- Google Pixel 9a is expected to be released as early as March 2025.
- The upcoming A-series could have a different back design, where the cameras sit flush with the back panel.
- Pixel 9a is expected to come with the newest Tensor G4 SoC, UFS 3.1 storage, and a 4,800 mAh battery.
The Google Pixel 9a is the next stepping stone for mid-range Pixel devices and like every A series device, it should be THE device to get for those who were eyeing a Pixel 9 but find it expensive. While the 9a launch might seem quite far, many leaks have already surfaced, confirming a few things about the device. Here’s a roundup of everything we know about the upcoming Pixel 9a.
Pixel 9a: Release Date
The Google Pixel 9a may launch as soon as March 2025. According to Android Headlines, Google could move up the timeline of all of its future Pixel releases. The Pixel 9 series launched in August this year, two months earlier compared to the Pixel 8 series. And, from the looks of it, the Pixel 9a launch could be moving up as well.
Pixel 9a: Design and Display
The recently leaked Pixel 9a renders reveal some interesting design elements. For starters, the front of the Pixel 9a looks familiar to the Pixel 9 (review), albeit with thicker bezels. It appears Google make take a different approach for the rear panel. As per the renders, the 9a’s back doesn’t have a camera bar like previous Pixels or the camera island like the Pixel 9 series. Instead, the rear cameras may sit flush with the back panel, giving it a look that’s quite unlike Pixels.
The 9a reportedly measures 154 x 73 x 8.5 mm, making it a tad bit wider, longer, and slimmer than its predecessor. There’s still no information about its display specifications. But since these dimensions are pretty close to the Pixel 8a, we can expect the same 6.1-inch 120Hz Actua display with 2000 nits peak brightness. We will update this section with more accurate display specifications once they’re out.
Pixel 9a: Hardware
The Tensor G4 from this year’s Google flagship could possibly power the upcoming A-series. It might be an underpowered version, like what Google does with A series every year. The Tensor G4 (benchmarks) itself isn’t a very significant upgrade from the G3, so there isn’t much of a reason to upgrade if you own a Pixel 8 or 8a.
Google is expected to switch to TSMC’s manufacturing process next year, but we suspect this would affect the 9a. The process upgrade may happen with Tensor G5, which could debut with the Pixel 10 series and Pixel 10a down the line.
As for the internals, expect the 9a to feature UFS 3.1 storage and LPDDR5X RAM, like the 8a. The base variant could also remain the same specifications, i.e., 128GB storage and 8GB RAM. We wouldn’t be surprised if Google bumps the base RAM to 12GB, as it did in the Pixel 9 series. A 256GB storage version should also be available.
Pixel 9a: Cameras and Connectivity
While there are no leaks or confirmations regarding the Pixel 9a cameras, we can expect them to be similar to the Pixel 8a cameras. If that happens, the 9a should have a primary 64 MP shooter and secondary 13 MP ultrawide camera, accompanied by a 13 MP front camera.
Google could incorporate the latest Exynos 5400 modem to make cellular connectivity a bit better like it did on the Pixel 9 series. Other than that, the 9a should support Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.4, Ultrawide Band, 5G, LTE, and most notably, a USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2 port for charging and display output.
Pixel 9a: Software and Battery
Coming to software, the Pixel 9a will be the first Pixel to launch with Android 15, since the Pixel 9 series didn’t launch with a new Android version. The phone may get the same 7-year update promise as the Pixel 9.
Since the 9a features an almost similar design compared to the Pixel 9, we can expect the phone to come with a similar-sized battery, i.e., ~4800 mAh. We expect Google to bump up the charging speeds too, like it did with the Pixel 9 series. The Pixel 8a featured 18W charging, and it’s not fast. A bump to 27W would make things a lot faster.
Pixel 9a: Pricing and Colorways
Google’s Pixel A series has always been budget oriented, coming at less than $500, and we expect nothing different from the Pixel 9a. The 8a with vast improvements was expected to cross the $500 price mark, but it didn’t, and the same could be the case with the Pixel 9a. All in all, we could be looking at $499 for the base 128 GB variant.
Coming to the colors. All the leaks so far point toward the phone arriving in four colorways — Porcelain, Iris, Obsidian, and Peony.
What are your thoughts on the Pixel 9a? What else do you think Google should add to make it a more compelling mid-range offering? Let us know in the comments below.
