Technologies

Google Pixel 9A’s New Design Might Raise Eyebrows, but the Price Is Right

The $499 Pixel 9A is a follow-up to one of our favorite phones from 2024, the Pixel 8A. Google kept the price under $500 and added a big, 5,100-mAh battery.

Editor’s note: The Pixel 9A is now in stores. Make sure to read CNET’s Pixel 9A review.

The newly announced Google Pixel 9A has big shoes to fill. The affordable phone is the follow-up to one of my favorite phones from 2024, the Pixel 8A, which earned a CNET Editors’ Choice Award. With the Pixel 8A, Google found a sweet spot in terms of features, battery life, long-term software support and overall value. Fortunately, on paper, the Pixel 9A seems like an upgrade in nearly every way to last year’s Pixel 8A.

But the Pixel 9A faces added pressure, as its launch comes on the heels of Apple’s «affordable» phone, the $599 iPhone 16E. The new iPhone, while being the cheapest one Apple sells, is still well beyond the $500 sweet spot that the best affordable phones manage to hit. Fortunately, Google didn’t follow Apple and kept the Pixel 9A’s price at $499 (£499, AU$849), which puts it more in reach for people with a tighter budget, especially as US tariffs take hold and drive the cost of goods higher.

I used the Pixel 9A for about half an hour and was impressed with its build (it feels incredibly solid) and aspects of its new design. I genuinely like that the Pixel 9A’s back is nearly completely flat. However, the phone lacks the distinctive camera bar found on the rest of the Pixel 9 series, diminishing some of the Pixel 9A’s Pixel-ness, at least in appearance. Otherwise, on the screen and under the hood, it’s as Pixel as they come.

The Pixel 9A will be available at the Google Store and at retailers beginning April 10.

Pixel 9A design

The Pixel 9A looks different from recent Pixel A models. Like the Pixel 9 and 9 Pro, the Pixel 9A has flat sides instead of the curved ones on the Pixel 8A. But Google’s design approach to the Pixel 9A challenges the boundaries of minimalism. The back of the phone is almost completely flat, with the camera bump sticking out just a hair. When I run my fingertip across the back, my nail catches on the lip of the camera bump, but not by much.

The Pixel 9A is a rarity in 2025: It can lay completely flat on a table or desk. It doesn’t wobble, though the Pixel 9 and 9 Pro with a camera bar don’t wobble either. But the Pixel 9A’s flat design takes things to the next level. And I am all-in on the Pixel 9A’s flat design.

The Pixel 9A’s Design: Google Takes Minimalism to the Extreme

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But the lack of a camera bar seems like a bit of a miss, as I had always found it visually striking on previous Google phones. The bar helped distinguish the Pixel from other brands’ handsets. And while most people will hardly ever see the Pixel 9A in its birthday suit, instead opting to clothe it in a case, the Pixel 9A looks more generic than eye-catching.

In the tug-of-war between form and function, Google went for function and, as a result, says the Pixel 9A is the most durable Pixel A device it has made. The back is made from 81% recycled plastic. I know some people will roll their eyes because of the plastic, but it looks good and still felt solid when I picked it up, and it likely helps keep the cost down. The phone has an IP68 rating for water dust resistance (compared with the Pixel 8A’s IP67 rating), meaning it can be submerged in water as deep as 1.5 meters for 30 minutes.

The Pixel 9A is available in four colors: obsidian, porcelain, peony and iris. In person, I really liked the iris color.

The Pixel 9A has a 6.3-inch display encapsulated in a body nearly identical (it’s a skosh taller) to the Pixel 8A, which had a 6.1-inch display. The display’s peak brightness is 2,700 nits, which is nice step up from the 8A’s screen, which could hit 2,000 nits. So it’ll be interesting to see how its screen looks outdoors, especially under some bright California sunlight. On paper, the screen seems identical to the one on the regular Pixel 9.

Pixel 9A camera

In terms of photography, the Pixel 9A has a 48-megapixel main camera and a 13-megapixel ultrawide. The new main camera supports Google’s Macro Focus, which means you can get close to your subject — think like a food photo — and have it be in focus. In fact, Google accomplishes this with the main camera instead of using the ultrawide camera like many other phones do.

As for resolution, the Pixel 9A’s 48-megapixel main camera is a step down from the 64-megapixel main camera on the Pixel 8A. But more megapixels isn’t necessarily better, as Google proved for years leaning on its software to boost its photography over other phones with higher-megapixel cameras.

