Pixel 5a Leaks: Release Date, Price, Specifications, Features & More
The Google Pixel 4a was a huge success in the budget segment last year.
Even though there were some undercuts, the smartphone is largely liked by people and experts alike. The smartphone has an OLED display, the iconic Pixel camera, the Pixel experience and is upgradable to Android 12; all of this for $350.
Now, according to some rumors, Google is planning to bring another budget smartphone this year — the Google Pixel 5a.
In this article, we will talk about all the Google Pixel 5a leaks such as its release date, specifications, new features, and more. Essentially, everything you need to know about the upcoming budget smartphone from Google.
Is the Google Pixel 5a 5G Coming?
Update: A few days back it was rumoured that Google had cancelled the Pixel 5a due to a global chip shortage. But as the rumors spread, Google rebuffed the claim and said that the Google Pixel 5a 5G variant will be coming in an official statement to Android Police. However, it may only be available in select markets.
Here is the full statement from Google:
(The) Pixel 5a 5G is not cancelled. It will be available later this year in the U.S. and Japan and announced in line with when last year’s a-series phone was introduced.
Interestingly, Google hasn’t said anything about the Google Pixel 5a. Given that the company is facing issues with production and the Coronavirus is far from gone, we may get only one budget Pixel device this year — The Google Pixel 5a 5G.
Original: While there is not much info on the Google Pixel 5a right now, its arrival is certainly confirmed. In the Android 12 developer preview, there is a mention of “Pixel 5a:GR0M2”.
Interestingly, the alphanumeric word GROM2 (which appears to be the Pixel 5a model number) also appeared later on the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) website, thus further confirming the existence of the Google Pixel 5a.
Pixel 5a Release Date
Update: In an official statement, Google has said that the Google Pixel 5a 5G launch will be “in line with when last year’s a-series phone was introduced.”
If Google decides to only launch the 5G version, then that would mean October 2021. Otherwise, we might the see the Google Pixel 5a launch as early as August 2021.
We might get more information on the Pixel 5a release date at Google’s yearly developer conference, which will take place from May 18-20.
Original: If we go back, the Google Pixel 3a was launched in May at the Google I/O 2019. The Pixel 4a was supposedly planned to launch in May of last year as well, however, the COVID-19 happened. The Google I/O 2020 got canceled and the smartphone was eventually launched in August.
Since the virus hasn’t gone entirely, Google might keep the Pixel 5a launch in August. But it might come earlier than that.
According to leaker Jon Prosser, the Google Pixel 5a launch is scheduled for June 11. However, take this with a grain of salt as there isn’t much evidence around the claim. That being said, it’s likely that the Google Pixel 5a will launch around the same time.
Pixel 5a Price
There are no leaks around the price of the Google Pixel 5a so it’s all in the air. However, it will most likely be between $400 and $450.
The Google Pixel 3a was launched for $400 in the US. Last year, Google reduced the price and launched the Google Pixel 4a at $350, while the 4a 5G was launched at $499.
It would make sense if Google doesn’t increase the price too much. The Pixel 4a “gave good results” due to its affordable prices in India, a Google executive told ET.
Since Google plans to increase its presence in India, keeping the Google Pixel 5a launch price between $400 and $450 would be an ideal choice.
The executive also said the Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5 weren’t launched in India due to the hardware cost and the fact that 5G is yet to arrive in the country. If there will be a Pixel 5a 5G variant, it won’t most likely arrive in India.
Pixel 5a Design
Up until now, there has only been one major Pixel 5a leak about how the device would look, and it is as we expected. According to leaked renders shared by Steve Hemmerstoffer, the Pixel 5a will be nearly identical to the current Pixel 4a 5G.
Steve says the Pixel 5a is just 2.3mm longer, 0.8mm narrower, and 0.6mm thicker than the Pixel 4a 5G. Apart from that, it will have a 6.2-inch OLED FHD+ from the Pixel 4a 5G but will have a little thicker bezel at the bottom.
It will have a “unibody (likely plastic made) rear panel” which seems different from the plastic panel used in the Pixel 3a and Pixel 4a.
All in all, it appears that Google won’t be putting much effort into the Pixel 5a design. Based on the current Pixel 5a leaks, the upcoming budget smartphone from Google will mostly be repackaged Pixel 4a 5G.
Pixel 5a Camera
According to Steve, the Google Pixel 5a will have a dual-camera setup but it will be the “same configuration as seen on the Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5.” In other words, you can expect the same 12.2MP primary camera along with a 16MP ultra-wide camera.
However, there will still likely be some new camera features, which we will see on Google Pixel 6 as well.
Apart from this, the Pixel 5a will still have a punch-hole camera. According to 9to5Google, the punch hole will likely be a little smaller — 55-pixel radius instead of 65 pixels. However, we don’t think there will be changes to the sensor. In other words, Google will likely go with the standard 8 MP selfie camera.
Pixel 5a Specifications
The Google Pixel 5a will likely have typical specs that are usually found on the Pixel budget series, such as a 3.5mm headphone jack, rear fingerprint sensor, speaker grill on the top, two cutouts at the bottom for the main speaker, and a USB-C port.
There is no information on what processor the Pixel 5a will be using, but we are hoping it will be a good one since the performance was one of the biggest complaints on the Pixel 4a. The Pixel 5a will likely go with Snapdragon 732 which is the successor to Snapdragon 730G used in the current Pixel 4a.
Meanwhile, if there will be a Google Pixel 5a 5G variant, it will likely have Snapdragon 768G since the current 4a 5G is running its predecessor Snapdragon 765G.
Other than that, the Pixel 5a will likely have the same 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage.
Here’s what the the Pixel 5a specifications might look like —
| Specifications | Google Pixel 5a |
| Display | 6.2-inch OLED |
| OS | Android 11, One UI 3.1 |
| Processor | Snapdragon 732 |
| RAM | 8GB |
| Storage | 128GB |
| Battery | N/A |
| Rear Camera | 12.2MP + 16MP |
| Front Camera | 8MP |
| Water Protection | IP68 |
| Starting Price | $449 |
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