Most of the headline acts on Stuff’s upcoming smartphones list are full-on flagships that promise unbeatable performance and killer cameras – but will also come with a wallet-punishing price. The Google Pixel 9a could be the affordable alternative: a more modest mid-ranger that can still take a stunning snap, and has enough oomph to go big on the phone world’s favourite new toy, generative AI.

With the Pixel 8a having been with us almost six months, and the Pixel 9 series out in the wild, it’s time to think about what we can expect from a Pixel 9a. From hardware and software to pricing and release date, here’s all the info that has leaked so far – plus a healthy dose of speculation – to tide you over until Google makes things official.