Technologies

Battery, Bump and Budget: Comparing Google Pixel 9A to Pixel 9, 9 Pro and 9 Pro XL

Google’s newest budget phone packs surprises that stack up well against the rest of the nines.

With the Pixel 9A about to land on April 10, you may be looking at whether Google’s budget phone is the right choice for you — and if it’s wise to pick up a new phone before expected tariffs push up prices. Even as the low-cost offering in the Pixel 9 series, the Pixel 9A exceeds some specs found in its pricier siblings. Let’s look at how it compares to the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL.

With budget phones, the question is always, «What’s missing?» For example, Apple ditched MagSafe and stuck with a single camera for the iPhone 16E — which still comes in at $599. With the new Pixel 9A, what is Google giving up to hit a friendlier $499 price?

Hey, better battery

People consistently rate battery power as the most important consideration for a new phone, and here Google delivered. The Pixel 9A has a higher-powered battery than any of the other Pixel 9 phones. With a capacity of 5,100mAh, that’s more than the Pixel 9 Pro XL’s 5,060-mAh battery and a nice jump over the Pixel 9 and 9 Pro that each have a 4,700-mAh one.

The Pixel 9A is pokey about replenishing the battery, with a fast-charge rate at 23 watts instead of 45 watts on the other phones (and, of course, a charger is not included). Wireless Qi charging maxes out at 7.5 watts compared with 15 watts on the others.

A larger battery capacity in the Pixel 9A should support more intense computational work, along with the same Google Tensor G4 chipset as the other models. It will run the same Gemini AI features, although with less headroom: Its 8GB of RAM is generally considered the minimum amount of memory to run the algorithms and on-device processing used by AI. The Pixel 9 has 12GB of RAM, while the 9 Pro configurations have 16GB of RAM. For storage, the Pixel 9A comes in just 128GB or 256GB capacities.

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

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Shaving costs with competent cameras

Not surprisingly, the cameras are a step down from the other Pixel 9 phones, reinforcing that mobile photography is an area people are willing to pay more for. The main wide camera captures 48-megapixel photos, compared with the 50-megapixel wide cameras on the others — which isn’t a significant difference. It is a drop from the 64-megapixel main camera on last year’s Pixel 8A but does support macro focus to ensure close-up photos are in focus.

The ultrawide camera, however, records just 13-megapixel images, compared with the 48-megapixel ultrawide cameras on each of the other models. Still, ultrawide cameras at 12- or 13-megapixel resolutions are still more common on phones from other companies, and they create good wide-angle images. Selfies via the front-facing camera are also 13-megapixel resolution, which is a step up from the 10-megapixel camera on the Pixel 9 but dwarfed by the 42-megapixel cameras on the 9 Pros.

A return to flatness

We all play along when phone companies reveal the thickness of their phones, which is measured by the depth of the bodies and usually doesn’t include the now-ubiquitous camera bumps. As long as most of a phone is svelte, it’s easy to overlook the extra few millimeters dedicated to the camera assembly — and the wobble when placed on a flat surface for some phones.

Why? Because the cameras are some of the most important features of a modern phone. We’ll accept a little cantilevering in exchange for 10x optical zoom.

Someone forgot to remind the Pixel 9A designers, though, because its dual camera lenses are nearly flush with the rest of the phone’s back. There’s still a tiny elevation, which CNET’s Patrick Holland described as «enough to catch your nail on it,» but compared with the pronounced camera ledge on the other Pixel 9 models, the Pixel 9A rests nearly flat.

The opposite side of the body has the same 6.3-inch OLED screen as the Pixel 9, measuring 2,424×1,080 pixels for a 422 pixels-per-inch density and a 60Hz to 120Hz variable refresh rate. It even maxes out at 2,700 nits like the Pixel 9.

The phone’s dimensions, however, are slightly larger than the Pixel 9, being 1.9mm taller, 1.3mm wider and 0.4mm deeper. Even so, the Pixel 9A is the lightest of the phones at 186g (6.6 ounces).

To compare the specs between all Pixel 9-series phones, dig into the details below:

