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DisplayWe put the Google Pixel 9a through our rigorous DXOMARK Camera test suite to measure its performance in photo, video, and zoom quality from an end-user perspective. This article breaks down how the device fared in a variety of tests and several common use cases and is intended to highlight the most important results of our testing with an extract of the captured data.
Overview
Key camera specifications:
- Primary: 48MP 1/2″ sensor, f/1.7-aperture lens, CLAF, OIS
- Ultra-wide: 13MP 1/3.1″ sensor, f/2.2-aperture lens, 120° field of view
Scoring
Sub-scores and attributes included in the calculations of the global score.
Google Pixel 9a
Use cases & Conditions
Use case scores indicate the product performance in specific situations. They are not included in the overall score calculations.
Outdoor
Photos & videos shot in bright light conditions (≥1000 lux)
Indoor
Photos & videos shot in good lighting conditions (≥100lux)
Lowlight
Photos & videos shot in low lighting conditions (<100 lux)
Friends & Family
Portrait and group photo & videos
33rd 1stPros
- Accurate exposure and good highlight retention
- Fairly neutral white balance and nice colors in most test conditions
- Good rendering of fine detail in daylight and indoors, as well as in macro mode
Cons
- Lack of detail in very low light scenes
- Occasional dynamic range instabilities across consecutive shots
- Noise reduction instabilities across consecutive shots
- Depth estimation artifacts in bokeh shots
The Google Pixel 9a delivered impressive image and video quality in the DXOMARK Camera tests, inheriting many of the qualities of its more premium sibling Pixel 9. It also offers top-tier features, making it a compelling choice for mobile photographers seeking flagship-like performance without the flagship price tag. By outperforming the camera quality of devices in higher price tiers, it earns the Smart Choice label—recognizing products that deliver an exceptional camera experience within their category.
With an emphasis on accurate exposure, pleasant color reproduction and reliable autofocus, the Pixel 9a ensured high-quality photo and video captures in both daylight and under typical indoor lighting. Its wide depth of field allowed for well-focused subjects across different types of scenes and the camera provided excellent rendering of fine detail and textures. However, in low light scenes, our testers observed a noticeable drop in detail, as well as some dynamic range and noise inconsistencies across consecutive shots. When zooming, the Pixel offered good quality from ultra-wide to short tele. The lack of a dedicated tele camera meant that at longer tele settings a drop in image quality was noticeable.
Test summary
About DXOMARK Camera tests: DXOMARK’s Camera evaluations take place in laboratories and in real-world situations using a wide variety of subjects. The scores rely on objective tests for which the results are calculated directly by measurement software on our laboratory setups, and on perceptual tests in which a sophisticated set of metrics allow a panel of image experts to compare aspects of image quality that require human judgment. Testing a smartphone involves a team of engineers and technicians for about a week. Photo, Zoom, and Video quality are scored separately and then combined into an Overall score for comparison among the cameras in different devices. For more information about the DXOMARK Camera protocol, click here. More details on smartphone camera scores are available here. The following section gathers key elements of DXOMARK’s exhaustive tests and analyses. Full performance evaluations are available upon request. Please contact us on how to receive a full report.
Photo
Google Pixel 9a
169
For scoring and analysis, DXOMARK engineers capture and evaluate more than 2,600 test images both in controlled lab environments and in outdoor, indoor and low-light natural scenes, using the camera’s default settings. The photo protocol is designed to take into account the main use cases and is based on typical shooting scenarios, such as portraits, family, and landscape photography. The evaluation is performed by visually inspecting images against a reference of natural scenes, and by running objective measurements on images of charts captured in the lab under different lighting conditions from 1 to 1,000+ lux and color temperatures from 2,300K to 6,500K.
In photo mode, the Pixel 9a was capable of delivering the same excellent exposure, dynamic range and color accuracy as the more expensive Pixel 9. However, the Pixel 9a’s smaller image sensor struggled to achieve the same great balance between texture and noise, resulting in slightly less refined detail under some shooting conditions.