Also, the Pixel 9A has a smorgasbord of AI goodies found on the more expensive Pixel 9 and 9 Pro, such as Best Take for better portraits, Photo Unblur, Magic Editor for removing distractions, Night Sight for low-light photos and more. The 9A even has Add Me, which uses AR and AI to let photographers add themselves to a group photo. I’ve used Add Me on my Pixel 9 Pro several times and am always impressed with the results.

Previous Pixel A phones have always had a solid B camera that exceeded its price. I don’t think the Pixel 9A’s shooters will be as good as the ones on the Pixel 9 or 9 Pro, but I’m excited to see how they hold up, especially with the new 48-megapixel sensor.

Pixel 9A performance and battery

The Pixel 9A runs on Google’s Tensor G4 chip, the same one found in the Pixel 9 and 9 Pro. That means it can support Google AI features and Gemini. Notably, the Pixel 9A comes with 8GB of RAM instead of the 12GB found on the Pixel 9 and the 16GB on the 9 Pro. But even with less RAM, Google guarantees the Pixel 9A will receive seven years of major Android OS and security updates (it comes out of the box running Android 15).

While the Tensor G4 chip didn’t win any awards for its performance in benchmark tests for computations or graphics, we found it plenty capable when we tested it in the Pixel 9 and 9 Pro. Whether it was playing games, mindlessly scrolling news and social feeds, or just editing a photo, the G4 chip consistently performed well in everyday use. I hope the same will be true when I get to test the Pixel 9A.

In terms of power, Google says that the Pixel 9A has the largest battery of any Pixel A device. When I saw the battery’s capacity listed as 5,100 mAh, I double-checked that I wasn’t reading the specs for Samsung’s new Galaxy A phones announced at MWC. Technically, the Pixel 9A’s battery is bigger than that of any in Samsung’s new phones, including the $1,300 Galaxy S25 Ultra.

Pixel 9A final thoughts for now

In terms of everything else, the Pixel 9A has all the Pixel features you’d expect: everything from theft protection and Family Link (for limiting access and sharing) to Google services like Gmail and Maps. Surprisingly, the new phone doesn’t get Satellite SOS connectivity like the rest of the Pixel 9 line, but compromises always have to be made to help keep the price down.

The Pixel 9A comes with either 128GB or 256GB of storage, three months of Google One, three months of YouTube Premium and six months of Fitbit Premium. I look forward to spending more time testing the Pixel 9A for a full review, once I can get my hands on it.

Google Pixel 9A specs vs. Pixel 8A, Pixel 9

	Google Pixel 9A	Google Pixel 8A	Google Pixel 9
Display size, tech, resolution, refresh rate	6.3-inch OLED; 2,424×1,080 pixels; 60-120 Hz variable refresh rate	6.1-inch OLED; 2,400×1,080 pixels, 60-120Hz variable refresh rate	6.3-inch OLED; 2,424×1,080 pixels; 60-120 Hz variable refresh rate
Pixel density	422 ppi	430 ppi	422 ppi
Dimensions (inches)	6.1 x 2.9 x 0.4 in	6 x 2.9 x 0.4 in	6 x 2.8 x 0.3 in
Dimensions (millimeters)	154.7 x 73.3 x 8.9 mm	152 x 74 x 10.2 mm	152.8 x 72 x 8.5 mm
Weight (grams, ounces)	186g (6.6 oz)	193 g (6.7 oz)	198g (7 oz)
Mobile software	Android 15	Android 14	Android 14
Camera	48-megapixel (wide), 13-megapixel (ultrawide)	64-megapixel (main), 13-megapixel (ultrawide)	50-megapixel (wide), 48-megapixel (ultrawide)
Front-facing camera	13-megapixel	13-megapixel	10.5-megapixel
Video capture	4K	4K	4K
Processor	Google Tensor G4	Google Tensor G3	Google Tensor G4
RAM + storage	8GB + 128GB, 256GB	8GB + 128GB, 256GB	12GB RAM + 128GB, 256GB
Expandable storage	None	None	None
Battery	5,100 mAh	4,492 mAh	4,700 mAh
Fingerprint sensor	Under display	Under display	Under display
Connector	USB-C	USB-C	USB-C
Headphone jack	None	None	None
Special features	7 years of OS, security and Pixel feature drops; Gorilla Glass 3 cover glass; IP68 dust and water resistance; 2,700-nit peak brightness; 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio; 23W fast charging (charger not included); 7.5W wireless charging Qi certified; Wi-Fi 6E; NFC; Bluetooth 5.3; dual-SIM (nano SIM + eSIM); Add Me; Best Take; Magic Eraser; Magic Editor; Photo Unblur; Super Res Zoom; Circle To Search	IP67 rating dust and water resistance; 18W fast charging; 7.5W wireless charging; 5G (5G sub6 / mmWave); VPN by Google One; Circle to Search; 7 years Android OS updates; 7 years security updates; Best Take; Audio Magic Eraser; Wi-Fi 6E; NFC; Bluetooth 5.3; dual-SIM (nano SIM + eSIM)	Satellite SOS; 7 years of OS, security and Pixel feature drops; Gorilla Glass Victus 2 cover glass; IP68 dust and water resistance; 2,700-nit peak brightness; 45W fast charging (charger not included); 15W wireless charging with Google Pixel Stand (second gen); 12W wireless Qi-charging; Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 7; NFC; Bluetooth 5.3; dual-SIM (eSIM + nano SIM); Add Me; Best Take; Magic Eraser; Magic Editor
US price starts at	$499 (128GB)	$499 (128GB)	$799 (128GB)
UK price starts at	£499 (128GB)	£499 (128GB)	£799 (128GB)
Australian price starts at	AU$849 (128GB)	AU$849 (128GB)	AU$1,349 (128GB)

