My latest NotebookLM podcast creation is deeper and more fascinating than anything I’ve ever created, and I bet it’ll shock you, too.
I don’t understand string theory. In fact, I bet there’s fewer than 1% of the world that can speak cogently on the subject, but I am fascinated by the concept and have read a bit on it. Not enough to understand or explain it to you, but enough to have a steady and abiding curiosity.
AI, on the other hand, I think I understand and now regularly use as a tool. When Google released a recent NotebookLM update that includes, among other things, mind maps, I thought it was time to bring together something at the very outer edges of my understanding and this bleeding-edge artificial intelligence capability.
So I created a String Theory Podcast.
First, a tiny primer on NotebookLM. It is a powerful AI-based research tool in which you can upload sources, and it will turn them into summaries and extrapolated information in the form of text, podcasts, and visual guides like mind maps.
For me, the most fascinating bit has been the podcasts or “Audio Overviews”, which churn out chatty audio conversations about virtually any topic you feed into them. I call it a podcast because the audio style walks a well-worn path of most popular podcast series. It’s conversational, usually between two people, sometimes funny, and always accessible.
I’ve been wondering, though, if you can stretch the limits of the format with a topic so deep and, honestly, confusing, that the resulting podcast would be conversational nonsense.
My experiment, however, proved that while the current version of NotebookLM has its limits, it’s far better at comprehending dense science bits than me and probably most people you or I know.
(Image credit: Future)
Weird science
Once I decided I wanted NotebookLM to help me with the topic, I went in search of string theory content (there’s a lot more of it online than you might think), quickly stumbling on this 218-page research paper from 2009 by University of Cambridge researcher Dr. David Tong.
I scanned the doc and could tell that it was rich with string theory detail, and so far over my head, it probably resides somewhere near the rings of Saturn.
Imagine trying to read this document and make sense of it. Maybe if someone explained it to me, I’d understand. Maybe.
I downloaded the PDF and then fed it into NotebookLM, where I requested a podcast and a mind map.
(Image credit: Future)
It took almost 30 minutes for NotebookLM to create the podcast, and I must admit, I was a little anxious as I opened it. What if this mass of detail on one of physics’ most confounding topics overwhelmed Google’s AI? Might the hosts just be babbling incoherently?
I shouldn’t have worried.
I’d heard these podcast hosts before: a somewhat vanilla pair (a man and a woman) who banter casually, while making witty asides. In this case, they were trying to explain string theory to the uninitiated.
Next, I think I should create an AI podcast avatar who can point at this graphic while they talk. (Image credit: Shutterstock)
They started by talking about how they’d walk through the topic, covering bits like general relativity, quantum mechanics, and how, at least as of 2009, we had never directly observed these “strings”. Earlier this month, some physicists claimed that they had, in fact, found the “first observational evidence supporting string theory.” But I digress.
The hosts spoke like physics experts, but, where possible, in layman’s terms. I quickly found myself wishing they had a guest. The podcast would’ve worked better if they were proxies for me, not understanding much at all, and had an AI-generated expert to interview.
Stringing it all together
(Image credit: Future)
As the podcast progressed, the hosts dug into the details of string theory, specifically, the definition of a “string.” They described them as tiny objects that vibrate and added, “all stuff in the universe comes from how tiny strings are vibrating.”
Things got more complex from there, and while the AI podcast hosts’ tone never changed, I struggled to follow along. I still can’t tell you what “relativistic point particle viewed through Einstein’s special relativity” really means. Though I did appreciate the analogy of “imagine a string moving through space time.”
The AI hosts used various tricks to keep me engaged and not completely confused. The male host would, like a podcast parrot, often repeat a bit of what the female host had just explained, and use some decent analogies to try to make it relatable.
At times, the female host lapsed into what sounded like she was reading straight out of the research paper, but the male host was always there to pull her back to entertainment mode. He did a lot of chatty summarizing.
I felt like I reconnected to the whole thing when they explained how “string morphed into the theory of everything” and added, “bosons and fermions, partners in crime due to supersymmetry.”
This was heavy
(Image credit: Future)
After 25 minutes of this, my head was stuffed to the point of bursting with those still-theoretical strings and spinning with terms such as “vertex operators” and “holomorphic.”
I hoped for a grand and glorious summary at the end, but the podcast abruptly ended at almost 31 minutes. It cut off as if the hosts ran out of stream, ideas, or information, and walked away from the mics in frustration and without signing off.
