Google’s upcoming Pixel 5a rumored to launch August 26 for $450

By Michael Allison August 6, 2021

Google earlier this year announced an upcoming launch for its Pixel 5a 5G, the successor to the 2020 Pixel 4a. As the launch period for the 5a’s launch fast approaches, a new report from leaker Jon Prosser appears to spill all the beans.

Unlike previous rumors which cast the Pixel 5a 5G as a rebranded Pixel 4a 5G with a weaker processor, this one shows the phone as one which has a few upgrades over the older Pixel. Like the Pixel 4a 5G and 4a before it (barring limited edition models), it’ll come in a “Mostly Black” color. Like the 4a 5G, it’ll keep the Snapdragon 765G paired with 6GB of RAM and the headphone jack. The camera system is also said to be the same as the Pixel 4a 5G, with a 12-megapixel main camera, a 16MP ultra-wide, and an 8MP front-facing camera. The similarities end there though.

The Pixel 5a is set to come with the largest screen and battery combination Google has shipped to date. The battery on this is said to be a 4,650mAh battery, a substantial boost over the Pixel 4a 5G which came with a 3,885mAh battery. It’s also larger than the 4,000mAh battery on the Pixel 5. As for the display, Google is said to be shipping a 6.4-inch display, presumably Ful HD+. It is said to be able to run at either 60Hz or 90Hz, a first for the A-Series line.

If these specs are true, then Google’s Pixel 5a 5G shows a lot more than Google making it one of the best cheap 5G phones so far. While Google has typically competed with the software of its phones and let its hardware fall to the wayside, the Pixel 5a 5G, like the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, will now let some of the hardware do the talking. It’s a lot easier to hit a two-day battery life with a massive battery rather than relying on adaptive battery optimizations, and a lot easier to have a smoother phone experience with a 90Hz screen rather than relying on software feel alone.

If these rumors are accurate, we won’t have long to wait. Prosser says the phone will go on sale on August 26. Pricing-wise, it’s reported to fall between the Pixel 4a and 4a 5G at $450.

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Michael Allison

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A UK-based tech journalist for Digital Trends, helping keep track and make sense of the fast-paced world of tech with a…

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