Camera Differences Between Pixel 9A and Pixel 9 Pro
To make things easier, I have the Pixel 9 Pro XL and the Pixel 9A side by side to show you the missing and exclusive features. Starting with the camera app, here are the key differences:
Missing Camera Features on Pixel 9A:
- Action Pan feature is completely absent
- No Micro Focus manual settings (though it works automatically)
- No Pro Tab under settings (which means no 50-megapixel mode or manual lens selection)
- No pro controls for focus, shutter speed, or ISO
- Ultra-wide lens support missing in Night Sight mode
- Blur video mode entirely missing
- No Video Boost feature (which means no 8K video recording—maximum is 4K)
- Missing 24 frames per second option
- No 10-bit HDR in video
- Speech enhancement only works up to 4K 30fps (not at 60fps like Pro models)
- Front camera limited to 4K 30fps (no 60fps option)
- No night side videos (part of Video Boost feature)
- No underwater photography and video
- Missing audio zoom toggle feature
Features That ARE Available on Pixel 9A:
- Add Me feature works exactly the same way as Pro models
- Portrait mode is identical to Pro models
- RAW image capture
- Night Sight in Panorama shots (first introduced with Pro models)
- Slow motion videos work exactly the same
- Time lapse features are identical, including 4K resolution with Night Side support
- Connected Cameras feature is surprisingly included (allows using older Pixel phones or GoPro cameras as secondary cameras during live streams)
Google Photos Features
When it comes to Google Photos, there are also some differences worth noting:
Supported on Pixel 9A:
- Best Take feature (first time on an A-series model)
- Full Magic Editor functionality (reimagine background, auto frame, etc.)
- Unblur
- Audio Magic Eraser
Not Available on Pixel 9A:
- Zoom Enhance feature
I did a side-by-side comparison of Magic Editor features like changing backgrounds and auto-framing, and surprisingly, the Pixel 9A was consistently faster than the 9 Pro XL with identical results. This could be because I’m running Android 16 beta 3.1 on the 9 Pro XL, but either way, you’re getting a flagship experience with Magic Editor on the 9A.
Missing Apps and Features
Beyond camera and photos, several apps and features are missing from the Pixel 9A:
- Screenshots app – According to Google, this is due to the RAM capacity (8GB vs. 16GB), which doesn’t allow running the same Gemini Nano version as Pro models for on-device processing
- Call Notes feature – No ability to summarize and transcribe call recordings
- Night Sight and Ultra HDR in Instagram – These features available on Pixel 9 models aren’t on the 9A
- Clear Voice in Recorder app – Feature that reduces background noise is missing
- Auto Transcribe in Recorder app – Not available
- AI summaries in Recorder app – Not available
- Satellite SOS features – Not available
- Ultra-wideband chip – Not included in hardware
Exclusive Features Available on Pixel 9A
Interestingly, some features that were previously exclusive to flagship Pixels are now on the 9A:
- Pixel Studio app – Works exactly the same way as Pro models, including photo generation
- Ability to create stickers in Pixel Studio and add them to Gboard
- Adaptive Touch – Under Settings > Display > Touch > Touch Sensitivity, allows you to use the display with wet hands (first time on an A-series)
- Touch Diagnostics menu – Previously only on Pro models
- Backup/Copy Data menu – Allows copying data to your Android phone even after initial setup
These are all the exclusive and missing features of the Pixel 9A compared to the Pro models. If you have any questions about this phone or if I missed anything, please let me know in the comments.
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VbQTOFhyaA
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