The dust is slowly settling after the release of the Pixel 9 phones. Our reviews of the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro are out, so it’s obviously time to speculate on Google’s next big thing. According to leaked images of what appears to be a dummy device, that could be the Pixel 9a.
The leak posted by ShrimpApplePro on X (which the whistleblower found via a now-deleted Facebook post in a private group) suggests that the affordable phone will see some significant design changes that could make the Pixel 9a significantly different from the more expensive phones that have just been released. Of course, the questionable source of the leak means this could be completely fake. However, the company usually follows up the release of a significant phone with a cheaper version, so there’s reason to believe that the Pixel 9a is in the works.
While we’re taking the leaked images with a grain of salt, it’s interesting to see what might change in terms of design. The most noticeable change compared to the Pixel 9 series is the complete lack of a camera bar on the rumored Pixel 9a phone. Google’s recent phones have offered a relatively chunky camera housing, which has become one of the phone’s more recognizable design elements.
If the company removes the camera bar, it would make the 9a stand out from the more expensive models, although I’m not sure Google wants it to stand out that way. Part of the appeal of phones like the Pixel 8a is that they look and feel like the more expensive versions with great camera quality. A design change to make the Pixel 9a could hurt that philosophy.
Besides the flattened camera bar, we see two lenses with an LED flash next to them. We can also see that the boxy aesthetic of the Pixel 9 series is still there.
The leaker suggests that the phone will launch “late this year” and in four colors, including a “silver” option.
Again, take everything in this leak with a grain of salt, as a deleted Facebook post in a private Facebook group of Vietnamese Pixel fans isn’t the most reliable source, but if it’s true, it will be an interesting design change from Google.
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