With the Pixel 9A leaks thick and fast, we have a reasonably good idea of what Google’s next mid-range phone will look like and it has made me feel a bit underwhelmed.
In the past few days, hands-on video images have been leaked (via Shane Craig) from the Google Pixel 9a that is handled. Together with earlier leaked views and specifications, the Pixel 9a is already a well -known quantity.
However, it is not the lack of novelty, which made me feel a bit flat for the rumors of the Pixel 9a, unveiling of March 19.
Feel a little flat
From the appearance, the Pixel 9a will throw away the vaulted design language of the Pixel 8a for slightly more in line with the Pixel 9. That is all predictable enough, because it belongs to the same family.
However, I had a bit of a problem with the way the Pixel 9 range looks like, as you can see in my Pixel 9 Pro XL review. I realize that I am a bit of a good one with technical reviewers, but I was downright disappointed by the new design language of Google.
Yes, the new flattened appearance that the Pixel 9a will also accept looks and feels more leaning, tighter and more modern than the Pixel 8 family. These are more premium phones, which are worth preaching.
However, they also look a lot of generic, with a lack of the clear taste that previous pixel telephones had begun to show. To be perfect, they look a lot like iPhones.
In defense, the rest of the Pixel 9 series uses premium materials with tighter tolerances than before. Because of this Pixel 9A, however, the new phone leaks, if there is something, more plasticky than the previous pixel 8a. Especially in this recommended black color that looks somehow as a knock-off pixel.
That is not where the disappointment ends, also …
Shane Craig
Tech visor
There was one striking design function that saved the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL from the entire ME-Too effect. All characteristic distinctive cameramodules that look very different from something else.
No, it is not the width-tensioning visors from previous generations, which melted seductively in the side frame. But they do make the explanation, literally striking from the rest of the phone.
They also supplied a handy ledge for the underneath to support a persistent finger, which minimizes slips.
The problem is that this distinctive design element is completely absent in the Pixel 9a. Unless all these leaks are far away (possibly, but very unlikely), the cameras of the Pixel 9a will be almost the same with the body, without a sign of that distinctive metal flash, but the rear glass in the context of the rear glass.
Chris Martin / Foundry
View the difference
In short, the Pixel 9a looks even more like an iPhone than its big brothers in the Pixel 9 family.
In this case that means the recently announced iPhone 16th with its Pared-back single camera element. Unnecessary to say that the iPhone 16th is the most important competitor of Pixel 9A in the middle class smartphone market together with the Samsung Galaxy A56, which seems to be pretty stylish based on leaks.
Is this an unfortunate parallel, or is it in design from Google? It is impossible to say, but it is a strange decision that makes the Pixel 9a a much less distinctive proposition, anyway, how you cut it.
