Google is expected to release the Pixel 5a at some point this year, and thanks to a new report, its launch date may have just been revealed. Talk around the Google Pixel 5a first began in February when renders of the phone were leaked, revealing a very similar design compared to last year's Pixel 4a and 4a 5G. Now, there's a better understanding of when Google may release the phone to the masses.
Even if the Pixel 5a won't be a substantial upgrade over the Pixel 4a, that's not necessarily a bad thing. The Pixel 4a is still one of the best smartphone values currently on the market, delivering excellent specs, features, and software at an unbeatable price. All Google has to do with the Pixel 5a is retain that same value, offer a couple of upgrades here and there, and it should have another winner on its hands.
As for this latest news regarding the Pixel 5a' release date, leaker Jon Prosser on Twitter says that Google is planning to release a new smartphone on June 11, 2021. He says that he's "not sure exactly which one it is just yet," but given the timing of last year's Pixel 4a release, it seems more than likely that this is going to be the Pixel 5a.
Prosser also notes that Google will be releasing new Pixel Buds in mid-April. Last year's Pixel Buds were a considerable upgrade over the first-gen model, offering a truly wireless design, improved audio quality, and better features across the board. One of the biggest things missing from the Pixel Buds 2 was active noise cancellation, so here's to hoping that's an area Google is addressing with this third-gen model. Prosser doesn't reveal anything else about the new Pixel Buds outside of that release date, but given that mid-April is right around the corner, Google should be spilling the beans pretty soon.
Going back to that June release date for Google's new Pixel phone, this is what was expected for the Pixel 5a already. The Pixel 4a was supposed to release in May 2020, but following delay after delay, it finally came to market in August of that year. Launching the 4a's successor in May 2021 would feel a bit too early, waiting until August would be too late in the year, so something in June or July seemed like the best fit.
As for what kind of specs are expected for the Pixel 5a, there are a few educated guesses that can be made. Google will likely use the same 12MP + 16MP dual rear cameras from the Pixel 5, a Snapdragon 700-series chipset is expected, and it should offer 5G connectivity. It'll also more than likely ship with Android 11 out of the box, but with Android 12 slated to drop in Q3 2021, it won't be too long before it gets updated to Google's next big OS update.
Source: Jon Prosser, Steve Hemmerstoffer
