Google Pixel 9a launch was delayed due to quality issue

Google officially unveiled the Pixel 9a today, but the mid-range smartphone can’t be ordered yet. Instead, the Pixel 9a is expected to become available in April. This is rather unexpected, as Google typically accepts pre-orders for new Pixel models right after their announcement. According to The Verge, Google has now confirmed that the Pixel 9a was actually supposed to ship this month.

However, the company has discovered a quality issue with a certain component of the smartphone, which supposedly affected a small number of Pixel 9a units that have already been produced. Google has not specified which exact component was the culprit, or how many devices were found to be defective. In addition to the delayed launch, the quality issue also means that test samples will be sent out later than expected. No Pixel 9a phones have been sent out to journalists yet, so it will probably be some time before the first reviews are published.

The Google Pixel 9a is positioned as a cheaper alternative to the Pixel 9, which currently retails for $639 on Amazon. The "budget Pixel" uses the same 6.3-inch 120Hz OLED display with a peak brightness of 2,700 nits and the Google Tensor G4 ARM chipset. The Pixel 9a's battery is even slightly larger at 5,100mAh. Google advertises seven years of OS software updates and a waterproof chassis. There are a few downgrades regarding the cameras, as the Pixel 9a sports a 48 MP f/1.7 main camera with a smaller 1/2 inch sensor and a 13 MP f/2.2 selfie camera with a 1/3.1 inch sensor.