In some ways, it feels like this is my fault. After all, I forced these SIMs to learn all this stuff and then explain it to me, because I could never do it. Maybe they got fed up.
I also checked out the mind maps, which are branching diagrams that can help you map out and represent complex topics like string theory. As you can imagine, the mind maps for this topic start simple but get increasingly complex as you expand each branch. Still, they’re a nice study companion to the podcast.
It’s also worth noting that I could enrich the podcast and mind maps with other research sources. I would simply add them into the sources panel in NotebookLM and rerun the “audio overview”.
A real expert weighs in
For as much as I learned and as much as I trust the source material, I wondered about the podcast’s accuracy. AI, even with solid information, can hallucinate, or at least misinterpret. I tried contacting the paper’s author, Dr. Tong, but never heard back. So, I turned to another physics expert, Michael Lubell, Professor of Physics at City College of CUNY.
Dr. Lubell agreed to listen to the podcast and give me some feedback. A week later, he emailed me this brief note, “Just listened to the string theory podcast. Interestingly presented, but it requires a reasonable amount of expertise to follow it.”
When I asked about any obvious errors, Lubell wrote, “Nothing obvious, but I’ve never done string theory research.” Fair enough, but I’m willing to bet Lubell understands and knows more about string theory than I do.
Perhaps, the AI podcasters now know more about the subject than either of us.
Things are getting serious regarding Apple security. This shouldn’t really surprise you, given the normalization of chaos we’re enduring, as confusion always makes people more vulnerable. It’s easier to be hoodwinked into clicking that particular malware link when your head’s all over the place, you can’t think, and you don’t know whether you’ll still be in business tomorrow.
That’s because threats don’t need to be aligned or even harmonized to work together. Insecurity in one space breeds less security elsewhere, and then the whole house of dominoes falls on the strength of a single malicious whisper. Just last week, Ric Derbyshire, principal cybersecurity researcher at Orange Cyberdefense, warned that the digital world is at risk.
Apple fixes two zero-days
Then, as if on cue, Apple rushes out its iOS 18.4.1 security patch to fix a pair of zero-day attacks it thinks are being actively used. The patch has also been made available to Macs, iPads, and other Apple devices.
More importantly – and in a sign of the severity with which the normally secure company views this attack — the update has also been made available to older devices, including macOS Sequoia, the iPhone XS, Apple TV HD, and other devices the company doesn’t usually patch. The fact that it has patched these devices should be seen as a red flag, upon which you’ll see written in VERY BIGLY WORDS: “Install these security patches today”.
You should heed that advice immediately for your fleet of Apple devices.
Apple rushed out a security bulletin to explain that the patches were released in response to an “extremely sophisticated attack” that took place against “specific targeted individuals.”
These attacks exploited a flaw in CoreAudio that could be used to execute remote code on vulnerable devices. They also used a flaw in Apple’s Remote Participant Audio Control framework. This let hackers with read and write access bypass iOS security protections that help protect memory. These two flaws also let attackers figure a way into your devices so they could steal data and spy on what you do.
These are just the latest zero-day attacks to have been identified and protected against on Apple’s platforms. But the growing frequency of these exploits should act as a visible barometric measure reflecting intense heat in the battle between white, black, and occasionally grey hat hackers.
Vast resources are being piled into attempts to undermine digital security, and the highest value attacks aren’t aimed at the contents of Aunt Bessie’s bank account – state secrets, military plans, intelligence in various forms, all are now up for grabs.
A fragile peace
The threat environment is now so febrile that many of the top brass in business already travel with single-use devices, as they recognize the inherent risk when visiting some nations. That big picture of risk is intensifying, as the UK, EU and other governments take steps that, bit by bit, further undermine notions of digital security.
We’re in a race against the clock to protect what we’ve got, while waiting in the wings you can now see a future of attackers armed with quantum computers, ready to exploit every single vulnerability that exists and hasn’t yet been identified.
Given this is the true security environment, it’s laughable that the most popular passcode used in the world continues to be 123456 — it’s as if people really don’t want to understand that to protect other people you’ve got to protect yourself. Because if these exploits are being used against targeted, high-value individuals today, I’d bet my last dollar (if I still had a last dollar) they will be weaponized for use against ordinary Joes and Joelles tomorrow.
There’s always going to be someone who doesn’t get the memo and doesn’t protect themselves – and if that is you, then rest assured, these attacks are coming for you.
