Back in August, we reported on alleged photos of Google’s upcoming mid-range smartphone, the Google Pixel 9a, that have been leaked online. Now, what seems to be the full specs sheet of the smartphone has also been revealed, according to a report by Android Headlines.
Said to be sourced from a US wireless carrier and further confirmed by a second source, Android Headlines is confident that the details listed in the specs sheet are rather solid.
The Pixel 9a will indeed sport a fresh new design
As per our previous report on the Google Pixel 9a, it’s expected to look nothing like other previously released Pixel smartphones. This includes the Pixel 8a and the flagship Pixel 9 devices.
Past A-series Pixel smartphones, from the Pixel 3a to the Pixel 8a, all shared the same design with their respective flagship counterparts, but it seems like Google is changing strategy for its upcoming mid-range model this time.
The specs sheet states that the Google Pixel 9a will feature a body made of metal midframe and AnoFrame, along with a composite matte finish on its back – possibly a combination of metal and aluminium?
In terms of dimensions, the Pixel 9a is claimed to measure 154.7mm in length, 73.3mm in width, and 8.9mm in thickness, while weighing 185.9g. This essentially makes it slightly larger than the Pixel 8a in terms of length and width.
So, don’t expect to be able to reuse the Pixel 8a’s case on the Pixel 9a. Colour options have also been detailed, which include Obsidian, Porcelain, Iris, and Peony.
Google Pixel 9a to come with a 6.285-inch 120Hz display, Tensor G4 chip, and a 48MP camera
At the front, the Google Pixel 9a sports a 6.285-inch 120Hz FHD+ Actua display, laid out in a 20:9 aspect ratio, with a resolution of 2424 x 1080 pixels. Unlike the Super Actua panels on the flagship Pixel 9 series, this is not an LTPO panel, which means its refresh rate can’t be lowered down to, let’s say 1Hz, to save power.
Anyhow, the Pixel 9a’s display is reported to have a peak brightness of 2,700 nits, and 1,800 nits when displaying HDR content, and is shielded by Gorilla Glass 3.
Powering the Google Pixel 9a is the brand’s latest Tensor G4 chipset, which also powers the flagship Pixel 9 models. In the case of the Pixel 9a, the SoC is mated to 8GB of LPDDR5X RAM and can be had with either 128GB or 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage.
Camera-wise, the Google Pixel 9a is stated to sport a dual rear camera setup. This includes a 48MP f/1.7 GN8 Dual Pixel primary shooter with OIS and a 13MP f/2.2 ultrawide camera with Sony’s IMX712 sensor. Its selfie shooter also shares the same camera module as the ultrawide unit.
In terms of battery, the Pixel 9a is equipped with a 5,100mAh battery, which is 13% larger than the 4,492mAh cell found in the Pixel 8a. It now charges faster too, at 23W via USB-C. However, its wireless charging speed remains at 7.5W. There’s no support for the Qi2 standard.
The Google Pixel 9a is protected against water and dust as it’s rated at IP68. As expected, the Pixel 9a is said to be launching with Google’s latest smartphone OS – Android 15. Users can also expect to receive up to 7 years of OS and security updates from Google for this device.
Android Headline’s sources even included the prices for the Pixel 9a, at least for the US market. The 128GB model is said to cost USD499 (~RM2,214), while the mmWave model will cost slightly more at USD549 (~RM2,436) and is said to be available exclusively via Verizon.
When is the Google Pixel 9a launching?
For context, the Pixel 8a made its launch in May this year (2024), therefore it’s fair to assume that the Pixel 9a will launch exactly a year later. However, Android Headlines’ sources suggest that the phone may make its global debut sooner than expected, specifically in mid-March, 2025.
That will also be months before Google is expected to hold its 2025 I/O event sometime in the month of May.
What about Malaysia? Is the Pixel 9a coming here?
Well, the short answer is, most probably yes. The specs sheet has listed the markets the Pixel 9a will be offered in, although Malaysia is not expected to be among the first markets to receive the device.
Still, we can expect the phone to make its launch in our country as the first mid-range Google smartphone. Currently, the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, and Pixel 9 Pro XL are currently the only Google smartphones officially sold in Malaysia.
Google Pixel 9a “leaked” specs sheet