This said, the Pixel 9a still excelled in still imaging, offering accurate exposure across a range of light conditions, as well as a wide dynamic range that resulted in very good highlight detail in high-contrast scenes. White balance was neutral, providing natural and pleasant colors in most test scenarios. The wide depth of field ensured sharp subjects across focus planes and fine detail was rendered nicely in bright light, under indoor lighting and in macro shots.
Some areas for improvement remained, particularly dynamic range instabilities, variation in noise across consecutive images, and depth estimation artifacts in bokeh mode. Additionally, in low-light scenes, the level of detail dropped rapidly, reducing the overall clarity of the images.
Exposure
Google Pixel 9a
130
Color
Google Pixel 9a
130
Exposure and color are the key attributes for technically good pictures. For exposure, the main attribute evaluated is the brightness of the main subject through various use cases such as landscape, portrait, or still life. Other factors evaluated are the contrast and the dynamic range, eg. the ability to render visible details in both bright and dark areas of the image. Repeatability is also important because it demonstrates the camera's ability to provide the same rendering when shooting several images of the same scene.
For color, the image quality attributes analyzed are skin-tone rendering, white balance, color shading, and repeatability. For color and skin tone rendering, we penalize unnatural colors but we respect a manufacturer's choice of color signature.
Autofocus
Google Pixel 9a
125
Autofocus tests concentrate on focus accuracy, focus repeatability, shooting time delay, and depth of field. Shooting delay is the difference between the time the user presses the capture button and the time the image is actually taken. It includes focusing speed and the capability of the device to capture images at the right time, what is called 'zero shutter lag' capability. Even if a shallow depth of field can be pleasant for a single subject portrait or close-up shot, it can also be a problem in some specific conditions such as group portraits; Both situations are tested. Focus accuracy is also evaluated in all the real-life images taken, from infinity to close-up objects and in low light to outdoor conditions.
Texture
Google Pixel 9a
125
Texture tests analyze the level of details and the texture of subjects in the images taken in the lab as well as in real-life scenarios. For natural shots, particular attention is paid to the level of details in the bright and dark areas of the image. Objective measurements are performed on chart images taken in various lighting conditions from 1 to 1000 lux and different kinds of dynamic range conditions. The charts used are the proprietary DXOMARK chart (DMC) and the Dead Leaves chart.
Noise
Google Pixel 9a
117
Noise tests analyze various attributes of noise such as intensity, chromaticity, grain, structure on real-life images as well as images of charts taken in the lab. For natural images, particular attention is paid to the noise on faces, landscapes, but also on dark areas and high dynamic range conditions. Noise on moving objects is also evaluated on natural images. Objective measurements are performed on images of charts taken in various conditions from 1 to 1000 lux and different kinds of dynamic range conditions. The chart used is the Dead Leaves chart and the standardized measurement such as Visual Noise derived from ISO 15739.
Artifacts
Google Pixel 9a
82
The artifacts evaluation looks at lens shading, chromatic aberrations, geometrical distortion, edges ringing, halos, ghosting, quantization, unexpected color hue shifts, among others type of possible unnatural effects on photos. The more severe and the more frequent the artifact, the higher the point deduction on the score. The main artifacts observed and corresponding point loss are listed below.
Zoom
Google Pixel 9a
169
DXOMARK engineers capture and evaluate over 400 test images in controlled lab environments and in outdoor, indoor, and low-light natural scenes, using the camera’s default settings and pinch zoom at various zoom factors from ultra wide to very long-range zoom. The evaluation is performed by visually inspecting the images against a reference of natural scenes, and by running objective measurements of chart mages captured in the lab under different conditions from 20 to 1000 lux and color temperatures from 2300K to 6500K.
