Updated March 18
• Leaked Pixel 9a benchmarks have surfaced.
• A video claiming to show off the Pixel 9a gives us a look at potential specs and design.
• A Pixel 9a appeared at a wrestling event, giving us a look at the phone's camera app.
We're used to seeing a new version of Google's Pixel A phone every spring, usually around the company's developer conference in May. But it sounds like Google has different plans for the Pixel 9a this year.
Whether it's because of stepped-up competition among the best cheap phones or Apple's February release of a lower-cost phone of its own, all signs point to an earlier-than-usual arrival for the Pixel 9a. And that helps explains all the leaks — including alleged photos and videos of the new phone — that have been popping up lately.
We won't know for sure what Google has planned for the Pixel 9a and how it improves upon the already impressive Pixel 8a until the phone maker formerly unveils its latest midrange model. But all those rumors — plus Google's track record of borrowing features from the flagship devices it released the previous fall — can give us a pretty detailed picture of what to expect.
Here’s everything we know so far about the Pixel 9a.
Google Pixel 9a: Rumored release date and price
Last year, the Pixel 8a arrived just ahead of Google I/O in May, while the previous two Pixel A models were announced at the developers event itself. But you probably won't have to wait for Google I/O 2025 on May 20 for this year's Pixel A model — at least if a rumor about Google's release plans pans out.
Earlier this year, Android Headlines reported a mid-March launch for the Pixel 9a. Specifically, the site said that pre-orders would begin March 19, which means the Pixel 9a could arrive as soon as this week.
Even more significantly, that an Android Headlines story from October claims that Google plans to permanently shift its release schedule, with future A series phones coming out earlier in the spring.
As for price, remember that Google raised prices on the Pixel 9 last fall, which has stoked some fears that a price hike is in the works for the company's budget phone. However, other rumors suggest that won't happen with the Pixel 9a.
A report back in January suggested that the new phone will cost the same $499 as the Pixel 8a, with more recent price leaks also suggesting a $499 starting price for the 128GB version, plus a $599 256GB model.
If Google does keep the price unchanged from the Pixel 8a, it'll be a big win for the Pixel 9a right out of the gate. Apple's iPhone 16e just debuted, but it costs $179 more than the iPhone SE model it replaces. That would give Google a price win in any Pixel 9a vs. iPhone 16e comparison before any other features are brought up.
Google Pixel 9a: Rumored specs
Google Pixel 9a: Design and display rumors
While the Pixel 9a should retain the basic design of recent Pixel A series phones, we're expecting one big change based on initial reports and later backed up by leaked renders — the new phone looks like it's going to lose the iconic camera bar that’s been part of the design since the Pixel 6.
On the Pixel 8a, the camera bar stretches across the phone horizontally, with the two camera lenses housed within. But leaked Pixel 9a renders show off a pill-shaped camera array on the phone's back that is tucked into the upper left corner.
Subsequent renders posted by leaker Evan Blass also show the Pixel 9a sans camera bar. Since Blass has a strong reputation for accurate leaks, it's safe to assume that Google is going through with this change.
There's another potential change. A leaked hands-on video claiming to show off the Pixel 9a suggests flatter sides are coming to the new phone. Another leaked video shows off a similar design while highlighting the phone's alleged specs and features.
Leaked specs from last fall point to a bigger screen for the Pixel 9a. The 6.1-inch panel on the Pixel 8a is set to expand to 6.3 inches on the follow-up model. That also means new dimensions for the Pixel 9a — 152.1 x 72.7 x 8.9mm, according to that same report. In other words, the Pixel 9a would a little taller and a touch thinner than the Pixel 8a.
As for Pixel 9a colors, leaks claim that the phone will come in Porcelain, Obsidian, Peony and Iris. That’s black, white, pink and blueish-purple in less flowery terms. A more recent leak backs up those color options
Google Pixel 9a camera rumors
All those Pixel 9a renders suggest Google is sticking with a two-lens setup for the rear cameras — an interesting decision in light of the arrival of the Nothing Phone 3a and Nothing Phone 3a Pro. Those two devices feature dedicated telephoto lenses, and they both cost less than the current Pixel 8a.
Nevertheless, we're expecting to see a main camera and an ultrawide shooter on the Pixel 9a, as we've seen on previous models. The main camera could be changing, though, with leaked Pixel 9a specs pointing to a 48MP main camera. That's a reduction in pixels from the 64MP sensor used by the Pixel 8a. But separate reports claim that it's set to be the same main camera sensor used by the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, so we could see some sharper pictures anyhow from the Pixel 9a.
Other rumored camera specs for the Pixel 9a include a 13MP ultrawide lens with a 120-degree field of view, plus a 13MP front camera.
It's not the biggest scoop in the world, but images claiming to show off the Pixel 9a at a lucha libre wrestling event have popped up online. In addition to confirming some of the rumored design changes, the photos also depict the Pixel 9a's Camera app interface.
Google Pixel 9a: Performance and AI
One rumor that seems like a pretty safe bet is the silicon Google will use in the Pixel 9a. Typically, it's the same system-on-chip powering Google's current flagships, which would mean the Tensor G4 from the Pixel 9 series makes its way to the Pixel 9a.
There could be a minor catch with the Pixel 9a silicon, though. While the processing grunt is expected to be the same, it won’t use the same Exynos Modem 5400, instead opting for the 5300 seen on the Pixel 8 series.
That’s likely a cost-saving exercise that’ll be invisible to most users, but given the 5400 is what powers the Pixel 9’s Satelite SOS feature, it means that the Pixel 9a will likely lose that potential lifesaver.
A Tensor G4 chip inside the Pixel 9a would mean the phone would support potentially all of the same AI features found on the Pixel 9 flagships. Those additions included a Screenshot app for searching the content of screenshots stored on your phone, an Add Me photo-editing tool that places the photographer into group shots, and Pixel Studio for generative image creation.
A leak from back in December claimed Google would turn to a 5,100 mAh battery for the Pixel 9a, which would be quite an upgrade from the 4,492mAh cell in the Pixel 8a. Hopefully, that improves the new phone's battery life, as the Pixel 8a was only a little better than average time that smartphones record on our battery test.
Google's Pixel phones are not necessarily known for blazing performance, and leaked benchmarks allegedly showing off the Pixel 9a indicate underwhelming numbers in the Geekbench test measuring CPU performance. However, such results for unreleased phones are notoriously unreliable, as they may not represent the shipping version of the device.
Google Pixel 9a: Outlook
If the rumored mid-March launch date is true, we're about to see the rubber meet the road with Pixel 9a rumors. And that's when we'll find out just how accurate a picture all these Pixel 9a leaks have painted.
With the latest Nothing phones offering a cheaper option on one end and the more expensive iPhone 16e trying to match Google's AI capabilities on the other, the stakes are pretty high for the Pixel 9a. We're very interested to see how Google responds.
