Google’s Pixel 9A seems destined to ditch the camera bar

There have already been renders of Google’s as-yet-unannounced Pixel 9A and a taste of the real world. Now we’re taking another look at an early prototype of Google’s next mid-range phone. The

These latest images are further evidence that Google wants to ditch the camera bar on the 9A – a visual hallmark of the newer Pixels – and instead want the camera to be flush with the back of the phone. This is a bit surprising, but Google’s Claude Zellweger told us back in August that designers would likely re-evaluate the ratio of camera hardware to phone hardware thanks to advances in computational photography.

The Pixel A series could be the ideal phone for Google to test whether it can make do with a smaller sensor and camera body without sacrificing too much in image quality. It’s logical to expect the company’s very best photography features from the flagship models, but as my colleague Allison Johnson can attest, “pretty good” is often enough for the mid-range Pixel. However, this phone looks rather boring as is, so hopefully Google will give us a good selection of colors.

Rumor has it that the 9A will feature a larger 6.3-inch display with a maximum refresh rate of 120Hz and the same Tensor G4 used in the Pixel 9, 9 Pro and 9 Pro Fold. However, there have also been reports that Google will be using an older modem, which would be a shame since the Pixel 9 series has really made strides in cellular performance this year.