Google has officially announced the Pixel 9a, its latest budget-friendly smartphone, priced at $499.
While the same Tensor G4 chip powers the device as the rest of the Pixel 9 lineup, the modem has been significantly downgraded.
Unlike the flagship versions, which use the Exynos Modem 5400, the Pixel 9a has the older Exynos Modem 5300, which was previously used in the Pixel 7 series.
Users have expressed concerns about this decision, given that the Pixel 7 series was known for poor cellular reception, battery inefficiency, and overheating difficulties.
Google addressed these weaknesses in the Pixel 9 series by adding the more modern Exynos Modem 5400, which improves signal stability and increases battery economy and thermal performance. The modem also supports the 3GPP Release 17 standard, enabling satellite connectivity and faster peak downlink speeds.
The Pixel 9a's modem has been downgraded, so its connectivity performance will likely be more comparable to that of the Pixel 8 series than that of the more polished Pixel 9 models.
Early unboxing videos, like one from YouTuber Sahil Karoul, who obtained the device in Dubai, appeared to confirm this. In the video, the baseband version displayed on the handset begins with "g5300," confirming that it uses the Exynos 5300 modem rather than the newer Exynos 5400.
The Pixel 9a may struggle with network performance and efficiency compared to its flagship counterparts. The decision to use an older modem is likely a cost-cutting measure to keep the Pixel 9a at the same launch pricing as its predecessor, the Pixel 8a. However, this move raises questions about how the trade-offs between connectivity and performance would affect the overall user experience.
Google is likely to introduce the Pixel 9a on March 19. Additional testing will establish whether the modem downgrade significantly affects real-world performance.
Before making a purchase decision, consider the potential connectivity trade-offs.