Google introduced the Pixel 9a smartphone earlier this week with a new design, and the company said that it retains several AI features from the Pixel 9 since it runs Gemini Nano model on the device.
Even though it has Gemini Nano, the version is Gemini Nano 1.0 XXS (extra extra small) compared to Gemini Nano XS (extra small) on the Pixel 9, 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL, and 9 Pro Fold all run.
Screenshots and Call Notes
Google has now confirmed that the phone doesn’t have the Pixel Screenshots feature that was introduced with the Pixel 9. This organizes and recalls screenshots by analyzing content, including links and summaries, for easy retrieval.
Google says that this is due to 8GB of RAM in the Pixel 9a, since it needs at least 12GB of RAM to provide Gemini Nano with reserved memory without impeding performance.
Call Notes features that offer a summary and transcript of calls with on-device processing for tracking conversations will also not be available on the Pixel 9a due to the Gemini Nano XXS which only runs when needed and not continuously like the Nano XS.
Satellite SOS
Google introduced Satellite SOS for Emergencies in the Pixel 9 that enables emergency calls via satellite without cellular service in select countries free for the first two years. It was launched in the U.S. initially, and earlier month with the March 2025 Pixel feature drop Google expanded Satellite SOS to Hawaii, Alaska, Europe, and Canada.
This feature is powered by Exynos 5400 Modem from Samsung, which has has support for 5G non-terrestrial networking (NTN), allowing devices to connect to low-earth orbit satellites. The Pixel 9a still uses the Exynos 5300 modem from the Pixel 8 series, so it doesn’t have the feature.