Pixel 9a vs Galaxy S25: Camera & Battery Test Full-Day Review

The Pixel 9a is one of the few midrange phones today that remains compact. In contrast, the Galaxy S25 stands as the most popular compact Android flagship, even smaller than the Pixel 9a, though understandably more expensive. That price difference is justified by several factors, including a better processor and superior camera sensors.

On the other hand, the Pixel 9a features a 22% larger battery compared to the S25. However, its advantage is not straightforward due to the less efficient Tensor processor and an older 5G modem.

To truly put the camera and battery to the test, I spent an entire day in Vienna, the capital of Austria, using both phones. I charged them to 100%, enabled auto brightness (to test reports of issues on the Pixel 9a), and set out to compare their performance.

The Pixel 9a’s main sensor is smaller, meaning it captures less light and therefore less detail. Its videos reflect the typical Pixel style—contrasty and bold. In comparison, the Galaxy S25 produces more vivid and colorful video with less contrast.

Interestingly, the Pixel 9a can take macro shots thanks to its shorter minimum focusing distance—an area where it outperforms the Galaxy S25.

By 10 AM, both phones were streaming YouTube on the same Wi-Fi network. Display brightness on both was more than adequate, but the Galaxy’s PWM (pulse width modulation) was noticeably higher. This results in less eye strain, which I demonstrated by increasing my camera’s shutter speed to reveal how the black bars on the Galaxy moved twice as fast as on the Pixel.

After two hours of video playback, the Pixel 9a’s battery dropped to 85%, while the Galaxy was at 87%. The Pixel also ran 2 degrees hotter.

I then took both phones outside to the gym. Under direct sunlight, both displays could have been a touch brighter. I captured a video of a beautiful Japanese tree, and here I was slightly disappointed by the Pixel’s performance—the tree appeared too dark and lacked detail. In contrast, the Galaxy delivered sharper, better-colored footage.

Next, I mounted the phones to my bike and recorded 20 minutes of video. The ultrawide lens on the Pixel offered slightly better dynamic range, and stabilization in that specific shot was also better than on the Galaxy. However, the Galaxy’s edge came from its three-times telephoto lens—missing on the Pixel. Zooming in (up to 30x on the Galaxy vs 8x on the Pixel) revealed more detail on the Galaxy, though the Pixel surprisingly kept up fairly well at 8x.

At the gym, the Pixel’s battery stood at 72%, with the Galaxy at 75%. During my workout, I tested the selfie cameras. The Pixel’s selfie lens is wider, which is great for group shots. But the Galaxy supports 60 frames per second, while the Pixel is limited to 30. That’s a missed opportunity. I appreciate a wide-angle selfie lens—always helpful to fit more people in the frame.

Testing stabilization on the main lens showed the Pixel was a bit jitterier than the Galaxy. After my workout, I biked home to meet a friend. Back home, the Pixel had 69% battery left and the Galaxy 72%.

By 5 PM, I packed my gear and set out again, this time navigating with Google Maps toward central Vienna. I noticed the Pixel’s blacks were deep—likely due to the smaller sensor and lower dynamic range. For regular photos, though, the dynamic range was close between the two phones. The Galaxy leaned warmer in tone, while at 3x zoom, it was sharper and more detailed. Still, the Pixel kept up decently even at 5x zoom. As expected, pixel peeping highlighted the Galaxy’s telephoto advantage. But for most people, in daylight, both phones perform well unless you zoom in too far.

At the city center, the Pixel had 54% battery left, and the Galaxy had 53%. The Pixel was slightly cooler but dimmed its screen more than the Galaxy. I met my friend Vivek, and as golden hour approached, it was a perfect time to snap photos.

With the ultrawide lens, both phones produced very similar shots—even zoomed in, it was hard to spot any meaningful difference. On the main lens, the Pixel leaned magenta, while the Galaxy favored green tones. This difference extended to their telephoto shots as well.

A feature exclusive to the Galaxy is shooting in LOG format. I used it to capture a scene and later color grade the footage, giving it a dreamy look—a big plus for video creators.

We walked to a nearby restaurant. By this time, the Pixel had 48% battery remaining, while the Galaxy had 43%. Even though the Pixel has a smaller sensor, Google’s computational photography, powered by the chipset, helps it perform well in daylight. Even at 3x zoom, the Pixel holds its own—as long as you don’t pixel peep too hard.

Where the Galaxy pulls ahead is with bokeh and shallow depth of field. Thanks to its larger sensor, it blurs the background more effectively. In some portrait shots, I even preferred the Pixel’s processing over the Galaxy’s. But when it comes to video, the Galaxy clearly leads.

That’s mainly due to two factors: better hardware and a more powerful chipset that can handle data faster and without heating up. At the restaurant, the Pixel was at 43%, and the Galaxy was at 39%.

In an ultrawide photo, the Pixel’s image was darker but more accurate. The Galaxy’s shot was too vivid and a bit oversaturated. On the main lens, the Galaxy toned down its saturation, while the Pixel remained more neutral. In video, the Pixel had a colder white balance, the Galaxy was more vivid, but I personally preferred the Pixel’s muted tones.

As night fell, the Galaxy’s larger sensor showed its strength. Footage from the Galaxy remained cleaner, while the Pixel’s video turned noisy, especially in the sky. The Pixel’s computational photography helps in low-light photos, but the white balance was noticeably off—especially on surfaces like asphalt.

In lower light, noise levels on the Pixel rose, and detail suffered. Still, for the price, most people may accept that trade-off.

By the end of our evening, after dinner and photos, the Pixel was at 38%, and the Galaxy at 36%. Despite the Pixel’s 22% larger battery, the battery life difference wasn’t dramatic—likely because of its inefficient chipset and modem.

Whether watching YouTube, using GPS, navigating with Google Maps, or taking photos, the Pixel 9a can match the Galaxy S25 in many ways. With enough light, the Pixel 9a can deliver photos on par with the Galaxy. But in low-light video, it shows its limits.

If you’re drawn to a clean Android experience and a lower price point, the Pixel 9a could be a great pick. Just know the trade-offs. Otherwise, consider stepping up to a Pixel 8 or Pixel 9 for a better experience.