Technologies

Today’s NYT Strands Hints, Answers and Help for March 16 #743

Here are hints and answers for the NYT Strands puzzle for March 16, No. 743.

Looking for the most recent Strands answer? Click here for our daily Strands hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Today’s NYT Strands puzzle is a fun and easy one if you love college basketball, and a certain big event that’s about to begin. Some of the answers are difficult to unscramble, so if you need hints and answers, read on.

I go into depth about the rules for Strands in this story.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections and Mini Crossword answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: NYT Connections Turns 1: These Are the 5 Toughest Puzzles So Far

Hint for today’s Strands puzzle

Today’s Strands theme is: The Big Dance.

If that doesn’t help you, here’s a clue: Tourney time

Clue words to unlock in-game hints

Your goal is to find hidden words that fit the puzzle’s theme. If you’re stuck, find any words you can. Every time you find three words of four letters or more, Strands will reveal one of the theme words. These are the words I used to get those hints but any words of four or more letters that you find will work:

MARK, BRACK, RACK, RACKS, CADS, CRAM, MOVE, MUTE

Answers for today’s Strands puzzle

These are the answers that tie into the theme. The goal of the puzzle is to find them all, including the spangram, a theme word that reaches from one side of the puzzle to the other. When you have all of them (I originally thought there were always eight but learned that the number can vary), every letter on the board will be used. Here are the nonspangram answers:

CHALK, BUBBLE, CINDERELLA, OVERTIME, BRACKET

Today’s Strands spangram

Today’s Strands spangram is MARCHMADNESS. To find it, start with the M that’s four letters down on the far-left vertical row, and wind across.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Connections Hints, Answers and Help for March 16, #1009

Here are some hints and the answers for the NYT Connections puzzle for March 16 #1009

Looking for the most recent Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands puzzles.

Today’s NYT Connections puzzle isn’t easy, but I got a kick out of the wordplay in the purple group. Read on for clues and today’s Connections answers.

The Times has a Connections Bot, like the one for Wordle. Go there after you play to receive a numeric score and to have the program analyze your answers. Players who are registered with the Times Games section can now nerd out by following their progress, including the number of puzzles completed, win rate, number of times they nabbed a perfect score and their win streak.

Read more: Hints, Tips and Strategies to Help You Win at NYT Connections Every Time

Hints for today’s Connections groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: Critters in a crowd.

Green group hint: Not fast.

Blue group hint: Silent letter.

Purple group hint: States, but shorter.

Answers for today’s Connections groups

Yellow group: Animal group names.

Green group: Things associated with being slow.

Blue group: Silent «w.»

Purple group: Words that sound like state abbreviations.

Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words

What are today’s Connections answers?

The yellow words in today’s Connections

The theme is animal group names. The four answers are gaggle, pack, pod and pride.

The green words in today’s Connections

The theme is things associated with being slow. The four answers are glacier, molasses, sloth and traffic.

