The Google Pixel range may not be what the tech giant is commonly known for but the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL were some of our favourite phones from last year.
However, a starting price of £739 can be quite steep for a device that has some old-school design details and the lack of flashier features like facial recognition.
But, it appears that a cheaper version of the Pixel 3 is coming and it could arrive sooner than you think.
9to5Google reported that Google was listing an up-coming mid-range phone, named the Pixel 3a, on its website last week. There are set to be two phones in the mid-range, the Pixel 3a and a larger Pixel 3a XL, which will become very annoying to constantly repeat.
Given that the products were name-dropped on Google’s own website, it’s likely the devices will be announced in the next few months. Here’s what we know about the cheaper Google Pixel 3a range.
What’s different about the Google Pixel 3a?
Google was rumoured to be releasing a Pixel 3 Lite verison last September at the main Pixel 3 launch so it’s interesing that the company has held off on the release until now.
According to the leaks, the Pixel 3a will have a 5.6-inch screen, slightly bigger than last year’s Pixel 3 phone, whilst the Pixel 3a XL will have a 6-inch screen, making it slightly smaller than the 6.3-inch Pixel 3XL.
This already points to the fact the mid-range phones will not be a carbon copy of the earlier releases.
Inside, the smartphones are rumoured to be powered by the mid-range Qualcomm Snapdragon 670 processor, like the Oppo R17 smartphone, feature Android Pie and have 4GB of RAM.
One of the major differences, aside for the processor, is set to be the design. According to these leaked images, the phone will be made up entirely of plastic, compared to the metal and glass combination of the Pixel 3 range.
The headphone jack may make a return too.
The main pull with the Google Pixel phones is always the camera. On the Pixel 3a range, the phones are set to have a 12-megapixel rear camera and an 8-megapixel front camera, just like the Pixel 3 devices. That means you should be able to get the best of the Google Pixel camera features, like that incredible portrait mode, and Night Sight photography, at a cheaper price.
How much will the Google Pixel 3a cost?
Price details haven’t been confirmed yet but early reports have suggested the Google Pixel 3a may cost between $400 and $500.
We’re not sure what the release date will be for the phones but the next big Google conference, Google I/O, is taking place in May. The big focus at the developers conference will be on Android Q, the next version of Android, but we may be treated to an announcement about the next Google hardware then.
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