As hard as that is to admit, it’s the truth. For basically my entire waking life, I’m tethered to my smartphone, and I hate it.
As Tech Advisor’s Mobile Editor, using my phone regularly is a necessity. There’s nothing inherently wrong with that – a smartphone offers tonnes of features that can enhance our lives.
But all too often, it feels nearly impossible to separate these benefits from the well-publicised downsides. Most of the time, I don’t reach for my phone to use one of its many handy tools; I use it as a form of distraction.
Whether it’s procrastinating or escaping a moment of discomfort, my phone has eliminated boredom from my life. Sadly, it’s had the same effect on any genuine relaxation.
Me, in my usual unrelaxed state
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
I knew something had to change, so I set myself a radical challenge. Could I survive for an entire week without using a smartphone? Switching to a flip phone hadn’t quite had the desired effect, so I knew I had to go further.
There was only one device for it: a ‘dumb phone’. In other words, a basic feature phone which offers access to key tools such as calls and texts, but little else. I went for the Nokia 110 I already owned – it has 4G connectivity, which is crucial at a time when many 3G networks are being switched off.
However, basically all of the other creature comforts I’ve come to rely on are missing. No Chrome! No WhatsApp! No Google Maps! A terrible camera! What had I signed up for?
Despite all these apparent downsides, I was weirdly excited to make the switch, which probably showed how much I needed it. Here’s how my smartphone-free week went.
Friday
It’s 6.30pm. I’ve finished work for the week and have a full week off to look forward to. I also have no plans to leave the city where I live – there’ll literally never be a better time to do this.
I finally muster up the courage to turn off my Nothing Phone (3a) Pro, take the SIM card out and put it into the Nokia 110. The latter is a much fiddlier job, requiring the battery to be removed first (a removable battery – what a concept!).
And just like that, the experiment has begun. So has my discomfort, so I immediately reach for the next most addictive device I own – my laptop – and am quickly soothed. Ah, the sweet hit of dopamine!
Except…it’s not quite as good when you have to mess around with a keyboard and mouse instead of just tapping and swiping. My laptop has a touch screen, but watching YouTube Shorts and Facebook Reels on such a massive display just feels wrong.
It also goes against what my goal is for this experiment: using technology more mindfully.
The Nokia 110’s removable back feels like taking a trip back in time
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
So, in another radical move, I block the sites I know will be most distracting. These are the usual suspects: a few news sites and social media apps. The restrictions are easy enough to get around, but I’m hoping there’ll be enough friction there to make me think twice.
After dinner, I suddenly realise I’d planned to call my grandma. Will she even be able to hear me on such a cheap, basic phone?
But this is what dumb phones do best. Call quality throughout our 30-minute conversation is excellent, and at no point does it feel like a downgrade compared to a smartphone. I doubt my grandma can tell I’m using a different phone – she certainly didn’t mention it.
Saturday
I’m visiting my parents today, which I know will make not having a smartphone much easier. I rarely use it when I’m with them anyway.
However, I didn’t consider the morning walk we go on first, where there are multiple opportunities to take great photos. You should’ve seen the look on my dad’s face when I whipped the Nokia out of my pocket! Miffed would be an understatement.
As he snaps away with the Xiaomi 13 Pro, I can’t help but feel a twinge of envy, even if I’d have only copied the shots he was taking. But I’m also enjoying being free from the usual pressure to document my life. It’s a refreshing feeling.
Most of the rest of the day, I genuinely enjoy not having a smartphone. Except when my parents’ printer isn’t working and I have to borrow one of their phones to get the manual. Ugh.
Before I know it, it’s been over 12 hours since I last checked WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger. In that time, I’ve missed a grand total of…zero messages.
I mean, at least you can tell it’s a lake
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Sunday
I’m calling a friend in Malaysia this morning. Can confirm: WhatsApp calls work just fine on a laptop, even when the phone it’s linked to is switched off. 2.5 hours fly by with nothing more than minor issues, which I think are internet-related anyway.
In fact, the only real problem I encounter today is my shopping list, which usually lives on Google Keep. Switching to a paper version is probably the easiest swap I make all week, though, while ditching my virtual loyalty card for the physical one isn’t exactly difficult.
Before I know it, it’s been over 12 hours since I last checked WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger. In that time, I’ve missed a grand total of…zero messages
However, getting used to looking at only one screen at a time (I know, I know) is proving a challenge. Sometimes, I give in and use my laptop, but try to keep my attention on the football match as much as possible. It’s not helped by what might be the most boring Manchester derby ever.
