Google explored multiple Pixel 9a designs - check them out here

Google’s latest affordable smartphone, the Pixel 9a, recently arrived, sporting a noticeable design shift, especially around the back. While the final look retains somewhat of a familiar Pixel feel, it turns out Google tinkered with several different approaches for the camera setup before landing on the final version.

In a recent blog post, Google peeled back the curtain on the Pixel 9a’s creation. Soniya Jobanputra, a product management director for Pixel, mentioned the goal was to make the 9a its “own device but still feel like a Pixel,” describing it less like a “little brother or sister” and more like a “cousin to our incredible premium devices.” This involved moving away from the signature full-width camera bar seen on previous models.

To achieve the new look, the design team explored various shapes and forms for the rear camera bump. Google shared an image showcasing some of these early “shape studies.” The explorations focused not just on aesthetics but also on practical aspects like how well certain shapes could handle drops and impacts.

Looking at the shared concepts, one design featured a camera bump stretching nearly across the phone’s width, somewhat echoing the style of the premium Pixel 9 and 9 Pro, just without the raised bar. Another concept showed a vertical pill shape, which some might say bears a slight resemblance to the camera layout on recent iPhones.

Ultimately, Google settled on the minimalist, slightly domed pill shape we see on the final Pixel 9a. Industrial designer Yomi Matsuoka noted this design allows the phone to sit flat and slide easily into pockets. The team felt this simpler, nearly flat back better matched the phone’s intended “playful, approachable and family-friendly” personality.

This design tweak also tied into other internal changes. By using a thinner plastic OLED (pOLED) display, Google freed up space inside for a larger battery and could position the camera components lower, further minimizing the bump’s profile. It seems Google went through quite the process to refine the Pixel 9a’s appearance before it hit the shelves.