Google Pixel 9a: Ultimate Preview Guide

The Google Pixel 9a is the company’s upcoming mid-range handset. The Pixel 8a arrived in May 2024, so its successor is expected to follow in 2025. The ‘Pixel a’ series smartphones tend to be quite popular in the US, mainly due to their price tags. Google has been slowly raising the price tags over the year, but not by much, they’re still rather appealing purchase options.

This smartphone did start leaking out a while back, and we’re expecting the leaks to intensify in the coming months, so we’ll keep this article updated. We’ve released some information about the device, exclusively, while we’ll fill in the gaps with other rumors/leaks. With that being said, let’s see what will the Pixel 9a have to offer, shall we?

This article will be regularly updated with new information on the Google Pixel 9a (this is a preview article) — both official teasers and credible leaks, rumors, and insider claims — as it becomes available in the run-up to the release of the upcoming Android smartphone. The last update was made on March 12, 2025.

When will the Google Pixel 9a be released?

The Pixel 8a launched in May 2024, during Google I/O, and the Pixel 9a was expected to arrive around the same time next year. Emphasis on ‘was’, though. We’ve exclusively revealed that the phone will be coming sooner than expected. To be more accurate, the Pixel 9a will become available to pre-order on March 19, that’s when it will launch too. So it will arrive about two months sooner than expected. That’s in line with what happened with the Pixel 9 flagship series. The device will go on sale on March 26. Android 16 is also rumored to arrive considerably earlier than usual, by the way. Android 16 is rumored to land in Q2 2025, instead of Q4 2025, which is when we’d usually expect it.

What models are coming?

Google launched a single Pixel 8a model last year, and we’re expecting the same to happen with the Pixel 9a. While the phone will likely offer more than one storage option, a single variant will arrive. We won’t be getting a smaller and larger model or anything like that, which is what we did get in the past. In fact, it could be similar in size to the Pixel 8a too. That phone offered a 6.1-inch display, though its bezels were not as thin as the ones on flagships, so it is a bit larger than flagship smartphones with the same display size. The Pixel 9a could follow the same trend. The Pixel 8a was offered in 128GB and 256GB storage options, which is a combo Google could stick with. Well, unless the company jumps to a 256GB and 512GB storage option combo, which is not as likely.

How much will the Google Pixel 9a cost?

The Google Pixel 8a was priced at $499 at launch, and that will be the Pixel 9a’s price too. That’s something we exclusively confirmed. That will make it considerably more affordable than the Pixel 9. Also, do note that this price tag applies to the 128GB storage option of the device. A 256GB storage version is also coming, and it will be priced at $599. Those are the only two variants of the phone that will be available.

We also exclusively confirmed the price for Europe. The price tags will differ from one country to the next, do note that these are price tags for the 256GB storage option. In Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain, the phone will cost €549. In Ireland, it will be priced at €559, while it will cost £599 in the UK. The UK will also get a 128GB storage variant, that one will cost £499.

What will the Google Pixel 9a look like?

This is one detail that did leak out, a couple of times. Back in August, real-life images of the Pixel 9a popped up online. That was followed by CAD-based renders that we exclusively shared, and two prototype images that followed in December. There is a slight difference between those two designs, in the camera island area on the back. The real-life image of the phone shows a small camera bump. The CAD-based renders that we showed off show the same pill-shaped design but without the bump, or the bezel around the camera. It’s possible that the real-life image of the phone was just one of the prototypes, we cannot be sure.

We’ll get flat sides this time around

Either way, if you check out the gallery at the end of this section, you’ll get to see the design of the Pixel 9a. Google is switching the phone to flat sides all around, to make it fit with other Pixel 9 devices. The Pixel 8a had a rounded frame on the sides. The sides on the Pixel 9a are flat, but they do curve towards the edges, to make the phone more comfortable to hold. The frame will be made out of metal, of course, most probably aluminum. A flat display will be placed on the front, with a centered display camera hole. The bezels won’t be as thin as the ones on the Pixel 9 Pro series, but they’ll be thin.

There won’t be a camera bump, at all

On the back, you’ll notice a pill-shaped cutout for the two cameras and an LED flash next to it. That cutout is placed in the top-left corner of the phone’s back. Google’s logo will sit in the middle of the backplate, as per usual. All of the phone’s physical buttons will be located on the right-hand side, with the power/lock key being placed above the volume up and down buttons. It’s also worth saying that glass will be included on the back of the phone, not plastic. The device itself is expected to be similar in terms of size to the Pixel 8a, though we’re still not sure about that.