Monday
I’ve booked a massage for my first official day off. This would be slightly nerve-wracking at the best of times, but I also have to navigate to an unfamiliar location and have no proof of my booking. Shudder.
Cue looking up the 7-minute walk on Google Maps about 20 times. In the end, it’s easy to find, and an hour later, I’m feeling like a whole new man.
A few minutes into my afternoon of journalling (on my laptop – I’m not perfect), I feel a sense of calm and focus that I haven’t had in weeks. It’s taken a few days, but not using a smartphone is making me feel a lot more present.
Tuesday
Another scary Google Maps-free navigation has arrived. This time, it’s a 45-minute walk to a country park I’ve never visited. Am I crazy?
No, no, I’m not. The obsessive route checking before I left might’ve helped, but it turns out there are these things called signs that point you in the right direction when trying to find something. Who knew.
In the end, making it to the park is a breeze, and I enjoy a lovely couple of hours reading and walking around the lake, before heading to the nearby cafe.
Sitting alone around lots of couples and families makes me feel a bit awkward, so I instinctively turn to my phone. But let me tell you, when Snake is your only option for distraction, it’s better to stay in the real world (please don’t come for me, Snake fans).
It’s a no from me
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Wednesday
Today is the easiest day so far. Aside from a short walk in the morning, I stay at home all day, decluttering the flat with my mum. Before I know it, seven hours have flown by and I’ve barely looked at a screen.
I use my laptop for a few hours in the evening, but it gets boring quickly when you can’t go on social media, check the news or watch YouTube videos. There are only so many Reddit posts one man can read.
Thursday
Being without a smartphone almost feels normal now. Instead of relying on GPS, I simply look up where I want to go on my laptop and trust that I’ll be able to find it.
Tracking down a local coffee shop is straightforward, as is the takeaway restaurant I’d identified for dinner.
I was anticipating more problems at the cinema, which normally uses digital tickets. Despite the email clearly saying ‘This is your ticket’, I’ve convinced myself that they’ll reject my print-out and send me packing.
But as it turns out, no-one even checked my ticket! All that worrying was for nothing. At least the film was pretty good.
In the evening, I finally have to charge the phone for the first time – I could get used to this six-day battery life. I never want to go back to Micro-USB, though. Ugh.
I have no words
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Friday
It’s the last day of my experiment, and I’m not exactly looking forward to going back to my smartphone. But I have no choice – the Pixel 9a won’t review itself.
I use my last few smartphone-free hours to do some of the most mundane tasks known to man: food shopping, cleaning and laundry.
By the time 6.30pm comes around, I’m mentally prepared to go back to the world of near-constant distractions. As soon as I switch back, I’m struck by just how big and bulky this 6.3-inch, 186g device feels. It’s relatively compact by modern phone standards, but about twice the size of the Nokia.
I could get used to this six-day battery life. I never want to go back to Micro-USB, though. Ugh
I quickly slip into my old usage patterns, but can’t shake the feeling that it’s not right.
What switching to a dumb phone taught me
Swapping my smartphone for a dumb phone has had a profound effect on me. During my seven-day experiment, I felt calmer, more focused and generally less stressed.
Of course, that’s not exclusively a consequence of not using a smartphone. I had a deliberately quiet week off work with only a handful of tasks to complete, prioritising rest and recovery. I also didn’t leave my home city, meaning all the streets were familiar to me.
But nonetheless, it shows the power of reducing distractions and becoming more present, which is something I definitely want to continue.
I have no desire to give up my smartphone full-time. It’s simply too useful in too many scenarios, especially when travelling or in an unfamiliar location.
Instead, my goal is to find a happy middle ground where I can get many of the benefits without being sucked into mindless usage. After seeing what’s possible, I’m more motivated than ever to figure it out.
Despite some notable flaws, the Pixel 9a is very easy to recommend. Unless you want the absolute best value for money hardware, Google’s mid-ranger offers everything most people need in a smartphone at an attractive price.
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Of the so-called ‘big three’ phone manufacturers (the most popular brands in the UK and US), Google was the last to launch a mid-range handset in 2025.
But after mixed reviews of the Galaxy A56 and iPhone 16e, the Pixel 9a might be the best of the lot. While its controversial new design is getting a lot of attention, it shouldn’t take away from everything this £500/$500 phone has to offer.
