Google’s next mid-range phone, the Pixel 4a may still be weeks away. But a Spanish YouTube channel titled TecnoLike Plus has already managed to go hands-on with it. The YouTuber claims the source of the footage is a Cuba-based cellphone workshop where the unannounced phone has already gone on sale through unofficial channels.
The hands-on video reveals pretty much everything there is to know about the Google Pixel 4a and falls in line with previous rumors too. As per the reviewer, the phone has a plastic construction that feels like metal — a design choice Google adopted for the Pixel 3a as a cost-cutting measure.
In addition, there’s a physical fingerprint sensor on the rear and a square-shaped camera module which only houses a single 12-megapixel lens and flash. Just like it did for the Pixel 4, Google has also abandoned the dual-tone look for the Pixel 4a. However, the black color option does have a white-accented power key.
The Google Pixel 4a even retains the standard headphone jack and features a USB Type-C port on the bottom. Its front is largely dominated by a 5.81-inch 1080p screen that goes nearly edge-to-edge and has a cutout at the top left corner for the 8-megapixel selfie camera.
As far as the specifications are concerned, the Pixel 4a variant showed off in the video was powered by Qualcomm’s year-old Snapdragon 730 chipset, 6GB of RAM, 64GB of onboard storage, and a 3080mAh battery. However, it’s worth noting that a previous leak hinted at multiple Pixel 4a models, one of which will support 5G in select regions.
The leaked phone ran Android 10 out of the box which is understandable since Android 11 won’t be released until late 2020. The video also says it is compatible with two SIM cards but didn’t clarify whether there’s actually a second physical slot.
Further, the unit’s security patch was dated 5th of April which the YouTuber claims could be its launch date, although that seems a little far-fetched given it’s a fairly common timeline for Android security updates. Hence, despite the clear video, it’s best to take this information with a pinch of salt — especially considering the fact that the model doesn’t have a Google logo on the back.
The Google Pixel 4a was officially expected to launch at Google’s yearly developer conference. Unfortunately, the company had to cancel that over coronavirus concerns. Google hasn’t rescheduled it yet and, therefore, it remains to be seen when the Pixel 4a will arrive. It is reportedly being made in Vietnam, so it’s unlikely the epidemic has thrown a wrench in its production.
