The core connectivity stack is well-matched: both phones support 5G, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, USB-C, GPS, Galileo, and a full suite of motion sensors. The differences that do exist, however, are meaningful. On Wi-Fi, the Pixel 9a supports Wi-Fi 6E in addition to the standards both phones share, granting access to the uncongested 6 GHz band. In dense environments like apartments or offices with many competing networks, Wi-Fi 6E can deliver faster, more stable connections where Wi-Fi 6 devices like the CMF are left competing for crowded spectrum.
The CMF Phone 2 Pro counters with an external memory slot — a feature the Pixel 9a omits entirely. For users who want to expand storage cheaply, store large media libraries offline, or transfer files between devices via card, this is a tangible practical advantage. The SIM situation also differs: the CMF accommodates two physical SIMs, useful for travelers or dual-line users who prefer physical cards, while the Pixel 9a pairs one physical SIM with an eSIM, which is more flexible for digital carrier switching but less accommodating of international SIM swapping. On sensors, the Pixel 9a adds a barometer and crash detection — the latter being a genuine safety feature that can automatically contact emergency services after a detected vehicle collision, with no equivalent on the CMF.
This group is genuinely split by user priorities. The CMF Phone 2 Pro wins on expandable storage and dual physical SIM flexibility, while the Pixel 9a leads on Wi-Fi 6E, the barometer, and notably crash detection. Weighed together, the Google Pixel 9a holds a slight overall edge — Wi-Fi 6E and crash detection are broadly useful advantages, whereas expandable storage and dual physical SIM appeal to a more specific subset of users.