Google Pixel 9a: Not always a better choice than the Samsung Galaxy A56

When it comes to performance, you might think that the Pixel 9a and its Tensor G4 clearly have the edge. However, under sustained load and during gaming, it suffers from quite significant throttling. This means the Galaxy A56, with its usually slower SoC, actually generates more frames per second.

As for battery life, the Pixel is slightly ahead, but it also has a larger battery. On the other hand, the A56 charges faster, but it lacks wireless charging. In terms of camera, the Google phone is obviously better.

The SIM differences shouldn't be underestimated, either. While Google simply offers one nano SIM and one eSIM, the European Samsung Galaxy A56 supports two Nano SIMs or two eSIMs, and even a combination of both. This can be a major advantage, especially when traveling. Additionally, One UI features a dual messenger feature, which allows users to install a second version of apps like WhatsApp.

Samsung’s handset is also better when it comes to transparency. This is particularly evident in the communication of AI features, where it precisely details which features run in the cloud and which run locally on the device. Furthermore, cloud usage can be disabled entirely on the Galaxy A56.

Last but not least, Samsung also charges a lower price, as the 256GB variant of the Galaxy A56 retails for €190 less than the Google Pixel 9a (from $488 on Amazon) at the time of writing, at least in Germany.