The blue words in today’s Connections

The theme is silent «w.» The four answers are Cartwright, two, wrath and wrestle.

The purple words in today’s Connections

The theme is words that sound like state abbreviations. The four answers are any (NE), Emmy (ME), envy (NV) and okay (OK).

Technologies

Peacock Hopes an Andy Cohen Avatar Will Keep You Hooked on Reality TV

The streaming app unveils new AI-powered features, including live NBA games in vertical format.

Peacock is adding an AI feather to its flock. The NBCUniversal property said Friday it will launch several new features to its mobile app, most notably a TikTok-like vertical video experience narrated by an AI version of TV personality Andy Cohen.

The feature, called «Your Bravoverse,» will enable app users to swipe endlessly — if they want — through a playlist of clips from their favorite Bravo shows, all narrated by the Cohen AI. The app will also stream live NBA games in a 9:16 vertical format and introduce two new mobile games.

Peacock said there will be a section for vertical video on the mobile app starting this summer, replacing the current download button in the main bottom navigation.

The new Peacock features capitalize on the AI frenzy and join the bandwagon of mobile users who have become accustomed to the vertical, swipeable nature of consuming content, such as on TikTok and Instagram.

Your host, an AI Andy Cohen

Launching this summer, Your Bravoverse will play videos in vertical format on your phone. The content library will be comprised of Bravo shows past and present, including Vanderpump Rules and the Real Housewives franchise.

AI will create playlists of clips from more than 5,000 hours of footage across the entire Bravo catalog of shows and extract stories from those shows using computer vision. The company says the goal is to «weave together complex storylines across seasons and franchises that help fans relive memorable moments or uncover new connections they may have never seen before.»

Computer vision, in concert with generative AI, is tech that can analyze thousands of hours of Peacock shows, pick out key moments and create video feeds.

Matt Strauss, Chairman of NBCUniversal Media Group, called the feature a «first-of-its-kind experience» for the company — «pairing our deep Bravo library with agentic and gen AI to create a personalized experience.»

The narrator for each playlist will be an AI avatar of Andy Cohen, host of the talk show Watch What Happens Live and creator of the Real Housewives franchise. The avatar will be trained to have Cohen’s «distinctive style and voice.»

Cohen said the Bravoverse experience will be «intuitive» and «interactive.»

«If there’s one thing Bravo fans love, it’s being part of the conversation,» Cohen said in a statement. «It’s the best of AI and the best of Bravo, helping fans discover shows, dive deeper into their favorite moments, and connect with the Bravo universe like never before — all guided by me. Well, not exactly me, but a version of me!»

To create playlists, Your Bravoverse consumers will first choose their top shows and moments, then receive their own personal playlist. NBCUniversal says each playlist can have more than 600 billion possible variations. Just as on TikTok and Instagram, Bravoverse viewers will be able to swipe through videos endlessly. NBCUniversal says the playlists will be constantly refreshed.

NBCUniversal is counting on what it calls its Bravo «loyal superfans.» The company said Bravo viewers watch an average of 24 hours each month, and some people watch up to 75 episodes of shows each month.

The Your Bravoverse feature will be accessible through a dedicated Vertical Video space on the app’s home page.

Live Vertical NBA games

It seems counterintuitive to watch a sport played on a horizontal court in a vertical format on your phone. Peacock actually already unveiled the feature before, during the NBA All-Star Game on Feb. 15.

During live NBA game broadcasts, AI will enable Peacock app viewers to watch the main broadcast and additional camera angles. This vertical video viewing option will reside within the Courtside Live feature, which Peacock launched during the All-Star Game.

Peacock has shown vertical video clips for sporting events since early 2025 — «a first for a streaming platform,» the company said — for NBA, NHL and the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Peacock will launch the feature this spring.

New mobile games

Peacock is also launching two new mobile games, as part of NBCUniversal’s collaboration with Wolf Games, announced in October — Law & Order: Clue Hunter and Public Eye, both mystery-solving games. The games are being created with Wolf Games’ Gen-AI gaming engine and will be launched this spring.

Peacock said it will also be introducing a new Jeopardy! mini‑game, with daily trivia rounds written by the Jeopardy!
team, which can be played in the Peacock mobile app.

In its 2025 fourth-quarter earnings report, Comcast — owner of NBCUniversal — said Peacock’s paid subscribers increased 22% year over year to 44 million, while revenue grew 23% to $1.6 billion.