What to Expect From the Google Pixel 4a [Updated]

Under normal circumstances, we would have expected to get information from Google regarding their latest Pixel device during their Google I/O event, which is an annual conference that is held to announce their latest products. However, this year, it has been cancelled because of the coronavirus. Given that this event was taken off the Google organisation’s calendar, there has been plenty of speculation as to when the Google Pixel 4a will be released, and what features it'll have. We’ve looked at the rumours that are currently circulating, and we’ve identified the believable from the outlandish, so we can give you a good idea of what to expect.

Photo by LetsGoDigital

Release Date and Price

Today is Monday the 3rd of August, which is the release date for the Google Pixel 4a. We know this from Google themselves, who revealed a few days ago that the Google Pixel 4a would be released today. We can't help but feel like it's last minute though, as this morning we still don't know what time the release will be. Once it comes out though, you can expect a follow-up article from us with our first impressions.

The Google Pixel 4a is likely to be a cheaper version of the Google Pixel 4, and the exact rumoured cost is believed to be around £270, while the Google Pixel 4a 5G that is rumoured to be released later in the year is rumoured to cost around £380. In terms of colour, don’t expect anything exciting. The only two colours that are rumoured are Blue and Black.

Photos from @evleaks on Twitter

Latest Rumours

According to the reliable phone leaker Ishan Agarwal on Twitter, the specs for the Google Pixel 4a will include the Snapdragon 730G chipset and will measure at 5.81 inches. This makes it a more compact device, for users that prefer a smaller size for their handsets. If you want a larger handset from Google though, unfortunately this is unlikely to be happening this year. One of the rumours states that there won’t be an XL version of the latest Pixel this year, so you might be better off with one of the device's predecessors. The display is also likely to be a 60Hz OLED screen, which will make colours brighter and details crisper, and it will have slimmed down bezels and no notch.

Hardware

The Google Pixel 4a is rumoured to have a fingerprint scanner on the rear of the device, and a possibly a plastic or polycarbonate body which is in line with the materials that were used on their previous devices. This is a shame as this means that Google have not decided to offer a premium design as we are accustomed to seeing on other flagships. Many of us simply don’t like the cheap looking appearance of plastic, even if it’s more durable. For the processor, this is likely to be the Qualcomm Snapdragon 730, with either 64GB or 128GB storage options.

Cameras

Unfortunately, the Google Pixel 4a is likely to have a noticeable camera bump again. There’s been a lot of criticism of the unsightliness of the rear camera setup of the Google Pixel, even if the camera setup is one of the best on the market. The Google Pixel devices do not lie flat on a horizontal surface due to their pronounced camera bumps, and the Google Pixel 4a will be no exception to this.

The camera setup itself is rumoured to be a 12.2MP lens and a front-facing 8MP lens. Rumours have since confirmed that the front camera is going to be a punch hole lens, which is a new feature for Google Pixel phones. From an visual perspective this is a good thing, as it means that the whole display is opened up and is not ruined by a notch in the top-centre of the screen. You can also expect Google's quintessential optical image stabilisation and AI for Night Sight. In any case, it's safe to expect that Google might impress us again with their camera setup.

If the prospect of getting a Google Pixel 4a has tempted you, now is the time to recycle your current handset, so that you can get some money towards a new one.