as the latest Gorilla Glass Victus materials. I noticed some hairline scratches on the screen after only a week of use, although these weren't distracting. The back of the phone is plastic, not glass, so it should be more durable.
Display score: 4/5
Google Pixel 9a review: Software
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
A polished version of Android, with many updates to come
Doesn’t have all the features of the rest of the Pixel family
The Google Pixel 9a launches with Android 15 on board, and it should get updates through Android 22 in 2032, if humanity survives that long. Google has only been making this seven-year promise for three years, so we can’t be sure what those eventual updates will look like, but Google also regularly drops new features, or brings newer features to older phones, in software updates it calls Pixel Drops.
Google’s version of Android is the most refined you can get, with the fewest extraneous features. Where Android used to be known for its heavy customization options, now you’d have to download a whole new launcher app if you want to organize your app list into folders or tweak the interface behavior. Today’s Android is simpler, and better for it.
You can no longer group apps into folders or even change the order of the app list (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Google also has some of the most useful AI tools on its smartphones; and, where other phone makers have the same features, Google does it better. For instance, Google’s Voice Recorder app is the best at transcribing what it hears into text. It will label individual speakers, and you can simply tap on a word to jump to the moment in the recording when it was spoken. Samsung and other Android phone makers have similar software, but it doesn’t work as well; not even close.
I especially like Google’s AI calling tools. When I get a mysterious phone call, I can have Google’s AI answer and screen the call; spammers always hang up at this point. If I’m on an important call that I need to remember details of, I can have the AI record and later transcribe the call. My caller will be alerted to the fact that they're being recorded, so there’s no privacy concern.
Gemini Live isn't interesting to look at, but it's fun to talk to the machine (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Google’s Gemini Live conversation tool also got a nice boost on the Pixel 9a. Just before this phone launched, Gemini Live went multi-modal, so it can now talk to you conversationally while it looks through your camera. I pointed Gemini at the blank wall beneath my TV and asked for suggestions on how to decorate it. Gemini suggested that I add plants, then we switched the conversation to what plants I could buy that I wouldn’t kill in a month.
Of course, there are plenty of AI slop tools on the Pixel 9a as well. There's the standard image-generating tool that probably shouldn’t exist, for legal and ethical reasons, and it can now create images of human beings, which was forbidden in the past.
I have a big problem with these tools. They're bigoted by nature. If I ask Pixel Studio for an image of ‘a successful person,’ I get five images of young, able-bodied people. The selection may be racially diverse, but it still holds onto so many stereotypes that it should simply not be on a phone.
If I ask Pixel Studio for an image of ‘a Jewish man,’ I get the most stereotypical caricature of Jewish identity: an older man with a full beard and a head covering. If I ask for ‘a Palestinian man,’ it refuses to create anything, which is its own harmful erasure and stereotyping, as if any image of a Palestinian man should be considered potentially harmful.
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I asked Pixel Studio for "A Jewish man" and got these three images in a row (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
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I asked Pixel Studio for "A Jewish man" and got these three images in a row (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
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I asked Pixel Studio for "A Jewish man" and got these three images in a row (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Sorry, this Pixel has no business creating images of people if it resorts to stereotypes. I’m not sure when it became acceptable for a smartphone to reinforce bigotry, but it’s not something I’ll ever be comfortable with. Google should remove this capability from Pixel Studio immediately.
Software score: 2/5
Google Pixel 9a review: Cameras
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Surprisingly good photos that look like Pixel 9 Pro pics
Astonishing macro capabilities that rival my DSLR – seriously
I've been pleasantly surprised by the Pixel 9a’s camera capabilities. This phone continues the A-series tradition of producing photos that look almost identical to the shots you’d get from the Pro-series device, albeit at a much lower resolution.
The Pixel 9a has a 48MP camera, but it uses a pixel binning technique and will only produce images that are 12MP. Even the raw files it produces are 12MP or less.
That’s fine by me! I think 12MP is the perfect size for sharing, whether you send photos to friends or post them to your favorite social app. You won’t be able to zoom in later, and you might miss the fine details, but 12MP is a good compromise for a bargain phone. To be fair, the Pixel 9 has a 50MP camera and that phone also limits its photo output to 12MP.
I was expecting the Pixel 9a cameras to be much less capable, because the sensors have been reduced in size compared to the Pixel 8a, and are much smaller that the sensors you’ll find on the Pixel 9 or Pixel 9 Pro. The Pixel 9a uses a half-inch sensor for the main camera, compared to the three-quarter-inch sensor on the Pixel 9.
That doesn’t sound like much, but that’s the diagonal measurement, and the actual area of the sensor in the Pixel 9a is 57% smaller than that of the sensor the Pixel 9. That means it captures much less light, which affects every other aspect of photography.
There's much bigger sensors under that big Pixel 9 bump (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Thankfully, Google’s AI photography magic has never been more powerful. Photos look great, nearly identical to Pixel 9 Pro photos, until you zoom in close. Then things get muddy, but the Pixel 9a produces images with accurate colors and good lighting. The iPhone 16e might be a little bit better, but it’s also much more expensive, and it lacks some of the Pixel 9a’s great features.
I was blown away by the new macro photography capabilities on the Pixel 9a. I shoot macro photos often with my Nikon D750 and Tamron 100mm macro lens, so I broke out the full-frame camera for a comparison test. The results were truly shocking.
Without a flash, the Pixel 9a totally outperformed my Nikon. I couldn’t hold the camera still enough for the 1/4 second exposure that it required, but the Pixel 9a had no trouble grabbing a sharp shot in the same dim light. Even with a flash attached, my Nikon wasn’t much more sharp than the Pixel 9a. The Pixel even managed to expose a wider swath of the subject than my Nikon at f/16.
