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Leaked images suggest the new Pixel 9a will ditch the camera island for a sleeker look

Kerry Wan/ZDNET

A number of renders of Google's rumored upcoming Pixel 9a phone recently surfaced online. The images come from well-known tech leaker OnLeaks, who shared his findings with news site Android Headlines.

Also: The Google Pixel phone I recommend to most people isn't a flagship (and it's $200 off)

Before we dive deep into the renderings and see what they show,

These renderings show an early build of it could Be that Pixel 9a, so take it with caution. Leaked details on unreleased products are subject to change at any time. Still, the prototype of the phone in these images is quite interesting.

A particularly notable change: The prominent camera bar is no longer present on the other Pixel 9 models. Instead, the rear lenses sit almost flush with the back of the phone and are surrounded by a small ring. Next to the ring is the flash lamp.

Android Headlines claims that the Pixel 9a inherits the same camera layout as the standard Pixel 9 smartphone. The 50-megapixel wide-angle lens sits alongside a 48-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera, and the high-end models don't have the telephoto option.

The touchscreen doesn't appear to be any different from that of the Pixel 9; It still has a distinctive frame around the glass and a hole in the middle for the selfie camera. Hardware specifications were not included in the leak; However, Android Headlines expects the mid-range to be similar to the Pixel 8a that launched earlier this year.

Hardware specifications were not included in the leak. However, Android Headlines expects the mid-range to be similar to the Pixel 8a as it could also have a 6.1-inch display, 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. The publication speculates that the smartphone will be equipped with the Tensor G4 chipset like the other Pixel 9 models and have a larger battery.

It's also possible that the Pixel 9a will launch with Android 15. The next version of the Android operating system – not yet released – is expected to launch on October 15th. Finally, Android Headlines states that the upcoming phone may be the last to use “a Samsung-developed processor.”

Also: Google Pixel 9 Pro XL vs. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: I tested both and the winner isn't so obvious

Back in May 2024, Android Authority found information in a “publicly available commercial database” that suggested next year's Pixel 10 series will feature a Tensor G5 processor made by chipmaker TSMC, without Samsung contributed to this. Whether this means the next generation of Pixel phones will see a significant increase in performance remains to be seen.

It is unknown when the Pixel 9a will be released. But if history repeats itself, we could see a May 2025 release. The Pixel 7a and Pixel 8a launched in May 2023 and May 2024, respectively.

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