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The phone in the October 9, 2023 leak was the Google Pixel 8a—not the Pixel 9 flagship line. The report showed early renders of a device reportedly codenamed “akita,” offering a preview of its exterior but not a confirmed specification sheet. Its design clues were more substantial than its predictions about price, display, or launch timing.
Which Google phone leaked?
The report identified the device as the Pixel 8a, the expected successor to the Pixel 7a. It appeared less than a week after Google introduced the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, while the 8a was still months from its expected launch. The report attributed the renders to @OnLeaks and said the design aligned with an earlier Pixel 8a leak. Droid Life’s original report is dated October 9, 2023.
“Google’s 2024 phone” is an imprecise label: Google released more than one Pixel phone during 2024. In the original October 2023 context, the leak concerned the next A-series model, not the forthcoming Pixel 9 flagship generation. It is best understood today as a historical design leak, not breaking news.
What the early renders showed
The leak was principally about industrial design. Its images and accompanying description showed or suggested:
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- 6.1" OLED 428PPI, 1080x2400px, 120Hz, HDR10+, Bluetooth 5.3, 4492mAh Battery, Android 14
- 128GB 8GB RAM, Octa-core, Google Tensor G3 (4nm), Nona-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X3 & 4x2.45 GHz Cortex-A715 & 4x2.15 GHz Cortex-A510), Immortalis-G715s MC10 GPU
- Rear Camera: 64MP, f/1.9 (wide) + 13MP, f/2.2 (ultrawide), Front Camera: 13MP, f/2.2
- 3G: HSDPA 800/850/900/1700(AWS)/1900/2100, 4G LTE: 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/14/17/20/25/26/28/29/30/38/41/48/66/71, 5G: 1/2/3/5/7/8/12/20/25/26/28/29/30/38/41/48/66/70/71/77/78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Nano-SIM and eSIM
- Unlocked for freedom to choose your carrier. Compatible with both GSM & CDMA networks. The phone is unlocked to work with all GSM Carriers & CDMA Carriers Including AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, Sprint., Etc.
- A rounded body with a rose-colored finish in the renders.
- A slimmer-looking camera bar than the Pixel 8 series.
- A centered punch-hole selfie camera and a visible lower display chin.
- Two rear camera openings and a flash, with no third camera or Pixel 8 Pro-style temperature sensor visible.
- A USB-C port and a physical SIM tray.
These are render observations, not proof of every final retail detail. In particular, the absence of a temperature sensor from an image only means it was not visible there; it does not establish the final hardware. Render colors can also differ from sale colors, and a camera opening says nothing conclusive about sensor specifications or image quality.
What dimensions did the leak claim?
The report gave dimensions of 152.1 × 72.6 × 8.9 mm and described them as nearly identical to the Pixel 7a. Those figures were claims in the October 2023 leak, not measurements independently established by the images. Accessory-related information can offer a useful early indication of a device’s physical footprint, since accessories depend on fit, but it does not guarantee final dimensions or every exterior detail.
Rank #2
- Meet Google Pixel 8a, the Google AI phone; with the incredible Pixel Camera and top-rated security features to help protect your data[1]
- Unlocked Android 5G smartphone gives you the flexibility to change carriers and choose your own data plan[2]; it works with Google Fi, Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T, and other major carriers
- The Pixel Camera gives you amazing photo and video quality; Google AI helps you create perfect group shots with Best Take and fix blurry images with Photo Unblur[3]
- The 6.1-inch Pixel 8a Actua display is even brighter and more vibrant; it’s fast and responsive for smoother scrolling, video streaming, and switching between apps on your phone[4]
- Google AI helps with everyday tasks; search anything right from the app you’re in, just by drawing a circle around an image, text, or video[5]; get a summary of emails and brainstorm ideas with Gemini[6]; and avoid spammers with Call Assist[7]
What was speculation, not a leaked specification?
The report moved beyond visible design details to make forecasts based on earlier A-series phones. It suggested an OLED display, floated a 90Hz refresh rate, expected a price around $499 based on the Pixel 7a’s cited price, and anticipated an early-May launch based on the prior model’s timing. These were expectations, not Google-confirmed Pixel 8a specifications.
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|---|---|
| Design | Early renders showed the exterior features described above. |
| Dimensions | The leak claimed 152.1 × 72.6 × 8.9 mm. |
| Display refresh rate | 90Hz was a prediction, not a confirmed specification. |
| Price | Around $499 was an expectation drawn from the Pixel 7a’s cited price, not a confirmed Pixel 8a price. |
| Launch timing | Early May was an estimate based on the previous A-series release pattern. |
| Processor, cameras, battery, and storage | The early renders did not establish these specifications. |
That distinction matters to anyone making a buying decision: the leak offered little basis for judging performance, camera capability, battery life, storage choices, or software support. Google’s U.S. Pixel 8a product page is the relevant official destination for product details and availability, which can vary by region and change over time.
Rank #3
- Google Pixel 8a designed with a 6.1-inch Actua OLED display, delivering improved brightness, enhanced outdoor visibility, and smoother color rendering in a compact and lightweight form factor.
How credible was the leak?
Credibility depends on which claim is being evaluated. The report’s attribution to @OnLeaks and its stated alignment with an earlier Pixel 8a leak supported treating the broad design as a meaningful preview. The renders also made the physical layout easier to assess than features hidden inside the phone. But the report did not establish a complete product specification, and its refresh-rate, price, and timing forecasts relied on precedent rather than confirmation.
- Most useful evidence: the broad design, camera layout, port placement, and reported dimensions.
- Less certain: exact dimensions and color, since renders and early accessory information can change before production.
- Not established by the renders: display refresh rate, processor, camera sensors, battery, storage, price, and release schedule.
What the leak did—and did not—tell readers
The leak gave Pixel watchers an early look at the Pixel 8a’s likely shape and family resemblance to the Pixel 8, along with a useful set of physical clues. It did not amount to “Google’s entire 2024 phone” leaking: the reported material was primarily an exterior-design preview, while the details that most affect a purchase remained outside what the renders could show.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 6.7" LTPO OLED 489PPI, 1344x2992px, 120Hz, HDR10+, Bluetooth 5.3, 5050mAh Battery, Android 14
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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