Pixel 9a battery life test vs Pixel 9: Is it really that good?

Bigger is better, but by just how much?

Apr 25, 2025 - 13:05

Pixel 9a battery life test vs Pixel 9: Is it really *that* good?

google pixel 9a vs pixel 8a vs pixel 9 2

Credit: Rita El Khoury / Android Authority

The new Pixel 9a might appear an unassuming mid-range phone at just $499, but it actually packs Google’s largest-ever battery into a 6.3-inch form factor. The 9a’s new 5,100mAh cell is a significant upgrade on last year’s 4,500mAh battery and even flies past the 4,700mAh cell packed into Google’s far more flagship Pixel 9 and 9 Pro handsets as well.

The Pixel 9a might not be fighting it out for the crown of the biggest battery in a smartphone ever, but this still represents a huge boost in capacity that surely has to be a boon for multi-day use. But what we really need to help us know for certain is some hard data. I’ve run the Pixel 9a through our suite of battery drain tests to see if this larger cell can live up to the hype.