Assuming Google sticks to its usual smartphone release schedule, it will be roughly nine months until the next Pixel flagship update. However, leaked renderings of the next model suggest that Google may be planning significant changes, especially to the Pixel 9 Pro.

The leaked renderings were posted by MySmartPrice, in collaboration with prominent leaker @OnLeaks. It is distinct from the Pixel 8 Pro, which has curved edges.

But the most notable change may be the horizontal camera bar that has been running across the back of Pixel smartphones for the past few years. The new renders still have the bar, but it features a pill-shaped design and does not extend from end to end.

Several other changes can be seen in the renderings. For example, the SIM card tray is now located next to the USB-C port on the bottom edge of the device. Still, it is the flat edges and redesigned camera rubber that represent the biggest difference from recent Pixel models.

You can see for yourself in the 360-degree video of the rendering posted by MySmartPrice.

Google has reportedly been working on significant changes to the Pixel 9 lineup for quite some time. Rumors suggest that Google wants to revamp its smartphone lineup and adopt an Apple-like strategy of offering a handful of choices, including two Pro versions with different screen sizes. Currently, the Pixel 8 Pro is only available in one 6.7-inch model. If you want a smaller smartphone, you have to choose the Pixel 8, but that 6.2-inch model has no telephoto lens.

Of course, Google hasn't revealed any of its plans, and won't say much about them until the next-generation smartphones hit store shelves later this year-perhaps in October, if Google sticks to its usual schedule. However, the renderings released Tuesday were not confirmed by Google, but they are from a leaker with a reputation for accuracy.

However, the leak also reveals some odd facts. For one thing, the leaker says that the Pixel 9 Pro will ship with a 6.5-inch screen, up from the 6.7-inch display of the Pixel 8 Pro. This could reflect Google's unconfirmed plans to produce multiple Pro models.

In any case, the leaked renderings give us an idea of what Google is planning when it launches the Pixel 9 Pro later this year. While we can probably expect the new Tensor chipset to introduce AI features that will compete with the newly launched Galaxy S24 model, we have yet to hear about important details like under-the-hood changes.