It’s easy to forget sometimes, but Google is very, very bad at containing leaks. Like, really awful at that. Every year, we learn all there is to know about upcoming Pixel smartphones several months in advance, as well as hands-on photos.
In the past, we’ve even had prototypes actually make their way out of Google employees’ hands and getting sold on the black market. Because of this, it’s no surprise at all that the full Pixel 8 range, even the mid-range a-series version, has already leaked weeks before Google’s announcement.
Pixel 8a
First, images of what’s purported to be the Pixel 8a were shared on Twitter. The phone depicted in those images look very similar to what the standard Pixel 8 will look like once it launches, with a few differences.
As many comments on the tweet note, it has huge bezels, and the phone looks like it will even be a bit more rounded than its flagship siblings. The rear camera module also looks like it protrudes much less than in previous Pixel phones, with this one looking almost flush.
The phone, depicted in blue, has several employee-only stickers on the back, so it’s clear we’re dealing with a prototype here.
The Pixel 7a has only been out for a few months now, so it’s a bit bizarre that its successor has already leaked. We should remember that Google has always launched their a-series smartphones around Google I/O every year, a conference usually held in May, while its flagship phones release sooner, around October. Going by this, then, the Pixel 8a wouldn’t be expected to launch until May 2024, at the earliest.
It’s definitely not expected in this event: Google already spoiled what it will announce during its upcoming hardware event, and it’s just the Pixel 8, the Pixel 8 Pro, and the Pixel Watch 2.
Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro
The same leaker also showed off some pictures of the Pixel 8 and the Pixel 8 Pro. Google had already shown off the design of those phones, so there’s not much of a surprise in this regard, but we can still see both smartphones from multiple angles, as well as on multiple colors — including blue, mint green, and black in the case of the Pixel 8 Pro, as well as green, gold and black in the case of the Pixel 8.
Google previously showed a teaser for these new devices in a video, embedded below.
The base Pixel 8 is expected to have a 6.2″ 120Hz screen and run the Tensor G3 processor, while the more premium Pixel 8 pro is likely to have a 6.7″ 120Hz screen and throw in an extra camera around back, while also containing the same Tensor G3.
The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are expected to launch on October 4th. If you’re more budget conscious, though, you’ll likely have about half a year to wait for the Pixel 8a.
