Google Unveils Pixel 9a, Undercuts iPhone 16e with Lower Price

Photo : Instagram / @anothertech7

Google has launched its new Pixel 9a phone on Wednesday, aiming to compete with Apple by selling it at a lower price than the newly released iPhone 16e. Google hopes this will help it attract more buyers and make artificial intelligence (AI) available to more people.

The Pixel 9a costs $499 (Rs 49,999), which is $100 less than the iPhone 16e, priced at $599 (Rs 59,900). With this lower price, Google is offering a premium phone at a more affordable rate. Unlike Apple’s iPhone SE, which has been replaced by the iPhone 16e at a higher cost, Google’s Pixel 9a gives better value for money. In India, the Pixel 9a is still seen as a semi-premium phone because of its price. But with bank offers and EMI plans, Google hopes to attract more buyers, especially since demand for high-end phones is growing in India.

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The Pixel 9a has a fresh design with a pill-shaped camera on the back, placed in the upper left corner. This is different from the horizontal camera bar seen on the Pixel 8a. It comes with a 6.3-inch OLED screen with a high refresh rate for smoother visuals. The phone is powered by Google’s Tensor G4 chip, the same one used in the more expensive Pixel 9 series. It has two cameras on the back—a 48-megapixel main camera and a 13-megapixel wide-angle camera. The phone is also more water and dust resistant with IP68 protection. Its battery lasts longer than the previous model. Google is also offering seven years of software updates, making the phone secure and reliable for a long time.

The Pixel 9a comes with several AI-powered features, making it a key part of Google’s plan to promote artificial intelligence. The phone includes AI photo editing, real-time translation, AI image creation, and a smarter voice assistant. It also has Gemini AI, giving it the same AI tools as the Pixel 9 Pro, making it one of the most AI-packed phones at this price range.

Google’s lower pricing is a clear challenge to Apple. Although Pixel phones make up only a small part of the global market, they are still important as they show Google’s latest Android updates and AI technology. With Apple’s AI plans still not fully ready, Google’s Pixel 9a offers a better AI experience at a lower price. However, Apple’s brand power is much stronger, which makes it harder for Google to beat them.

In India, Google’s Pixel phones have less than 1% market share, based on IDC reports. To grow its sales, Google is making Pixel phones in India and may open its own stores, just like Apple’s retail expansion. Apple already makes iPhones in India and has opened big stores in major cities, with plans to open more.

Besides smartphones, Google is also competing with Apple in other products, like its Pixel Watch and wireless earbuds, which rival Apple’s Watch and AirPods.

According to Upasana Joshi, a market expert from IDC Asia Pacific, Google’s AI gives it an edge over Apple. But she also says that Pixel phones have low awareness and fewer specs compared to cheaper Chinese brands. In the Rs 50,000+ phone segment, Apple and Samsung dominate, holding 95% of the market, while Google’s share is only 1.5%.

Apple’s popularity is due to its strong brand image and discounts on older models. In 2023, Apple shipped over 12 million iPhones in India with an average price of $950. Apple’s bank offers, EMI plans, and price cuts on previous models helped it sell more devices.

With the Pixel 9a, Google is offering a cheaper AI-powered phone, directly competing with the iPhone 16e. However, Apple’s strong brand makes it harder for Google to gain market share. Still, the Pixel 9a gives good value for money and could help Google grow its position in the mid-to-premium smartphone market.