Google Pixel 9a outperforms the Samsung Galaxy A56 in hands-on benchmark runs ahead of launch

Google is said to be readying its mid-range model for the year, the Pixel 9a, to launch in a few days. The phone has been spotted in the flesh ahead of that and has now been tested in visits to popular benchmarks AnTuTu and Geekbench, delivering results that edge out a close rival like the new Galaxy A56.

As shared by Sahil Karoul, the Pixel 9a—expected to be powered by the same Tensor G4 on the Pixel 9 (buy on Amazon) series—ekes out a score of 1,530 on Geekbench 6's single-core test and a score of 3,344 on the multi-core test. On AnTuTu, the Pixel 9a manages a total score of 1,049,844, a 260,567 CPU score, and a 434,441 on the GPU side. 

Interestingly, though, while the Pixel 9a's AnTuTu results are consistent with our test results of the Pixel 9 series, the leaked Geekbench scores are quite a bit worse. In our reviews of the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold, the Tensor G4 averaged scores of 1,925 and 5,674 on Geekbench's single-core and multi-core tests respectively. It's impossible to make any definite conclusions, however, seeing as the tested Pixel 9a runs on pre-launch software.

Google's Tensor chipsets catch a lot of flak for underperforming relative to their MediaTek and Qualcomm counterparts; that's only an issue on the Pixel flagships, however. The revealed benchmark numbers for the Pixel 9A, for example, see it outperform a similarly priced rival like the Galaxy A56. According to GSMArena's review results, the Samsung mid-ranger scores 1,364 and 3,899 on Geekbench 6's tests, while delivering a composite AnTuTu score of 908,689.