Pixel 5a 5G explained: what’s happening? [Video]

The Pixel 5a 5G’s confusing pre-birth has begun, with twists and turns you just weren’t expecting.

We’ve had numerous leak and rumor cycles for almost the entire Google Pixel series. Undoubtedly, 2018 and the launch of the Pixel 3 and 3 XL proved to be the tipping point. It got to a stage where Google started teasing and sharing a ton of Pixel 4 related information prior to launch.

There’s no denying that COVID-19 has changed the way smartphones are launched, and with the Pixel 4a’s delayed release last year, any possible follow-up would likely be hampered due to its tight release cycle. The Pixel 5a 5G that even hit the market was a big question mark. But things really changed in the space of just a few days.

Video – What’s going on with the Pixel 5a 5G?

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Release time frame

A huge, huge problem area for just about any smartphone released in 2021 will be if and when they are available for purchase. Last year, due to COVID-19, the Pixel 4a came out of its proposed May 2020 release window, leading to a later than expected release in August 2020 in the US and Japan. Other global markets had to wait until October 2020, which confused things as the launch of the entry-level model coincided with the launch of the Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5.

To say things got a bit of a confusing mess was an understatement. The biggest problem area within the 2020 Made by Google lineup is that of the Pixel 4a 5G. It’s a confusing device because it uses far too much of what the Pixel 5 is “premium” smartphone versus the Pixel 4a’s accessibility and affordability.

Due to global chip shortages, it looked very much like we might not even see a sequel this year. But after initial claims to the contrary, Google has confirmed that the Pixel 5a 5G will hit shelves around the same time as the Pixel 4a. That would mark the official launch sometime in August 2021. Let’s break that down, although this is good for spacing on the one hand, but it’s also pretty close to the late 2021 launch for the Pixel 6 series.

The only upside to this launch is that Google has only confirmed the US and Japan as markets for the Pixel 5a. Global chip shortages are devastating almost all areas of the technology sector, so until hardware availability increases, other regions are unlikely to get the latest affordable Pixel smartphones. This may not be that big of an issue with the proposed Pixel 6 launching in late 2021.

Recycled design

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Leaked renderings suggest the Pixel 4a 5G design is being recycled again for the Pixel 5a. Is this a bad thing? Well, it is sensible at the very least. That means less waste of parts and a pretty nice overall aesthetic that will match the rest of the Pixel series from 2020 onwards.

We’re saying recycled design, but the suggested dimensions (156.2 x 73.2 x 8.8mm) suggest it’s 2.3mm taller, 0.8mm narrower, and 0.6mm thicker. That may not seem like much, but you will notice some very small changes here in the hand.

A “unibody (probably made of plastic) back panel” is expected to be used again, and like the Pixel 3a and 4a, the Pixel 5a 5G is expected to be made of plastic rather than glass. It’s not known for sure, but we can even see a ridged or textured power button to make the distinction. Also, let’s hope Google adds some color here, because it’s always a nice little one “playful” design touch.

Expect a large 6.2-inch FHD + OLED display very close to that of the Pixel 4a 5G, despite the small size differences. These early renderings suggest that the top left screen crop is also preserved. There’s no word on the screen’s refresh rate, though.

The camera system is a notable improvement over the Pixel 4a by switching to a dual-lens setup, but again, it is said to have the same configuration as on the Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5 (12.2MP dual- pixel and 16 MP ultra-wide). Other shared specs as an A series phone include the 3.5mm headphone jack and Pixel Imprint fingerprint sensor on the back. There are two cutouts for a speaker and microphone that flank the USB-C port.

You may find it hard to get excited about this proposed design, but this can help Google keep production costs lower and thus pass the savings on to us with lower prices. Let’s hope it matches the under $ 400 price of last year’s Pixel 4a.

The specifications puzzle

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We’re just as in the dark as to what the Pixel 5a 5G will pack as you. Although we have a solid premise to work from, simply because 5G is a core component here. But to reiterate, at this stage, we just don’t know enough to say with confidence what the latest affordable Pixel series will pack.

Let’s start with the potential chipset, there are a number of options here and we can probably get a pretty good idea of ​​the minimum performance levels of this upcoming mid-range. All of this relies heavily on the use of a Qualcomm chipset. If the Pixel 5a 5G stays with Qualcomm, there are exactly 4 Snapdragon chipsets that this smartphone could use:

The Pixel 5a is highly unlikely to use the entry-level Snapdragon 480, so it’s probably safe to ignore this chip. Expect to see it on real entry-level models from, for example, Nokia. However, it is less clear whether this mid-range can use the Snapdragon 690 or the 768G. Some will no doubt suggest that the 765G will be used in the Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a 5G, which makes things even more confusing. Google has proven that the 765G is more than powerful enough to run their flagship devices, so it would be a welcome choice for the 5a.

Note: It is very unlikely that the recently announced Snapdragon 780G will be used simply because of the release dates officially quoted by Google. However, it would be a very nice surprise.

We’re just not sure at this stage. Of course, no proof has been provided of Google. Logically, if the Pixel 5a 5G comes with a Qualcomm chipset, it will be the last Pixel device to have one. With the Pixel 6 set to pack silicon co-developed by Google, it may be worth sticking with, although the 5a will target a completely different market than the flagship Pixel 6.

We are sure we will learn more in the coming months as more information slowly emerges. It’s the same story for the other specs, but expect at least a 128 GB base storage model and 6 GB RAM to match the rest of the Pixel series in late 2020. But take everything we say here with a grain of salt. Things can change fairly quickly.

Following the proven formula, the Pixel 5a 5G could just be the Pixel 4a 5G + or ‘S’, which is probably enough for most people looking for a mid-range Made by Google phone in 2021.

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