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Believe it or not, Google's Pixel 9a may have already leaked out in the wild with redesigned camera

By Adrian Diaconescu

Published: Aug 26, 2024, 5:00 AM

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Believe it or not, Google's Pixel 9a may have already leaked out in the wild with redesigned camera

Just in case Google didn't make enough headlines of late with the announcement of a more expansive and diverse Pixel handset family than ever, the search giant's next big (mid-range) phone is surprisingly in the spotlight today as well.

Although it's clearly far too early to know anything for sure about the Pixel 9a, a social media leaker with a somewhat mixed track record claims to have found pictures showing this device in pre-production form on a "random" Facebook private group.

That sounds like the flimsiest story ever, we know, but at the same time, the two photographs do have an air of authenticity, featuring a logo that's likely to look very familiar to many hardcore Google fans. This is a placeholder of sorts that's been used on a number of Pixel prototypes in the past, and although that obviously doesn't rule out the possibility that these images are manipulated, it suggests that the phone depicted is indeed made by Google if we're not in fact dealing with doctored pics.

Big screen, little bezels, new camera module

If what we're looking at here is the real-deal Pixel 9a (which remains a big if), the differences to this year's Pixel 8a mid-ranger are pretty stark. At first glance, this next-gen smartphone is massive (although that may well be a matter of perspective), with reasonably thin and almost symmetrical bezels around that large screen, a flat (and pretty chunky) frame, and most importantly, an entirely new photographic "vision."

The Pixel 9a could feature an all-new rear camera module. | Image Credit -- ShrimpApplePro on X via Facebook

Love it or hate it, the Pixel 8a's distinctive rear camera visor might be going away, making room for a much subtler, smaller, and thinner dual snapper module with a separated LED flash to the side. This would undeniably allow the Pixel 9a to be overall skinnier than its predecessor, or at least fit a bigger battery under its hood without increasing the thickness much.

Of course, we know that some of you preferred the distinction of the Pixel 8a's rear cover and how it could help you stand out from the crowd of budget 5G phone users today, in which case all you can do is hope that these photos will prove to be fake... or hang on to your Pixel 8a even after its sequel rolls out.

Could the Pixel 9a be released this year?

That... wouldn't make a lot of sense, but as odd as it sounds, it's apparently what "ShrimpApplePro" has heard from some inside sources. At the same time, the tipster, who obviously specializes primarily in Apple-related stories, admits that he personally believes a launch "as usual" at the Google I/O conference next year is far more likely.

Do you prefer the unmistakable design of the Pixel 8a? | Image Credit -- PhoneArena

All in all, we shouldn't completely rule out a Pixel 9a announcement by the end of 2024 (as farfetched as it may sound), and even though it's probably premature for such details, the handset is purportedly likely to be released in a grand total of four color options, including the pictured black hue (or dark gray), a silver paint job, and "others."

Another key detail that's perhaps even harder to predict at the moment is the Pixel 9a's price point, although we definitely hope that Google will be able to keep this thing in the (relatively) affordable realm of the 8a at no more than $500 in an entry-level configuration. If history is any indication, the Pixel 9a should share a Tensor G4 processor with the rest of the Pixel 9 family, thus improving on the raw power of its forerunner while hopefully upgrading other major components as well.

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Adrian, a mobile technology enthusiast since the Nokia 3310 era, has been a dynamic presence in the tech journalism field, contributing to Android Authority, Digital Trends, and Pocketnow before joining PhoneArena in 2018. His expertise spans across various platforms, with a particular fondness for the diversity of the Android ecosystem. Despite the challenges of balancing full-time parenthood with his work, Adrian's passion for tech trends, running, and movies keeps him energized. His commitment to mid-range smartphones has led to an eclectic collection of devices, saved from personal bankruptcy by his preference for 'adequate' over 'overpriced'.