The Pixel 9a looks a little different from last year’s Pixel 8a. The corners aren’t as rounded and instead match that iPhone-like style the rest of the Pixel 9 family adopted. It’s boring until you consider the Pixel 9a shines in design in all the places Apple’s diehard fans wish the iPhone 16e did.

This certainly explains a couple of odd things about the Pixel 9A rollout. The lack of pre-order availability was the biggest sign that something was wrong, but as The Verge noted

Google's two most affordable phones have plenty in common, including their designs, screen sizes, and processors. Can't choose between them? Here's what sets the $499 Pixel 9a and the $799 Pixel 9 apart.