On paper, you’re getting a premium display, flagship-level performance and a capable rear camera, not to mention the signature Pixel software experience and a full seven years of update support.
But specs rarely tell the full story. To understand just how good the Pixel 9a is, you need to use it for an extended period of time. So that’s just what I’ve done over the last week.
Design & Build
New, almost-flush camera cutout
Plastic back
IP68 water and dust resistance
The Pixel 9a’s rear design is its most defining feature. Google has made the unexpected decision to include a camera bump that looks nothing like the other Pixel 9 phones or its predecessor, the Pixel 8a.
In fact, to call it a camera bump at all feels like an exaggeration. The Pixel 9a’s rear cameras sit almost flush with the back of the phone, barely protruding at all. That offers a benefit I often talk about in reviews: you can easily use it face up on a table without it wobbling around.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
However, there’s no question that the 9a lacks the personality of the other Pixel 9 phones, which all have large camera islands instead. Last year’s Pixel 8a was even more bold, opting for the camera bar that had become a defining feature of previous Pixel phones.
By contrast, the Pixel 9a has a boring, nondescript camera blob on the back that’s about as generic as it gets. While past Pixels were instantly recognisable, few people would be able to identify the 9a if you removed the Google logo from the back.
The question is, do you care? I realise that a lot of people do, but it really doesn’t matter to me. At the price point, I’m happy for design to take a back seat in favour of other key features. The Pixel 9a looks more like an iPhone than any other Android phone, but that was probably Google’s intention.
The Pixel 9a has a boring, nondescript camera blob on the back that’s about as generic as it gets
What’s more, you’re probably going to be applying a case anyway. Google’s official ones, a blend of silicone and polycarbonate, are excellent, offering a welcome dose of extra grip and protection while adding very little bulk.
They’re available in the same four finishes as the phone itself – Iris, Peony, Porcelain and Obsidian. So, you can cover up the cheap-feeling plastic on the back of the phone without losing the splash of colour. I particularly like the subtle light purple on the Iris model I tested.
Elsewhere, the Pixel 9a is generally what we’ve come to expect from a Pixel phone, with a sleek aluminium frame and rounded corners making it comfortable to hold for long periods.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
The relatively compact design (by modern standards) helps, as does a weight of just 186g. If you’re coming from a phone over 200g, you’ll definitely notice the difference.
One notable upgrade compared to the Pixel 8a is water resistance. It’s now IP68-rated, meaning it can survive submersion in more than 1m of water for up to 30 minutes, alongside the existing full dust protection. Impressive.
Screen & Speakers
6.3-inch, Full HD+ P-OLED
120Hz refresh rate
Stereo speakers
The Pixel 9a has a display that’s right up there with some of the very best. It’s a 6.3-inch, 1080 x 2424 panel, matching the size and resolution of the more expensive Pixel 9 flagship.
You also get the extra fluidity and responsiveness of a 120Hz refresh rate, though it’s disabled in Settings. Make sure you turn on ‘Smooth display’ to see the Pixel 9a’s display in its full glory.
But unlike more expensive Pixel phones, the 9a has a P-OLED screen as opposed to the regular OLED. Essentially, this means it uses an underlying layer of plastic instead of glass, making it more shockproof but also more prone to scratching and reduced clarity.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
However, I have to admit that I didn’t know this before I started writing this review. When using the 9a and 9 Pro XL side by side, I genuinely couldn’t tell the difference. The Pixel 9a has an excellent display that I’d be happy to use every day.
It also gets very bright – Google claims a peak of 2700 nits, but even the 949 nits I recorded at home is mightily impressive. It probably goes without saying, but outdoor visibility, even on a sunny spring day, is excellent.
One small compromise is the bezel around the display, which is noticeably thicker than on Pixel flagships. It makes the front of the phone look slightly more dated, but not in a way that’s of any real concern to me.
The Pixel 9a has an excellent display that I’d be happy to use every day
Within the display is an optical fingerprint sensor, though I didn’t find myself using it much. There were two reasons for this: it isn’t the most reliable (especially if my finger was damp), and the secure face unlock is so much more seamless.
As a secondary unlocking method, it’s absolutely fine, although I do wish Google had upgraded it to the ultrasonic version found on other Pixel 9 phones.
In terms of audio, the Pixel 9a uses the common stereo setup of a downward-firing speaker and earpiece. The sound it produces is fine, offering decent clarity and avoiding audible distortion, but I’d have liked more bass and a fuller-bodied sound.