Pixel 9A specs vs. Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL

	Google Pixel 9A	Google Pixel 9	Google Pixel 9 Pro	Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
Display size, tech, resolution, refresh rate	6.3-inch OLED; 2,424×1,080 pixels; 60-120 Hz variable refresh rate	6.3-inch OLED; 2,424×1,080 pixels; 60-120 Hz variable refresh rate	6.3-inch LTPO OLED; 2,856×1,280 pixels; 1-120Hz variable refresh rate	6.8-inch LTPO OLED; 2,992×1,344 pixels; 1-120Hz variable refresh rate
Pixel density	422 ppi	422 ppi	495 ppi	486 ppi
Dimensions (inches)	6.1 x 2.9 x 0.4 in	6×2.8×0.3 inches	6×2.8×0.3 inches	6.4x3x0.3 inches
Dimensions (millimeters)	154.7 x 73.3 x 8.9 mm	152.8x72x8.5 mm	152.8x72x8.5 mm	162.8×76.6×8.5 mm
Weight (grams, ounces)	186g (6.6 oz)	198g (7 oz.)	199g (7 oz.)	221g (7.8 oz)
Mobile software	Android 15	Android 14	Android 14	Android 14
Camera	48-megapixel (wide), 13-megapixel (ultrawide)	50-megapixel (wide), 48-megapixel (ultrawide)	50-megapixel (wide), 48-megapixel (ultrawide), 48-megapixel (5x telephoto)	50-megapixel (wide), 48-megapixel (ultrawide), 48-megapixel (5x telephoto)
Front-facing camera	13-megapixel	10.5-megapixel	42-megapixel	42-megapixel
Video capture	4K	4K	4K	4K
Processor	Google Tensor G4	Google Tensor G4	Google Tensor G4	Google Tensor G4
RAM/storage	8GB + 128GB, 256GB	12GB RAM + 128GB, 256GB	16GB + 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB	16GB + 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
Expandable storage	None	None	None	None
Battery	5,100 mAh	4,700 mAh	4,700 mAh	5,060 mAh
Fingerprint sensor	Under display	Under display	Under display	Under display
Connector	USB-C	USB-C	USB-C	USB-C
Headphone jack	None	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	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	Satellite SOS; 7 years of OS, security and Pixel feature drops; IP68 dust and water resistance; Video Boost with 8K Upscaling; Macro Focus on ultrawide; Gorilla Glass Victus 2 cover glass; 3,000-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	Satellite SOS; 7 years of OS, security and Pixel feature drops; IP68 dust and water resistance; Video Boost with 8K Upscaling; Macro Focus on ultrawide; Gorilla Glass Victus 2 cover glass; 3,000-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)	$799 (128GB)	$999 (128GB)	$1,099 (128GB)
UK price starts at	Converts to £385 (128GB)	Converts to £640 (128GB)	Converts to £780 (128GB)	Converts to £860 (128GB)
Australia price starts at	Converts to AU$780 (128GB)	Converts to AU$1,210 (128GB)	Converts to AU$1,510 (128GB)	Converts to AU$1,670 (128GB)

Technologies

McDonald’s Snack Wrap: Is the Viral Food Favorite Returning on July 14?

July 14 could be the release date for the much-longed-for chicken Snack Wraps, but Ronald and crew aren’t talking.

McDonald’s is riding a viral wave. The fast-food chain’s Minecraft Happy Meals and adult Minecraft Meals hit restaurants on April 1 and sold out quickly. Diners ordering a Happy Meal these days will find a Squishmallow theme meal instead. But there’s more viral buzz about another McDonald’s product online. People are eagerly awaiting the return of Snack Wraps, a chicken-tortilla entree that’s been missing from US locations of the Golden Arches since 2020.

Read more: Review: McDonald’s Minecraft Meals Feature The Hottest Nugget Sauce Ever

On April 15, McDonald’s tweeted «snack wraps 0x.14.2025,» hinting the wraps would return on the 14th of an upcoming month. This leaves fans having to check their McDonald’s mobile app or local restaurant menus on the 14th of every month, hoping the wraps will make an appearance. The wraps didn’t appear in restaurants on May 14, so now fans must check again in June, and again in July if the June date does not pan out.

At least one Reddit users seems to think the McDonald’s Snack Wraps could return on July 14. One user wrote, «It’s July, I work for McDonald’s,they revealed the date on the employee app.»

But another person posted, «It’s not July. I work at McDonald’s corporate and can confirm.»

Neither of those posts can be confirmed.

June 14 is a Saturday, while July 14 is a Monday. Some suggest that McDonald’s would be more likely to launch a new product on a Monday than on a weekend, so if that’s true, July 14 could be the day.

A representative for McDonald’s did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

snack wraps 0x.14.2025

— McDonald’s (@McDonalds) April 15, 2025

Snack Wrap fever

Snack Wraps first came out in 2006, and were meant to be a chicken item that would appeal to drive-thru customers. There are different versions, but the basic one includes white-meat chicken strips known as McCrispy Strips wrapped in a flour tortilla with cheese and lettuce with either ranch, honey mustard or salsa. McCrispy Strips are a reworked version of a chicken item formerly known as Chicken Selects.

Zach Ciampa, who regularly covers new food releases under the social-media handle Snach With Zach, said there’s been an intense fanbase out there for the wraps. «Regarding McDonald’s Snack Wrap, it’s by far the most requested item I’ve ever seen my audience ask or demand to come back,» he told CNET. «Not just the most requested in recent memory, but the most requested of all time. And that’s not limited to McDonald’s.» Ciampa said the only similar fast-food items that come close to the same level of interest are Dairy Queen’s S’mores Blizzard and Taco Bell’s Caramel Apple Empanada, both of which also made recent returns.