It’s coming in four color options

The Google Pixel 9a will launch in four colors. We’ve exclusively revealed those colors, and they are Iris, Obsidian, Peony, and Porcelain. On top of that, we’ve also showed you renders of the phone in all colors (gallery below), while a hands-on video surfaced too. All of you are more than familiar with Obsidian and Porcelain colors thus far. In other words, those are black and white colors we’ve seen on a number of Pixels up to this point. The Peony color will be similar to the Peony Pixel 9, while the Iris color will be a bluish-purple option. Quite a few images of that purple color are shared below. The phone even appeared in a video format.

The exact dimensions of the Pixel 9a have also been revealed. According to OnLeaks, the phone will measure 154.7 x 73.2 x 8.9mm (9.4mm including the camera bump). So the phone won’t be completely without the camera bump after all. It will have a larger display than its predecessor, though, a 6.3-inch panel. The phone will weigh 186 grams, which is a couple of grams lighter than the Pixel 8a.

Real-life image:

CAD-based renders:

Design in all colors:

More images of the phone

Official cases

The phone’s official cases have surfaced as well. You can check them out in the gallery below. The same case comes in a range of colors, including white, purple, black, and pink. Google will have special names of these cases, of course. If you’ve used Google’s cases in the recent past, for one of the company’s phones, you’ll be right at home here We’re guessing that these cases will cost around $30, as that is the price tag for the Pixel 9 series cases.

What specs will the Google Pixel 9a have?

What about the phone’s specs? That used to be somewhat of a mystery before we exclusively shared a detailed spec sheet of the device. The Pixel 9a will be inferior to its Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold siblings, but it will also be notably more affordable, so… there you go. In any case, let’s see what the phone will have to offer, shall we. We’ll talk about the specs in the coming paragraphs, while you can check out all the necessary details in the gallery at the end of this section.

It will use the same chip as the flagship Pixel 9 series

In addition to the Tensor G4 chip, the Pixel 9a will have somewhat similar specs as its predecessor. Its display will be a bit bigger at 6.3 inches, though. That display will be a flat OLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate (60-120Hz adaptive). Google will use 8GB of LPDDR5X RAM inside the phone, and offer at least two storage options. We know that 128GB and 256GB UFS 3.1 storage variants are coming, as we’ve confirmed it. Storage expansion will not be on offer, however.

The phone’s battery will be notably larger than it was in the Pixel 8a. The Pixel 8a includes a 4,492mAh battery, while the new model will feature a 5,000mAh battery pack. Both wired and wireless charging will be on offer. To be exact, 18W wired and 7.5W wireless charging will be offered. The Pixel 9a will offer an official IP rating for water and dust resistance, stereo speakers, and ship with either Android 15 or Android 16 out of the box. Android 16 is rumored to arrive as early as Q2 2025, so… we’ll see.

Google is ditching a 64-megapixel camera

We have also exclusively confirmed that the phone will feature a 48-megapixel main camera. Google is ditching a 64-megapixel camera for a 48-megapixel one, but a better camera overall. The ultrawide unit will remain the same, Google will use a 13-megapixel camera. That 48-megapixel unit will have an f/1.7 aperture lens and an 82-degree FoV. Google will use a 1/2.0-inch camera sensor. A 13-megapixel ultrawide camera will offer an f/2.2 aperture lens, and utilize a 1/3.1-inch sensor size.

Satellite connectivity could also be a part of the offering, based on the phone’s FCC listing. The phone will measure 154.7 x 73.3 x 8.9mm, while it will weigh 185.9 grams. It will get 7 years of OS, security, and Pixel Feature Drop updates.

Should you wait to buy the Google Pixel 9a?

At this point in time we’re still far away from the Pixel 9a launch. That phone won’t be a monumental upgrade for the Pixel 8a. So, if you need a phone right away, getting the Pixel 8a may not be a bad idea. Of course, if you can afford it, going for the Pixel 9 is a good way to go too, of course. If you’re on a limited budget, the Pixel 8a is a great smartphone for $499, that’s for sure. We’ve enjoyed using it, and the vast majority of people will be happy with its performance. The Google Pixel 9a is still quite some time away. Many of its details are still under wraps, so who knows, the phone could yet surprise us. At this point in time, however, the Pixel 8a is a solid buy.

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