As usual, it’s fine for casual listening, but I’d highly recommend connecting a pair of headphones or a speaker for anything more serious.
Specs & Performance
Tensor G4
8GB of RAM
128- or 256GB of non-expandable storage
The Pixel 9a is powered by Google’s latest Tensor G4 chipset. That’s the same one you’ll find on all the other Pixel 9 phones, which is impressive considering its price point.
While a small step down from Qualcomm’s top-of-the-line Snapdragon 8 Elite, it still offers excellent performance in almost all scenarios, despite just 8GB of RAM on both models.
Throughout my testing time, the Pixel 9a was a consistently strong performer. It speeds across web browsing, social media, messaging apps and the camera with ease, offering no signs that it’s not a flagship device.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
The phone also handles multitasking well, including the option to use two apps in split-screen mode. Essentially, for basically all everyday tasks, the Pixel 9a won’t let you down.
Demanding gaming proves a little more of a challenge, with some stuttering and noticeable dropped frames. But the likes of Genshin Impact and Call of Duty: Mobile are still very much playable, which is more than can be said for some mid-range phones.
If you’re serious about gaming, I’d still recommend a flagship or dedicated gaming phone, but there’s enough here to satisfy your casual gaming fix. 8 Ball Pool is my personal favourite.
Throughout my testing time, the Pixel 9a was a consistently strong performer
Google offers just two options when it comes to internal storage: 128- or 256GB. The former will be fine for many people, but it’s worth being aware that around 15GB is taken up by system files, which can’t be deleted.
With no support for Micro-SD expandable storage, I’d recommend upgrading if you’re at all unsure.
Google Pixel 9a benchmarks
Cameras
48Mp main lens
13Mp ultrawide
13Mp selfie
The Pixel 9a’s cameras are the most obvious compromise compared to the Pixel 9 flagships. Their telephoto lens has been removed entirely, while the ultrawide lens has been downgraded from 48Mp to 13Mp.
It means there’s a lot of attention on the 48Mp main lens, which is only slightly smaller than the 50Mp sensor on the other handsets.
Fortunately, it delivers completely. If the Pixel 9 Pro XL has the best point-and-shoot camera of any phone, the Pixel 9a isn’t far behind. It might look like a downgrade compared to the 64Mp main camera on the Pixel 8a, but trust me, the photos are better.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
A lot of this relies on Google’s computational photography wizardry, which intelligently adjusts brightness and reduces noise after the photo is taken. You have to wait a few seconds for the final result, but it’s more than worth it.
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed taking photos with the Pixel 9a’s main camera. I love how consistent it is – whether you’re shooting a landscape, city streets or historic architecture, this camera won’t let you down.
If the Pixel 9 Pro XL has the best point-and-shoot camera of any phone, the Pixel 9a isn’t far behind
Photos offer excellent detail and dynamic range, handling some complex exposure challenges very well. Colours are a little more vibrant and contrasty than real life, but I personally like this – images really pop.
Impressively, the main camera is just as good in low-light conditions. It manages to add loads of brightness and detail to an image without making it look artificial.
In unreliable conditions such as a dimly lit alleyway and a pool hall, the Pixel 9a does a great job. But it was in near-total darkness that the long-exposure Night Sight mode blew me away. Pixel phones are still unmatched when it comes to low-light photography.
With Night Sight off (left) and on (right)
Without a dedicated telephoto lens, you’ll be relying on the main lens for portrait photography. It generally performs well, offering a subtle yet attractive bokeh effect.
However, I’d like to be able to adjust the level of background blur, while edge detection can be an issue at times.
Of course, the biggest consequence of the missing telephoto is subpar zoom capabilities. The Pixel 9a has no optical zoom, while the digital equivalent here is a pale imitation. Shots at 2x look fine, but anything beyond that quickly looks washed out and grainy. And while the Pixel 9 Pro XL tops out at 30x, you’re limited to just 8x here.
On paper, I was really worried about how the 13Mp ultrawide would fare. All too often, these lower megapixel secondary lenses are disappointing.
However, that’s not the case on the Pixel 9a. It is a noticeable downgrade compared to the main lens, and not quite as good as the 48Mp version on more expensive Pixel 9 phones, but it’s still very serviceable. Detail and exposure are still generally good, and I enjoyed the flexibility of the 120-degree field of view.
