Google Pixel 9a rumors: Release date, leaked features, rumored price, and more

Update: December 6, 2024 (4:35 AM ET): We have updated our Google Pixel 9a hub to include real-world images of an apparent prototype device.

The Google Pixel 8a has been a solid addition to the Pixel lineup. It is a great recommendation as a budget Android device, especially if you want most of the perks of a Pixel without spending too much on a flagship. But the phone has been around for a few months, and with the Pixel 9 series now around and in the hands of users, we can look forward to what Google has been cooking for its upcoming A-series successor. Here’s everything we know about the Pixel 9a, as well as features and changes we wish the device comes with.

Will there be a Google Pixel 9a?

The Pixel A-series has been quite popular with users who see it as a practical and affordable way to experience Google’s vision of Android. While Google hasn’t confirmed if and when it will launch a Pixel 9a, the company has released the Pixel 9 series to great reception from reviewers and consumers alike. That makes the A-series overdue for a refresh to align it with the “9” generation branding, and it’s easy to believe that Google wants to keep options open for a budget Pixel in 2025.

Our Pixel series roadmap leak from December 2022 suggested that Google is looking to move away from annual launches of A-series smartphones. The leak originally suggested that the Pixel 8a may not be launched, but as history bears witness, the Pixel 8a did get launched (although many question its presence in the lineup when the Pixel 8 exists).

However, the Pixel 8a’s launch doesn’t mean that Google has abandoned its thoughts on a two-year release schedule. Google could still launch Pixel A phones biennially (every two years) going forward, bringing them more in line with the iPhone SE series.

To conclude, there’s a good chance that there will be a Pixel 9a, but we can’t say for sure until Google announces something officially or confirms or denies any related information.

What is the most likely Pixel 9a release date?

• Pixel 8a — May 7, 2024
• Pixel 7a — May 10, 2023
• Pixel 6a — May 11, 2022

Google usually announces the Pixel A-series at its annual Google I/O keynote, which happens in the first half of May every year. However, for the Pixel 8a, Google had a break in tradition where the Pixel 8a was launched a full week ahead of the I/O (held on May 14, 2024). Google’s I/O keynote was full of software announcements, so it somewhat makes sense that the company did not want to add the Pixel 8a hardware. One can also consider the Pixel 8a as a consumer-ready product, whereas most of the announcements at Google I/O are developer-centric, so giving the Pixel 8a its own limelight feels warranted.

But instead of sticking to the May launch window, a new report from Android Headlines claims that Google is preparing to launch the Pixel 9a as early as mid-March 2025. According to the report, pre-orders for the Pixel 9a could begin in mid-March, with shipping and in-store availability starting before the end of the same month.

Google hasn’t announced the launch date of the Pixel 9a (or even pointed towards its existence), so we will have to wait for the company to officially confirm when it will announce the new phone.

What rumored specs and features could the Pixel 9a have?

We’re still months away from the Pixel 9a’s launch, but leaks and rumors have begun to arrive for the phone. Let’s take a look at them to get an idea of what we can expect from Google’s upcoming budget flagship.

Design and colors: There’s a redesign on the cards

The Pixel 9a was largely expected to carry forward Google’s design language from previous generation Pixels, but it seems Google could surprise us with a design change for the upcoming phone.

Our first brush with the design change came from a leaked image of the Pixel 9a (which surprisingly came before any leaked renders) found on a now-deleted post on Vietnamese tech forum Tinhte. The poster suggested that these pictures showed a phone that Google was launching on August 13, but Google launched the Pixel 9 series flagships that day rather than the Pixel 9a.

The leaked images showcase an alleged “Pixel 9a” that is very different from the Pixel 8a. The tweaked logo suggests this is a prototype device, with smartphone makers often incorporating unique markers like this to combat leaks.

The redesign was purportedly corroborated by leaked renders from OnLeaks via Android Headlines. The leaked renders for the Pixel 9a suggested the phone could skip the now-iconic camera bar and go for a more flushed look on the back.

As you can see in the leaked render above, the camera bar is squished down and erased. What we get is a camera island that is flush with the rest of the phone. There is a tiny raised ring around the cameras, likely to protect it from getting scratched when placed down on a surface.

Beyond the drastically changed flush rear camera, the rest of the device in the leaked renders resembles the Pixel 9 in a good way. The leaked renders showcase the Pixel 9a has flat sides and rounded corners. The bezels are also fairly thick, which is expected from a device in the budget tier.

Real-world images of an apparent Pixel 9a prototype were posted online by Twitter user feni_book on December 5, 2024. The pictures, seen below, show a device with unique markings in line with prototype phones. An IMEI search by us also revealed that the device was indeed a Google phone with the model number GTF7P. But it’s unclear if this model number is representative of a commercial device.