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This macro shot was taken with the Pixel 9a
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This macro shot was taken with a Nikon D750 DSLR with a Tamron 100mm macro lens
Usually, macro photography on smartphones is a gimmick performed with a pathetic 3MP camera, but on the Pixel 9a it’s so good, at full resolution, that it offers a whole reason to consider this phone. If you like shooting macro, you’ve probably never seen a smartphone that can get this close and take photos this sharp.
Camera score: 3/5
Google Pixel 9a review: Camera samples
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That is very close up (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
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A Long Exposure photo (Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
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Google Pixel 9a review: Performance
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
Adequate performance but not what I’d call fast
The AI features always slow things down
The Pixel 9a performs as well as the Pixel 9, for better and for worse. It was able to handle all of my favorite apps and all of Google’s features with little trouble, as long as I wasn’t asking the AI for anything. Except for some hiccups during my initial setup, when the interface ground to a halt while installing numerous apps and backup data, I had no trouble using the Pixel 9a as my primary work phone.
It’s still slow, objectively and subjectively. The menus and interface do not feel as snappy on the Pixel 9a as OneUI does on the Galaxy S25, for instance. It isn’t as smooth and responsive as iOS on any recent iPhone. Some apps take a bit longer to open, and when switching between apps it takes longer for the screen to populate.
I was still able to run all of my necessary apps, take video calls while browsing the web, and play my favorite games, including Call of Duty Mobile – I had to turn the settings down for better performance, but I had fun playing.
The Pixel 9a sends much of its AI computing to the cloud, and this slows down whatever process you're engaged in. Pixel Studio, for instance, generated images much faster on the Pixel 9, and it was even faster on the Pixel 9 Pro. Apparently RAM does make a big difference with these AI features.
Performance score: 3/5
Google Pixel 9 Pro review: Battery
(Image credit: Philip Berne / Future)
The larger battery doesn’t translate to longer life
Charging speeds are also slower, but there’s wireless
One of the big advantages Google highlights with the Pixel 9a is the larger battery – a 5,100mAh cell that's bigger than the batteries in the similarly-sized Pixel 9 or Pixel 9 Pro. I didn’t see any benefit, though.
The phone lasted through a full day of use most of the time, except on days when I did a lot of work with the AI tools and cameras. Even then, battery life was acceptable, if not exceptional.
I’m not sure why this phone isn’t lasting much longer than the Pixel 9, even though its battery is 8.5% larger. Our Future Labs testing concurs. In our battery rundown test the Pixel 9a lasted at most 13 hours and eight minutes, while the Pixel 9 lasted 13 hours and 18 minutes in the same test.
That’s not terrible, but you can find longer-lasting phones in this price range. The Nothing Phone 3a Pro lasted more than an hour longer in Future Labs. The OnePlus 13R is only a bit more expensive, and it’s our battery-life champion, with hours more battery life than the competition.
The Pixel 9a does include wireless charging, which isn’t common on a bargain phone. Nothing Phone and OnePlus omit wireless charging on their budget models, though they do have much faster wired charging than Google offers.
The Pixel 9a can only charge up to 23W, which isn’t very fast. The battery wasn’t even halfway charged after 30 minutes, and it took more than an hour to get to 100% from 1%.
Battery score: 3/5
Should you buy the Google Pixel 9 Pro?
Buy it if...
You want a great bargain camera for close-ups While it lacks zoom, Google’s bargain Pixel has some of the best macro photography capabilities I’ve seen.
You want a solid phone to keep for a very long time The Pixel 9a is durable, and it'll get seven years of Android and security updates. That makes it a keeper if you want a bargain phone that will last.
You want the best AI phone features There’s a lot of AI on this phone, but the best features work with the actual Phone app to help screen calls and record important conversations.
Don't buy it if...
You want a pretty phone that you can show off Get a case for this ugly phone, or put a bag over its head. I don’t know why Google uglified its Pixel like this, but it hurts.
You don’t want to support bigoted AI image generators AI image generator tools that produce only stereotypes reinforce bigotry. This software isn’t acceptable on my smartphone and it needs to go.
Google Pixel 9a review: Also consider
Samsung Galaxy A56 You can’t buy the Galaxy A56 everywhere yet, but we got to review Samsung’s top bargain model, and it won us over with a high-quality build and great performance. Read our full Samsung Galaxy A56 review
Nothing Phone 3a Pro Like the anti-Pixel 9a, this phone is all about the cool design and showing off. The Nothing Phone doesn’t want to hide in a case, it wants to dance and party! Read our full Nothing Phone 3a Pro review
How I tested the Google Pixel 9a
I used the Google Pixel 9a for almost two weeks. I tested the phone on AT&T’s network in the greater New York area, throughout the city and suburbs. I used the Pixel 9a as my primary work phone with all of my work accounts and apps, as well as a personal phone for photos and gaming.
I tested the Pixel 9a with a Pixel Watch 3 and Pixel Buds Pro 2. I connected the phone to my car and tested Android Auto. I connected an Xbox wireless controller for gaming.
I tested the Pixel 9a camera against the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro, as well as the iPhone 16 and Galaxy S25. For macro photo comparisons, I compared against my Nikon D750 camera with a Tamron 100mm macro lens.
Future Labs tests phones using a mix of third-party benchmark software and proprietary, real-world tests. We use Geekbench, CrossMark, JetStream, WebXPRT and Mobile XPRT, and 3DMark for performance testing. We test a phone's performance on tasks using Adobe Premiere Rush. We also measure display color output and brightness.
For battery testing, we have proprietary rundown tests that are the same for every phone, and we determine how long it takes for the battery to run down.
