Smartphone enthusiasts have a huge reason to celebrate this week, thanks to recent announcements by Google. Google has left everyone surprised and baffled by its official announcement of three new Pixel phones. No one within the industry expected such a significant statement from the tech-giant that is currently working on its gaming platform. However, the new report reveals that Google will soon be releasing the Pixel 4A, 5, and 4A 5G. Here’s an in-depth look at what the announcement means, and how the new line-up looks for Google.
Three Phones Out
Google Pixel 4A will set users back by $349 and will be the first phone to hit the market. The phone is already available for preorder, with the first shipment order coming out by August 20th. Following the 4A is the Pixel 5, which will support 5G and ship sometime by the fall of 2020. Lastly, Google announced plans for a Pixel 4A-5G, which costs a whopping $499 and will ship along with the Pixel 5 during the fall of this year.
Why the Sudden Rush?
Essentially, the tech giant is now admitting that it has a large number of phones lined-up, one after the other. As visible, the company is releasing multiple phones at the same time, confusing both fans and experts. However, most experts believe that this occurred as a result of the delay in releasing the Pixel 4A. The phone should have come out much sooner, but the COVID-19 situation prevented the phone from hitting stores earlier.
As the Pixel 4A was available to a few, several reviews of the phone are already out. However, the company has not released many details regarding the other two phones in its line-up. The announcement has given away a few details, including photos of the phone, which we will be looking at through this article’s course.
Pixel 5 and Pixel 4A-5G
Most experts believe that the matte black phone in the announcement picture is the Pixel 4A 5G. Meanwhile, the sparkly phone on the left will most likely be the Pixel 5. Google has only stated that the Pixel 5 will come out in fall and that it will support 5G capabilities. Furthermore, the company has also noted that the UK, France, Germany, Australia, Japan, Canada, Ireland, Taiwan, and the US will receive both phones. Google’s Vice President of Product Management, Brian Rakowski, said that the company would make further details available in the months to follow.
Rumours Flying Around
Also, since Google has a habit of tweeting details before the actual launch of the phone, users can expect features through social media. Last year, Google’s response to rumors regarding the Pixel 4 was to tweet a photo of the upcoming phone in June. Also, Google seems to be adopting this new strategy of cluttered release as a form of pushing 5G capabilities on their phones. However, since the Pixel 4A-5G and Pixel 4A have a price difference of $150, it will be interesting to see how the users react. Such a large price difference only for the ability to use 5G data seems steep, but most experts believe that Google will also beef up the Pixel 4A-5G. Rumours are already alight that the phone will have a larger screen OLED screen, and maybe even a secondary lens for the camera.
The Pixel 4A that comes out in August will not support 5G, leading to American carriers having a placid response to it. The phone will mostly go on sale only online as American service providers do not want to push phones that don’t support 5G. The biggest reason for such a cluttered launch of phones seems to be to vouch for 5G capability. Since the 4A does not offer 5g and will not garner much carrier support, the pre-announcement of the Pixel 5 will act as a saving grace for Google.
These new phones might be a make-or-break for Google as the Pixel line has fallen under controversy in the past. Most experts believe that the company has fallen behind competitors in the smartphone race. While the line’s battery life has been disappointing, the saving grace for the range has been its excellent camera. However, the man thought responsible for it; Marc Levoy has moved on to Adobe, as we had already reported earlier. While the company usually announces the flagship Pixel model in October, it has moved the announcement forward this year. We will have to wait and see whether the line-up will hold its own when push comes to shove at the end of this year.
Being a cinephile with a love for all things outdoorsy, Athulya never misses a chance to chase inspiring stories or poke fun at things, even when the subject is herself. Currently pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering, she is someone innately interested in technical and scientific research. Music reviews and op-eds define her as they allow her to explore different perspectives. Though sometimes she thinks she makes more sense playing the guitar than she does while writing.