These images corroborate previous leaked images regarding the phone’s design. Expect a pill-shaped camera housing, flat edges, and a center-mounted punch-hole cutout.

Another report from Android Headlines suggests the Pixel 9a will be available in four colors. The report states that we will get the classic Porcelain and Obsidian color options alongside new colors, Peony and Iris. Peony will be similar to the pink shade currently offered on the Pixel 9, while Iris is expected to be a bluish-purple hue.

The report also sheds light on the dimensions of the device. The Pixel 9a is said to measure 154 x 73 x 8.5mm, making it just so slightly wider and taller, but thinner, than the Pixel 8a’s 152.1 x 72.9 x 8.9mm. Curiously, the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro measure 152.8 x 72 x 8.5mm, so the Pixel 9a isn’t expected to be too far off.

Android Headlines posted another report on October 29, claiming that the Pixel 9a will have a 6.3-inch Actua display with a 60-120Hz refresh rate. This puts it on par with the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro screen, while also being a little bigger than the Pixel 8a’s 6.1-inch panel. The outlet also issued updated dimensions of 154.7 x 73.3 x 8.9mm, making it a little thicker, wider, and taller than first thought. The phone is said to weigh 186 grams, which would make it slightly lighter than the Pixel 8a (188 grams).

Performance: Another Tensor G4 flagship, but with a catch

According to an exclusive Pixel 9a processor leak from us at Android Authority, the Pixel 9a with the codename “tegu” will likely come with the Google Tensor G4. However, much like the Pixel 8a, the Pixel 9a is expected to use a slightly different version of the Tensor G4 than the rest of the Pixel 9 series.

While the silicon die inside the chip is identical, the plastic package differs. While the regular G4 uses FOPLP (Fan-Out Panel Level Packaging), the 9a’s G4 uses IPoP (Integrated Package on Package). According to Samsung, IPoP is thicker and hotter than FOPLP, but it is also cheaper, which explains the decision. In practice, the performance differences shouldn’t be huge, and the chip should still be a reasonable upgrade on last year’s model.

One of the highlights of the Pixel 9’s Tensor G4 was the new Exynos Modem 5400, which features support for 5G 3GPP Rel. 17, Satellite SOS, and more importantly, ran more efficiently and cooler than its predecessor. However, it is likely that the Tensor G4 on the Pixel 9a skips the processor upgrade. Instead, it could stick with the older Exynos Modem 5300 from the Pixel 8 series. We’re hoping that Google changes its mind, but we wouldn’t hold our breath on it, so be prepared for a middling modem experience on the upcoming budget phone compared to the Pixel 9’s good connectivity experience.

The Android Headlines report from October 29 asserts that the phone will indeed offer the Tensor G4 chip, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of 256GB of storage. The outlet also claimed in a separate article that the Pixel 9a would have a 5,000mAh battery. That’s a major upgrade over the Pixel 8a’s 4,492mAh capacity. Unfortunately, it’s believed that Google is sticking with glacial 18W wired and 7.5W wireless speeds.

Cameras

We know that Google plans to ditch the camera bar, but what are the company’s plans for the actual cameras? There are still only two shooters in the back and a selfie camera in the front. A leak from Android Headlines reveals that the device will continue the trend of having no telephoto lens, leaving us with the main sensor and ultrawide. Reportedly, there won’t be any changes to the ultrawide or selfie shooter, meaning we can expect a 13MP from the ultrawide and front camera.

There is one change to look forward to, however, and that’s the improved main camera. The leak claims that the Pixel 9a will have a 48MP primary lens — possibly the same primary camera in the Pixel 9 Pro Fold — instead of the 64MP camera found in the Pixel 8a. Although the primary camera may have fewer megapixels than before, photos should still look better due to the larger size of the pixels.

Software

This shouldn’t come as a surprise, but Android Headlines reports that the Pixel 9a will come with Android 15 out-of-the-box. All recent A-series Pixels have come with the currently stable Android version, so we weren’t expecting anything other than stable Android 15 on the Pixel 9a. Google could release Android 16 in Q2 2025, and that could change what comes on the Pixel 9a, but we don’t have any direct or targeted leaks suggesting an Android 16 stable release out-of-the-box on the Pixel 9a.

We’re also expecting the Pixel 9a to offer plenty of AI features. However, leaks point to the phone having 8GB of RAM. If you cast your mind back to the Pixel 8, it had 8GB of RAM, too, and initially lacked some AI features. The Pixel 9 series also offers 12GB of RAM at the bare minimum, with a portion of memory permanently reserved for AI tasks. We’re therefore guessing that the Pixel 9a won’t have as many AI features as the Pixel 9.

What might the Pixel 9a price be?

