Google Pixel 9A to come with old modem, rumor says

The buzz around the upcoming Google Pixel 9a is heating up. We recently saw leaked images hinting at removed camera bar and a refreshing boxy design, but one detail might put a damper on the excitement: the mid-range Pixel could feature an older modem. While the Pixel 9a is expected to run on the new Tensor G4 chip, it’s rumored to be paired with Samsung’s Exynos 5300 modem, the same one used in last year’s Pixel 8 series. This news has some Pixel fans raising their eyebrows, especially since the Pixel 9 series introduced the more advanced Exynos 5400 with better download speeds and satellite connectivity.

Pixel 9a fans were hoping for the same connectivity improvements seen in the Pixel 9, which addressed past complaints of spotty cellular and Wi-Fi signals​. But instead, the Pixel 9a will stick to the older modem, and while that may help keep costs down, it could come at the expense of the device’s performance, particularly in areas like power efficiency and network reliability.

Interestingly, the Pixel 9a will continue to use a less advanced packaging method for the Tensor G4 chip known as Integrated Package on Package (IPoP). This method, though cost-effective, is bulkier and runs hotter than the fan-out wafer-level packaging used in the Pixel 9 which excels in heat management and power efficiency​. That means we could see the Pixel 9a run a bit warmer during heavy tasks, but it’s expected to still deliver solid AI performance, including Gemini Nano with multimodal capabilities, which powers Google’s growing AI features.

The use of the Exynos 5300 modem also dashes any hopes for Satellite SOS on the Pixel 9a, a feature Google is offering on its premium Pixel 9 models. While it would’ve been a great addition, Satellite SOS is likely reserved to differentiate the flagship from its budget sibling, with the premium series even offering two years of service from launch.

On the flip side, Google could have saved some money by trimming features like the number of supported OS updates — dropping from 7 years to 5 would have been a reasonable compromise. Instead, the decision to keep the outdated modem might be a dealbreaker for some, especially considering how much the new modem improved cellular connectivity.

Still, the Pixel 9a might surprise us, and there’s hope that Google could bump up the RAM to 12GB, which would be impressive for a budget device. The A-series has always been about giving just enough of the flagship experience without breaking the bank, but this time, Google may be walking a fine line between cutting corners and keeping users happy.