The Google Pixel 9 series was launched a while back in August 2024, a couple of months ahead of their schedule. To match this new schedule, Google is also going to release the Pixel 9a a couple of months earlier, in March 2025. The Pixel “A” series has always launched a few months after the standard series’ launch.
So, as we inch closer to the Pixel 9a, new leaks continue to drop. Recently, the phone’s design and dimensions were leaked. In those, we saw the phone was going to get a redesign. That is going to be a significant change from its predecessor.
Coming to the processor, it’s going to be the same as the other Pixel 9 series device, the Tensor G4. Google has been giving the same processor as their flagships since the Pixel 6a, which is going to be unchanged.
Pixel 9a camera details
The camera, however, is another aspect of the design that is going to see a noticeable change, at least hardware-wise. According to a report at Android Headlines, the Google Pixel 9a might feature a 48MP main sensor. This is the same sensor Google uses in the Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
If we get into the technicalities of the sensor, it’s a 48MP 1/2″ Sony IMX 787 sensor with an aperture of f/1.7. For comparison, the Pixel 8a (as well as the Pixel 7a) has the same IMX 787, but it’s 64MP, 1/1.73″ sensor with an aperture of f/1.89. Although the megapixels and sensor size are downgraded on paper, the larger aperture can help with the output. The 13MP ultrawide camera and selfie camera are said to remain unchanged from the Pixel 8a.
To sum up all that information overload. Some aspects of the main camera hardware are downgraded, while others are upgraded. The final image output will also likely be an upgrade due to improved software processing and a better Image Signal Processor (ISP) of the Tensor G4 chipset.
However, the drop in sensor size will result in worse digital crops and worse images in low light. Recovering detail with AI and software will not look natural or eye-pleasing. For the first time ever, we’re seeing Google downgrade the main sensor size on the Pixel A series phones.
It’s possible that they want to save costs, and they could upgrade other aspects of the phone. If they drop the price a bit and provide a much better cooling system, this might as well be a worthy tradeoff. Meanwhile, the main Pixel 10 series could move to newer 1/1.12″ sensors and could get TSMC-made chips, too.