Last, but very much not least, is the 13Mp front-facing camera. Even as someone who’s not a big selfie taker, it’s hard for me not to be impressed with the Pixel 9a.
Photos are clear and crisp, handling skin tones well without overexposing backgrounds. And being able to toggle between 1x and 1.4x zoom means it also works well for group selfies.
See a selection of camera samples in the gallery below:
Video capabilities are nothing remarkable, with the Pixel 9a topping out at 4K 30fps. The default 1080p 30fps looks fine, albeit a noticeable step down in quality compared to stills. You do at least get OIS (optical image stabilisation) on both the main rear and selfie cameras, meaning that footage remains smooth while you’re moving around.
Battery Life & Charging
5100mAh battery
23W wired charging
7.5W wireless charging
The Pixel 9a’s new battery capacity is arguably its most significant upgrade. Instead of the Pixel 8a’s 4492mAh cell, you now get a 5100mAh. Improbably, it’s now the largest battery of any Pixel phone ever, even beating the 9 Pro XL (5060mAh).
But does it actually improve the previously mediocre battery life? The answer is a definite yes, though not by as much as I was hoping.
Battery life is decent, but I wouldn’t say it’s a strength or weakness of the phone. It’s just fine
The Pixel 9a will comfortably last a full day, and potentially stretch to two with light usage, as was the case while I was working from home. But given how fast it dropped while out and about for a few hours, I’d be worried about it lasting a full 12+ hours away from the charger.
Overall, battery life is decent, but I wouldn’t say it’s a strength or weakness of the phone. It’s just fine.
Sadly, there’s no doubt as to the charging speeds, which remain capped at an underwhelming 23W. Like most phones these days, Google doesn’t include a charger in the box, so you’ll have to find your own or buy one separately.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
I’m not sure the 65W one I had lying around was the most efficient, but it took longer than I was hoping for. It only reached 40% after 30 minutes and 80% by the hour mark, with a full charge taking just under 100 minutes.
Qi wireless charging is a convenient alternative, but at just 7.5W, you’ll need to be even more patient or charge overnight. Slow charging remains one of Pixel phones’ most frustrating issues.
Software & Features
Android 15
Plenty of AI features
Seven years of updates
Aside from cameras, software is the other big reason to buy a Pixel phone.
And that’s definitely true on the Pixel 9a, which arguably has the most compelling software on any mid-range phone. Recently, I argued that Samsung’s One UI 7 was actually better than Android 15 on the Pixel, but after using the 9a for a week, I’m having second thoughts.
Yes, it’s frustrating that you need to tap twice to toggle Wi-Fi and mobile data. Yes, the home screen could be more customisable. And yes, the Settings app could be easier to navigate.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
But all of those things are easy to get used to. And the Pixel offers some key features that you won’t find elsewhere. They include Now Playing for music identification (including while offline) and Call Screen to weed out scam callers. Small touches, but they make a big difference over time.
There’s also no bloatware whatsoever, giving the device a clean and uncluttered feel. I find the Pixel software easier to use than any other version of Android, making it ideal if you’re switching from an iPhone.
If you mainly use Google apps, you’ll feel right at home on the Pixel 9a. But even if you don’t, there are loads of great third-party alternatives on the Play Store.
I find the Pixel software easier to use than any other version of Android, making it ideal if you’re switching from an iPhone
However, the phone has a slightly pared-back set of AI features compared to the Pixel 9 flagships. The Pixel Screenshots app doesn’t make it, while the Google Gemini assistant doesn’t support images, video or audio uploads – just text.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
But pretty much everything else is there, including Circle to Search, the Pixel Weather app and Google’s suite of AI photo features, including Best Take and Add Me. I find the latter to be more fun than useful, but you might feel differently.
The Pixel 9a is also undefeated when it comes to software updates. Not only is Google offering a full seven years of OS and security updates, but you’ll also get the next major version of Android as soon as it’s publicly available.
That’s its big advantage compared to the Galaxy A56, with Samsung’s equivalent version of One UI often taking several months to roll out.
Price & Availability
At launch, the Pixel 9a starts at £499/$499. That’ll get you the 128GB model I tested, while stepping up to 256GB costs £599/$599.
It’s available outright from Google UK and Google US, but also via many third-party retailers. See our guide to the best Pixel 9a deals for the full UK selection, while the top contract offers in the UK and US are below.
