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Google’s Pixel 5a is expected to succeed the Pixel 4a this year. While the launch is slated for later this year, it’s worth setting our expectations now that we’ve had a taste of what to expect from this year’s affordable Google Pixel smartphone.
Google first launched the Pixel series almost five years ago. Far removed from the old Nexus series, the first generation Pixel and Pixel XL were touted as high-end products to compete with the flagship iPhone and Samsung series. The Pixel series – as the name suggests – is aimed at providing high-quality smartphone photography, mostly done using machine learning algorithms to enrich the images. But with nothing special to offer or a reliable history of making trendy smartphones, Google has struggled to ensure profitability in the smartphone business.
After the disappointing response to the Pixel 3 series, Google decided to release an affordable Pixel that offered the same camera prowess but without many other high-end features like IP rating, wireless charging, camera design, glass, etc. The move increased Google’s smartphone sales by two. fold and asserted a place for the A-series in Google’s hardware portfolio.
The Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL were replaced by the Pixel 4a and Pixel 4a 5G the following year. In 2021, we expect Google to launch the Pixel 5a (codename barb), and here’s everything we know and expect from the smartphone.
Google Pixel 5a: expected release date
The Google Pixel 3a was unveiled at the Google I / O 2019 Developer Conference, which was held in May of the same year, and the Pixel 4a was scheduled to be released around the same time in 2020. The Pandemic COVID-19, however, threw a wrench. in those plans and led to the cancellation of a physical Google I / O event. The pandemic also delayed the usual product launch schedule, and the Pixel 4a launched in August 2020 instead of May. Later in October, at an online event, Google also announced the Pixel 4a 5G alongside the more premium Google Pixel 5.
Google Pixel 5a leaked renderings, Source: @OnLeaks
Based on last year’s launch schedule, we expect Google to unveil the Pixel 5a around August 2021. This is mainly to see how Google doesn’t typically rush the launch of its hardware products.
We haven’t yet seen a leak or official announcement from Google regarding this release, but we’ll update this section as soon as we do.
Variants
For the first generation of affordable Pixel devices, Google launched the Pixel 3a in two different sizes. Despite their different dimensions, the Google Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL had the same specifications – except for the display size. The company drifted off its usual journey of two different sized devices with the Pixel 4a, which had a 4G variant and another 5G variant. In addition to running on different internal chipsets, the vanilla Pixel 4a and Pixel 4a 5G had different rear camera setups – despite having identical camera bumps.
The standard Pixel 4a only had a single camera, which was a 12MP camera that Google has been using since the Pixel 2 series. The Pixel 4a 5G, on the other hand, featured a dual rear camera setup that included a standard 12 MP camera – identical to other Pixel devices – and a 16 MP ultra wide-angle camera, just like the Pixel 5.
Notably, even though the Pixel 4a had two devices under its banner, the Pixel 5 had only one variant. With 5G becoming more mainstream in 2021, it would be disappointing if Google would only release a 4G-only Pixel 5a model. Qualcomm and MediaTek now have entry-level chipset offerings with 5G connectivity, so we expect (hopefully) Google will use one of them.
Design
We have discussed above the changes seen in the history of the affordable pixel lineup. According to a recent leak from the seasoned fugitive, OnLeaks AKA Steve Hemmerstoffer, the Pixel 5a is set to use the same camera as the Pixel 4a 5G and the Pixel 5. In fact, there are no visible changes to the design as Google appears to be recycling the same design for the Pixel. 5a.
OnLeaks Note that the Pixel 5a is 2.3mm longer, 0.8mm narrower, and 0.6mm thicker than the Pixel 4a 5G. The Pixel 5a’s assumed dimensions are 156.2 x 73.2 x 8.8mm (9.4mm thick including camera bump). The increase in length appears to be due to the chin which appears slightly larger in leaky renders than previous devices.
Google Pixel 5a leaked renderings, Source: @OnLeaks
Despite these tiny dimensional changes, the Pixel 5a will inherit a 6.2-inch OLED display from the Pixel 4a 5G. The screen is expected to have Full HD + resolution and a hole-punch cutout towards the upper left corner, much like the Pixel 4a 5G. While the leaker doesn’t mention it, we’re hoping the Google Pixel 5a’s screen will have a 90Hz refresh rate, which would be an upgrade from the 60Hz display on the Pixel 4a and the Pixel 4a 5G. As with previous devices, this is a flat screen with no curves around the screen.
Despite using an OLED display, Google seems keen to stick with a capacitive fingerprint scanner on the back of the phone instead of switching to under-display fingerprint technology. The color-accented volume rockers and power button also appear unchanged.
Fortunately, the Pixel 5a is suggested to keep the 3.5mm headphone jack, even almost three years after Google removed it from its flagship Pixel devices. The stereo speaker configuration also remains intact.
Camera
As we mentioned above, the Pixel 5a has been suggested to feature a dual rear camera setup – a first for the affordable Pixel lineup. This will include a 12MP main camera and a 16MP ultra wide angle camera. These cameras will likely remain unchanged from what we saw on the Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5.
Google Pixel 5a leaked renderings, Source: @OnLeaks
Still, we can expect generational upgrades in terms of image processing alongside possibly some exclusive features. Much like the Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5, the Pixel 5a’s two camera sensors are placed in a horizontal line along the center of the square camera bump. According to the leaked renderings, another sensor is under these cameras, and it could be a PDAF sensor or a flicker sensor.
The selfie camera is again tucked inside the screen’s hole-punch cutout. While the leak didn’t reveal the resolution of this camera, Google has traditionally used 8MP cameras, and it worked well. We can expect the same to carry over to the Pixel 5a.
Google Pixel 5a: expected price
The Pixel 3a launched for $ 399 in the US while being more expensive in some markets like India. For this jaw-dropping camera, the Pixel 3a wasn’t a bad investment at all but had poor performance. Google made the Pixel 4a more accessible and attractive by reducing the price to $ 349. Meanwhile, the Pixel 4a 5G was priced at $ 499, which represents its more powerful Snapdragon 765G chipset with 5G capabilities.
While there aren’t any details on the Pixel 5a’s price yet, we wouldn’t be surprised if it also costs between $ 450 and $ 550.
We’ll continue to update this article with more details as we learn more about them over the next few months, until the official launch of the Pixel 5a.
Featured Image: Google Pixel 5a leaked renders, source: Voice @OnLeaks
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