«I’ve been covering food releases for years, and in that time, I’ve seen countless comments to the tune of ‘We don’t want this. We want the Snack Wrap,’ and, ‘Can you tell us when the Snack Wrap is coming back?'» he said. «A couple years ago, the chances of its return were pretty bleak. However, things escalated pretty quickly in late 2023 when McDonald’s did indeed announce that the Snack Wrap would return in a new form. Since then, details have slowly but surely trickled out, and the hype has steadily grown.»

While Snack Wraps left McDonald’s locations in the US back in 2020, they remained available at Canadian and UK restaurants. The current online McDonald’s Canada menu includes several tortilla-wrapped items, including ones with crispy chicken, grilled chicken, buffalo chicken and chicken with a sweet chili sauce.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints and Answers for May 21, #240

Here are some hints and the answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, No. 240, for May 21.

Looking for the most recent regular 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 and Strands puzzles.

Connections: Sports Edition tried to fool players today by tossing in four coin words: quarter, dime, nickel and penny. Yet as longtime players know, that’s way too simple for a Connections puzzle — and this was indeed a trick. The four coin words all ended up in different groups. Read on for hints and the answers.

Connections: Sports Edition is out of beta now, making its debut on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 9. That’s a sign that the game has earned enough loyal players that The Athletic, the subscription-based sports journalism site owned by the Times, will continue to publish it. It doesn’t show up in the NYT Games app but now appears in The Athletic’s own app. Or you can continue to play it free online.

Read more: NYT Connections: Sports Edition Puzzle Comes Out of Beta

Hints for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

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

Yellow group hint: Watch the clock.

Green group hint: Not offense.

Blue group hint: Nice throw!

Purple group hint: Fancy footwear.

Answers for today’s Connections: Sports Edition groups

Yellow group: Sections of a game.

Green group: Football defensive terms.

Blue group: Words used to describe a good pass.

Purple group: Eponymous basketball shoes, minus the S

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

What are today’s Connections: Sports Edition answers?

The yellow words in today’s Connections

The theme is sections of a game. The four answers are half, inning, period and quarter.

The green words in today’s Connections

The theme is football defensive terms. The four answers are 4-3, 46, nickel and prevent.

The blue words in today’s Connections

The theme is words used to describe a good pass. The four answers are apple, assist, dime and dish.

The purple words in today’s Connections

The theme is eponymous basketball shoes, minus the S. The four answers are Chuck, Jordan, LeBron and Penny.

Technologies

You Can Now Play Fortnite Again on iPhone and iPad

The long wait is over: Fortnite returns to Apple’s App Store in the US.

Fortnite is back on iPhone and iPad, as announced in its post today on X.

The game had been in and out of the Apple App Store multiple times over the years as its parent company, Epic Games, and Apple clashed over developer fees. But now, following a court ruling against Apple, the massively popular game can finally be downloaded again on iOS devices.

The US District Court for the Northern District of California ruled on April 30 that Apple’s behavior toward web transactions was in bad faith and anticompetitive. Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney posted about the ruling on X on the same day.

«For the reasons set forth herein, the Court finds Apple in willful violation of this Court’s 2021 Injunction which issued to restrain and prohibit Apple’s anticompetitive conduct and anticompetitive pricing,» court documents read. «Apple’s continued attempts to interfere with competition will not be tolerated.»

Sweeney made the announcement of Fortnite’s return to iPhone and iPad shortly after the April 30 court ruling.

«We will return Fortnite to the US iOS App Store next week,» Sweeney wrote on X. «Epic puts forth a peace proposal: If Apple extends the court’s friction-free, Apple-tax-free framework worldwide, we’ll return Fortnite to the App Store worldwide and drop current and future litigation on the topic.»

Read more: The 15 Best PC Games Right Now

What will be new on Fortnite for iPhones?

In celebration of its iOS relaunch, Fortnite is rumored to be bringing back the Tart Tycoon skin. The monochrome cosmetic outfit was first released in 2020 and is meant to be a parody of Apple. Alongside the rare item, the Tart Tycoon Cup event is said to be returning.

Fortnite had been banned from iOS devices since 2020, when the flagship iOS device was the iPhone 11.

Why was Fortnite off the iPhone and why is it back now?

In 2021, Epic Games and Apple went to court. Apple largely won that court battle, but didn’t walk away unscathed. A federal judge also ordered Apple to remove its anti-steering barriers, meaning the company must allow apps downloaded from the App Store to steer customers to third-party means.

From the archives: Apple Scores Legal Win Over Epic in Fortnite Lawsuit

Apple appealed the decision later in 2021, with proceedings continuing through 2022 and into 2023. Apple eventually won the appeal. However, the court upheld its anti-steering ruling from 2021 in the process.

When Epic took Apple back to court in 2025, the company pointed out that Apple hadn’t complied with the original ruling in 2021. The judge agreed and is now forcing Apple to follow the rules to the letter. This includes not charging developers for non-App Store payment methods and allowing developers to tell people that such third-party options and platforms exist. The time frame is simple enough. Apple is to comply with these new rules immediately.

Epic Games also has lawsuits against Google and Samsung, seeking to achieve the same result for users of Google Play.