That outright price puts the Pixel 9a in direct competition with some of the very best mid-range phones. The Galaxy A56 (£499/$499) is its main Android rival, but many people will be pitting it against the iPhone 16e (from £599/$599).
Should you buy the Google Pixel 9a?
The Pixel 9a isn’t a particularly exciting phone, but it’s also one of the easiest to recommend. If you have £500/$500 to spend and want a solid all-round handset that will last, this is the device for you.
While the phone has some key flaws – most notably slow charging, no telephoto camera and a bland design – the benefits elsewhere more than make up for it.
The Pixel 9a delivers a great display, strong performance, an excellent main camera and a killer software experience, all for half the cost of many flagships. For many people, that makes it a no-brainer.
A few days ago, on April 14, the infamous internet forum known as 4chan.org was subjected to a major hacking attack, which took down the site and made it inaccessible. As of this writing, the site remains down.
4chan has been embroiled in a long series of controversies since its launch in 2003. As an anonymous forum, it has developed its own unique flavor of edgy internet counterculture. You may have heard 4chan mentioned in relation to QAnon, with one anonymous user (going by “Q”) fabricating claims of a deep state conspiracy.
But 4chan isn’t the only of its kind. An anonymous user from a rival forum called soyjak.party claimed responsibility for the hack attack, and that claim was corroborated via leaked emails from 4chan administrators and moderators. Not only was 4chan taken down, but the site’s source code and user data were stolen and leaked, including user email addresses.
According to BleepingComputer, the attack was made possible by 4chan’s extremely outdated version of PHP from 2016, leaving the forum largely unprotected against various security vulnerabilities.
In recent years, the anonymous English-language forum has had more than 20 million unique visitors each month, so there are many users affected by the incident. It remains to be seen whether 4chan will recover from the attack and whether users will trust the site enough to return.
Ninja Gaiden is a name that goes back a long, long way in gaming. Though most people might know series protagonist Ryu from the 3D games that started on the Xbox (or his side-hustle as a fighter and male model in the Dead or Alive series), the new Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound harkens all the way back to his side-scrolling arcade debut in 1988. And boy, does it look phenomenal.
I’ve had Ragebound on my radar for PC games that don’t need graphics cards since it was announced in December. Koei Tecmo teamed up with Dotemu and The Game Kitchen, developer of the highly-acclaimed 2D soulslike Blasphemous, for a throwback pixelated side-scroller. The initial trailer showed some blistering combat that reminded me of Dead Cells, but it’s the latest one that really made my eyes pop out:
In this trailer we see both new protagonists, Hayabusa clan protege Kenji Mozu and Spider clan assassin Kumori. It’s the latter who gets the spotlight here, showing off fluid moves and arachnid-themed special attacks. It looks like at least some parts of the game will let you switch between both fighters, or call the off-screen character in for a tag team attack.
Halfway through the trailer Kumori hops on a motorcycle, in classic 80s beat-em-em up fashion. Then she hops on a demon. She butt-stomps a demon with a motorcycle, backflips her hog, then butt-stomps another before coming back to the ground. Hell yeah.
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is set for a summer 2025 release. It’s available to wishlist on Steam right now, and also coming to all consoles.
A US judge has ruled tech giant Google has a monopoly in online advertising technology.
The US Department of Justice, along with 17 US states, sued Google, arguing the tech giant was illegally dominating the technology which determines which adverts should be placed online and where.
This is the second antitrust case Google has lost in a year, after it was ruled the company also had a monopoly on online search.
Google said it would appeal the decision.
“Publishers have many options and they choose Google because our ad tech tools are simple, affordable and effective,” the firm’s head of regulatory affairs Lee-Ann Mulholland said.
US District Judge Leonie Brinkema said in the ruling Google had “wilfully engaged in a series of anticompetitive acts” which enabled it to “acquire and maintain monopoly power” in the market.
“This exclusionary conduct substantially harmed Google’s publisher customers, the competitive process, and, ultimately, consumers of information on the open web,” she said.
Google lost on two counts, while a third was dismissed.
“We won half of this case and we will appeal the other half,” Ms Mulholland said.
“The Court found that our advertiser tools and our acquisitions, such as DoubleClick, don’t harm competition.”
Google’s lawyer had argued the case focused too much on its past activities, and prosecutors ignored other large ad tech providers such as Amazon.
In an ongoing series of antitrust lawsuits, the US government argues Google and its parent company Alphabet should be broken up – which could include selling off parts of the company such as the Chrome browser.
