Fresh details about Google’s next affordable A-series smartphone have surfaced, offering an early look at its expected hardware and design. A new leak suggests the Google Pixel 11a could arrive with several upgrades, including a new Tensor processor, a brighter display, improved Face Unlock, and a MediaTek modem.
According to the leak, the Pixel 11a, internally codenamed Formosan, is expected to be powered by Google’s upcoming Tensor G6 chipset, codenamed Malibu, along with the Titan M3 security chip used in previous Pixel devices.
The smartphone is tipped to feature a 6.3-inch display with a 1,080 x 2,424 pixels resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. The display is expected to offer 2,250 nits HDR brightness and a peak brightness of 3,350 nits, making it brighter than the Pixel 10a, which reaches 3,000 nits peak brightness.
One of the biggest reported changes is the shift from Samsung’s Exynos modem to the MediaTek M90 modem. The new modem is expected to improve connectivity, network stability, and thermal performance. It is also rumoured to power the rest of the Pixel 11 lineup.
For photography, the Pixel 11a is expected to feature a new front-facing camera sensor, internally called “dokkaebi”, with improvements in selfie quality and video calls. The leak also claims Google has upgraded the Face Unlock feature on the Pixel 11 series, making it faster, more secure, and more accurate in low-light conditions. Details about the rear cameras have not yet been revealed, although Google is expected to continue relying on its computational photography technology.
The handset is also tipped to include 8GB RAM and a 4,870mAh battery. It may launch in Obsidian (Black), Olive (Green), Frost (Purple), and Fog (Silver) colour options.
Previous reports suggest the Pixel 11 series could debut around August 2026, while the Pixel 11a is expected to launch around March 2027. Google has not officially confirmed the launch timeline.
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