I terms of tele zoom, the Pixel 9a lagged somewhat behind the best-in-class devices such as the Honor 200 Pro or the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE, due to the lack of a dedicated tele camera module. While detail retention at short-range tele settings was decent, our testers observed a significant loss of detail at medium and long-range. At the opposite end of the zoom spectrum, the ultra-wide camera captured high-quality images, though. Overall, the Pixel 9a is a good option for wide angle photographers and for shooting at standard focal lengths up to short tele. Better alternatives are available if you frequently capture subjects at a long distance from the lens.
Wide
Google Pixel 9a
122
These tests analyze the performance of the ultra-wide camera at several focal lengths from 12 mm to 20 mm. All image quality attributes are evaluated, with particular attention paid to such artifacts as chromatic aberrations, lens softness, and distortion. Pictures below are an extract of tested scenes.
Tele
Google Pixel 9a
128
All image quality attributes are evaluated at focal lengths from approximately 40 mm to 300 mm, with particular attention paid to texture and detail. The score is derived from a number of objective measurements in the lab and perceptual analysis of real-life images.
Video
Google Pixel 9a
159
DXOMARK engineers capture and evaluate more than 2.5 hours of video in controlled lab environments and in natural low-light, indoor and outdoor scenes, using the camera’s default settings. The evaluation consists of visually inspecting natural videos taken in various conditions and running objective measurements on videos of charts recorded in the lab under different conditions from 1 to 1000+ lux and color temperatures from 2,300K to 6,500K.
In our video tests, the Google Pixel 9a delivered a solid performance, particularly in terms of autofocus speed and accuracy. The video stabilization system was effective at reducing camera shake and capturing smooth footage. In addition, colors were nice in daylight scenes. However, a loss of fine detail was noticeable indoors and in low light, reducing sharpness. Video noise became more intrusive with camera motion during recording and our testers also noticed some exposure and color inconsistencies in scenes with moving subjects. Despite these minor issues, the Pixel 9a offered a well-rounded video performance, making it a good option for mobile videographers.
The Pixel 9a performs slightly below the Pixel 9, with footage that tends to be underexposed and a less optimal balance between noise and detail. While still capable, it doesn’t quite match the flagship’s level of refinement in challenging lighting conditions.
Exposure
Google Pixel 9a
116
Color
Google Pixel 9a
120
Exposure tests evaluate the brightness of the main subject and the dynamic range, eg. the ability to render visible details in both bright and dark areas of the image. Stability and temporal adaption of the exposure are also analyzed.
Image-quality color analysis looks at color rendering, skin-tone rendering, white balance, color shading, stability of the white balance and its adaption when light is changing.
Texture
Google Pixel 9a
118
Texture tests analyze the level of details and texture of the real-life videos as well as the videos of charts recorded in the lab. Natural videos recordings are visually evaluated, with particular attention paid to the level of details in the bright and areas as well as in the dark. Objective measurements are performed of images of charts taken in various conditions from 1 to 1000 lux. The charts used are the DXOMARK chart (DMC) and Dead Leaves chart.
Noise
Google Pixel 9a
120
Noise tests analyze various attributes of noise such as intensity, chromaticity, grain, structure, temporal aspects on real-life video recording as well as videos of charts taken in the lab. Natural videos are visually evaluated, with particular attention paid to the noise in the dark areas and high dynamic range conditions. Objective measurements are performed on the videos of charts recorded in various conditions from 1 to 1000 lux. The chart used is the DXOMARK visual noise chart.
Stabilization
Google Pixel 9a
119
Stabilization evaluation tests the ability of the device to stabilize footage thanks to software or hardware technologies such as OIS, EIS, or any others means. The evaluation looks at residual motion, smoothness, jellow artifacts and residual motion blur on walk and run use cases in various lighting conditions. The video below is an extract from one of the tested scenes.
Artifacts
Google Pixel 9a
86
Artifacts are evaluated with MTF and ringing measurements on the SFR chart in the lab as well as frame-rate measurements using the LED Universal Timer. Natural videos are visually evaluated by paying particular attention to artifacts such as aliasing, quantization, blocking, and hue shift, among others. The more severe and the more frequent the artifact, the higher the point deduction from the score. The main artifacts and corresponding point loss are listed below.