I noticed that too when the media played the news video of his recent London announcement of upcoming concert dates. I'm not saying that his voice was deep, deep, but it was not the high pitched voice that we were used to hearing. It was a normal male voice.
It was a male voice - softer and higher than “average” but not what I’d call effeminate. Actually, in that press conference his speaking voice sounded much like his brother Jermaine.