The Google Pixel 4a is expected to be coming soon and here’s everything we know so far.
The Google Pixel 4a is starting to look like the Pixel 4 device you may actually buy, and it could be such a good value that it ends up as one of 2020’s best affordable phones. It’s been months since we first expected Google to officially announce the Pixel 4a and it still hasn’t been unveiled. While we’d expected it to come out alongside the Android 11 beta, now that that’s officially launched, we weren’t sure when we’d see Google’s next mid-range device. But then Google decided to tease the date itself with a cute puzzle, and voila – we’re expecting the phone on August 3. In any case, it’s long past the time last year when Google surprised everyone by releasing the Pixel 3a and 3a XL in the middle of 2019 as affordable versions of the Pixel 3 and 3 XL retaining some of the best perks of the premium devices at a mid-range pricetag. In short, consumers could once again get the famed Pixel photography at an affordable price. Leaks have started flowing in since the beginning of 2020, so it looks like a budget Google Pixel 4a could be coming at some point soon – although we’ve heard that the phone will be released alone without its larger XL sibling. That might make sense, though we’d hope the regular 4a wouldn’t retain the standard Pixel 4’s battery issues. The Pixel 4 and 4 XL were popular devices, but didn’t land with quite the fanfare of the Pixel 3 handsets. The cheaper Pixel 4a phones could be Google’s opportunity to win back consumers, especially those who have been reducing their phone budgets amid the current outbreak. Below we’ve put together everything we know so far about the upcoming phones including details on when to expect it and the first images of the upcoming handsets. Latest story: Google has teased an August 3 reveal for what’s surely the Pixel 4a: an easy-to-solve puzzle revealed the date, and given we’re expecting the Pixel 5 to come later in the year, we’re virtually certain we’ll see the mid-range phone first. Originally, we had expected to see Google introduce its next affordable devices at Google IO 2020 between May 12-14, as the Pixel 3a and 3a XL were announced at the 2019 event, but that event was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. A subsequent rumor suggested a later date of June 5. Why? Probably to coincide with the Android 11 public beta launch – which came out after itself got delayed, and we still haven’t seen the Pixel 4a. Another rumor suggested July 13 announcement despite not going on sale until October, but that date passed, too. The next potential release date of August 3 was proposed by noted leaker Jon Prosser in a tweet: It’s a date that Prosser seems very confident of, as he’s since reiterated it, saying that he’s now 100% sure of an August 3 launch. That’s been seemingly confirmed by Google itself, which revealed the date after an easy-to-solve puzzle: We’ve also seemingly seen a 5G model listed by a mobile network, which suggests that the Pixel 4a is coming soon, and that 5G is looking very likely. That said, there’s always a chance the Pixel 4a might be renamed the Pixel 5a and go on sale with the Pixel 5. The Google Pixel 3a was discontinued on July 2 though, which had hinted a Pixel 4a release is imminent – Google wouldn’t want to have no affordable phones to offer consumers, after all. But given the continued delay, consumers could go without an affordable mid-range handset for awhile. The Pixel 3a cost $399 / £399 / AU$649 at launch, while the Pixel 3a XL cost $479 / £469 / AU$799. In terms of how much you’ll pay for the 4a, the Google Pixel 4a price could actually be lower than the Pixel 3a price. That could be due to regional price differences – or because Google might intentionally lowball the phone’s pricetag amid a more competitive mid-range market. For instance, one price rumor puts the Pixel 4a at $349 (roughly £285 / AU$540) for 128GB of storage — so you’d be paying less and getting twice as much storage. And it’s always possible there would be an even cheaper 64GB model. But Google might be thinking of a baseline lower price: the company allegedly surveyed consumers to see if they’d buy a non-premium Pixel phone for $349 (around £246 / AU$535). Having said that, an older price rumor points to $399, which is exactly the same as the Pixel 3a, so we’re not sure right now.
