Pixel 9a vs Galaxy S24 FE: The choice is clear for me

The Samsung Galaxy S24 FE really impressed when it launched last year, flying far closer to its flagship counterparts than it had any right to. Now, the Google Pixel 9a promises to do the same, with many upgrades bringing it closer to the mainline Pixel 9 phones that we all know and love.

So, which one should you buy? Well, we still need to get our hands on the Pixel 9a to perform more rigorous testing, but for me, the choice is clear. Before we get to that, let me explain why you might want to buy each one.

The Pixel 9a is a pint-sized powerhouse

Like its predecessors, the Pixel 9a offers a distilled version of its flagship cousins. Considering nearly all of the gains in smartphones have been on the AI and software front for the past few years, that means that this year it’s closer than ever.

It has the same Tensor G4 chip, a speedy and bright 6.3-inch 120hz display, IP68 water resistance, and many of the same great Gemini features as the Pixel 9 Pro. Obviously, it drops the iconic camera bar, but that appears to have lead to one of the biggest selling points of the Pixel 9a: a huge battery. The 5,100 mAh battery is larger than any other Pixel ever, including the Google Pixel 9a Pro XL.

That sizeable cell has prompted Google to up its promise of 24+ hours of battery life to 30+ hours, or as much as 100 hours in extreme battery-saving mode. To be fair, Google’s battery claims haven’t always stood up in our testing, but if it can make it through a full day, that’s all I need.

The other big selling point of the Pixel 9a, especially when compared to the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE, is its size. It’s not tiny, but it bucks the trend of large phones to provide a smaller, more pocketable experience. The 6.7-inch display on the Galaxy S24 FE feels enormous by comparison. As someone who loves small phones, that alone pushes me further toward the Pixel 9a.

Google’s focus on Gemini and AI features are a big selling point of the Pixel 9a, but Samsung has also made big gains in that territory with Galaxy AI. In fact, the S24 FE was the first non-flagship device to have it. It’s hard to pick a winner on that front, so we’ll call it a wash for now.

Samsung’s unique charm

Of course, the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE is no slouch, with solid performance and battery life. But where it sets itself apart is its extensive suite of software features. If you’ve ever used a Samsung Galaxy device, you know exactly what I’m talking about. It offers excellent customization options via Good Lock, plus a unique Android experience in One UI. Personally, I prefer the more streamlined approach of the Google Pixels, but the Galaxy S24 FE certainly has more options, for better or worse.

Another area where the S24 FE pulls ahead is, surprisingly, the camera. We were very impressed with the three-lens setup in our review, and it provides great versatility for everyday shooting. The inclusion of an 8x telephoto lens is particularly noteworthy, since the Pixel 9a relies exclusively on digital zoom. We’ll perform more extensive testing on the Pixel 9a’s cameras soon, but it’s not the slam dunk for Google that it has been in the past.

The 4,700mAh battery falls just short of the Pixel 9a, but the rest of the phone is more than a match for Google’s mid-ranger. It has a more durable build, a bright 6.7-inch 120hz AMOLED display, and enough power in the Exynos 2400e to handle any and all daily tasks. The design won’t exactly turn any heads, but neither will the Pixel 9a.

Ultimately, the elements that make the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE great are the same things that make its more expensive siblings great. It’s a boiled down, more affordable Galaxy S-series device that delivers where it counts.

Pixel 9a vs Galaxy S24 FE: Which should you buy?

• Google Pixel 9a: Starts at $499
• Samsung Galaxy S24 FE: Launched at $650

While both the Pixel 9a and Galaxy S24 FE are great devices, one of them is a better value, and that’s the Pixel 9a. It starts at $499 for the same 8+128GB setup as the $650 Galaxy S24 FE. Granted, that was the launch price, so you may be able to find a better deal at this point.

The lower starting price combined with the more pocketable size and better battery life make the Google Pixel 9a the clear winner for me. Unless there are some glaring hardware faults once the device launches, it’s looking to be the best A series device Google has ever released.

However, if you like the Samsung Android experience and can’t afford a flagship device, the Galaxy S24 FE is still a great buy. It’s also available to buy today, unlike the Pixel 9a, which won’t be available until April at the earliest.