Google recently launched the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold, all of which are powered by the same Tensor G4 chipset. The only thing that isn’t part of the family is the upcoming Pixel 9a, which is rumored to launch sometime between March and May of next year.
According to a new report, the Pixel 9a will also use the Tensor G4 SoC, but with an unfortunate twist. It’s paired with an Exynos 5300 modem, rather than the newer 5400 model on other Pixel 9 devices, and it runs cooler and more efficiently.
Google Pixel 8a
This means that the Pixel 9a will not have satellite connectivity, and it also means that overall network performance won’t be able to match what the other Pixel 9 models offer with the new modems. That’s the price you pay for the relatively affordable 9a.
There were rumors about this before, so the new rumor seems to “confirm” this information. One more thing to note: while the Tensor G4 chip is the same, the plastic housing is different, the Pixel 9a has a thicker and warmer, but cheaper version.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.