Among the similar-looking black rectangular boards, Google's Pixel series has stood out in recent years for the thick raised bars that cover the back of the handset to accommodate the phone's superior camera; first introduced on the Pixel 6 in 2021, it has since been used on the lower-priced “a” series (recently Pixel 8a), it has been used in all Google devices, including.

Recent rumors suggested that this iconic design feature may be discontinued on the upcoming Pixel 9a, and now actual leaked information seems to confirm this.

As can be seen from the images above, the long camera rubber has been replaced with a more traditional oval projection, and like the previous model, it appears to feature two lenses. While the number of lenses remains the same, the camera specs have regressed slightly from the Pixel 8a, suggesting that the 64MP main camera will drop to 48MP. [We haven't heard much from this leaker, but last year's Oppo Find X6 rumors were mostly correct (though the promised Dimensity Pro variant never appeared).

It is unclear where this image came from (@feni_book only captioned it “Google Pixel 9a leaked”), but it certainly has all the signs of a prototype, right down to the Google “G” replacement logo and the intricate pattern underneath. These are usually included to identify individual prototypes as inhibitors of leaks (although obviously not working here).

A sticker on the back notes “For Internal Testing and Development Only,” and another sticker includes the acronym “EVT” - which usually stands for “Engineering Verification Testing.”

Android Authority also took the liberty of looking up the IMEI number on the back and confirmed that it is indeed a Google device with the GTF7P model number. It is unclear if this is the final code, but it is not dissimilar to the Pixel 8a model numbers (G8HHN, G576D, G6GPR).

We expect the Pixel 9a to arrive at some point in 2025; you might expect its debut at Google I/O in May, but rumors suggest that Google is about to change its traditional release schedule, so as early as March The device could be in the hands of early adopters. The mid-range device will likely feature the Tensor G4 chipset, 8GB RAM, 128/256GB storage, and a 5,000mAh battery.