• Pixel 8a — $499 for 8GB/128GB
• Pixel 7a — $499 for 8GB/128GB
• Pixel 6a — $449 for 6GB/128GB

Google has tried to maintain an affordable price tag for its A-series, as that is its main USP. The price did rise with the Pixel 7a by $50, but Google seems to have settled at $499 for now with the Pixel 8a.

Android Headlines reports that the Pixel 9a will indeed maintain a $499 price tag when it’s eventually released. That’s encouraging news, as it would mean the phone is a full $300 cheaper than the Pixel 9. Nevertheless, we’ll have to wait for more leaks to corroborate this rumored price.

Should you wait for the Pixel 9a?

While the Pixel 9a’s purported redesign is exciting, we feel quite at ease recommending the current crop of smartphones that you can purchase right away. Even with its currently rumored earlier-than-expected release date, the phone is still many months away, and there’s no reason for you to wait that long if you want a value-for-money phone right now.

Instead of the Pixel 9a, you should consider smartphones from Google’s current lineup. The Pixel 8a ($499 at Amazon) and even the often-on-sale Pixel 8 ($699 at Amazon) are solid choices that won’t burn a hole in your pocket (though try and look for a sale as they frequently see big discounts). If you can, you should consider jumping up to the Pixel 9, too ($799 at Amazon).

If you are open to devices from other manufacturers, then your options increase. Depending on what your budget and requirements are, the OnePlus 12R ($599.99 at Amazon),  Samsung Galaxy A35 5G ($359.99 at Amazon), the older Galaxy S23 FE ($599.99 at Amazon) and the Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2024) ($399.99 at Motorola) are also good smartphones in similar price brackets.

Google Pixel 9a: What we want to see

The Pixel 8a is a great phone, but there’s always some room for improvement. While Google already likely has its vision set on what the Pixel 9a should be, these are the upgrades we want to see from the upcoming budget flagship!

A cheaper Pixel A, or perhaps two models once again?

Google embraced size diversity in its Pixel lineup with the Pixel 9 series, following in the traditions of some older Pixels. The Pixel 9 Pro and the Pixel 9 Pro XL are largely identical in specifications, giving users two real options across sizes without unnecessarily gimping them with the smaller phone. Yes, there are obvious differences in the display size, battery size, and overall dimensions. But other specifications, including the display tech, processor and cameras, are identical.

We’re hoping some of this approach spills over onto the Pixel 9a too. A split for Pixel 9a and Pixel 9a XL would allow budget phone users the option to get a physically larger phone without spending too much cash on specs that may not matter to them.

Better battery life, please

While its predecessor was an absolute mess regarding battery life, the Google Pixel 8a offered an improvement thanks to better power efficiency with the Tensor G3 SoC and a small 100mAh increase, bumping the battery up to 4,492mAh. While this was a welcome change, the Pixel 8a still just barely manages a full day with basic use.

Budget phones and big batteries often go hand in hand, so we’d love to see Google upgrade the Pixel 9a to a 5,000mAh battery or something similar. The good news is that Android Headlines reported in October that the phone would have a 5,000mAh battery.

Faster charging speeds would be great too

The Pixel lineup is long overdue for some serious charging speed upgrades, and the Pixel A-series is the worst of the lot. Stuck at 18W for wired charging and an even more sluggish 7.5W for wireless charging, the Pixel 8a takes a full 100 minutes to charge from zero to full when plugged in directly. Wireless charging performance is even worse.

You might excuse the Pixel 8a on account of its budget pricing, at least until you notice similarly priced devices like the OnePlus 12R have managed to do way better. The latter is capable of charging from empty to full in just 25 minutes.

Unfortunately, recent leaks suggest that Google will stick with 18W wired and 7.5W wireless charging. That’s a real shame, as even the Galaxy A35 5G offers 25W speeds.

It’s time for a camera update

The Pixel 8a utilizes the same camera introduced with the Pixel 7a, which isn’t a bad shooter by any means. It also got even better with the Pixel 8a, thanks to software and SoC optimizations, including Audio Magic Eraser, Best Take, and more. The main camera still takes fairly decent shots, even in less-than-perfect lighting, but after several years of innovation, better sensors are available that would offer an even better experience.

We hope Google doesn’t recycle its camera technology for a third year, at least not unless the Pixel 9a debuts for less than the current Pixel A. We’d also love to see Google introduce some kind of telephoto option for zooming, especially if it does (miraculously) introduce a Pixel 9a XL to the mix. This is really one of the only sore spots when it comes to using a Pixel 8a as your main camera, after all.

Fortunately, earlier leaks from Android Headlines suggest that the phone will offer a 48MP main camera that could be identical to the Pixel 9 Pro Fold shooter.