Google is not having a good year when it comes to its Pixel phones. Sure, surprisingly it may have sold more OnePlus last year, but it’s not indicative of the health of what should be the brilliant example of the Android platform presented by Google. The Pixel 4a is out of fashion, while rumors about the development of the Pixel 5 are even less reassuring. Almost a quarter overdue, the Pixel 4a could finally have a release date, but even the choice of that date seems questionable.
The Pixel 3a launched in May of last year, and if the world had remained normal, the Pixel 4a would also have launched that month. The world, unfortunately, is far from normal and it was not unthinkable that the Pixel 4a would be delayed. However, it was disappointing to realize that it has already been delayed by two months.
It could have been worse, with some rumors pointing to an October release alongside the Pixel 5. That, of course, would have made the Pixel 4a immediately out of date considering the Pixel 5 is believed to have at least the same Snapdragon 765G processor. Now at least there is news that the cheapest Pixel will arrive in less than two weeks.
August 3 is the end date given by Jon Prosser, the first Monday of the month. There are also two days to go until Samsung’s Unpacked 2020 event. The two target different audiences and levels, of course, but that date almost assures that the Pixel 4a will be buried immediately under a mountain of Samsung-related coverage.
Prosser asks the most serious question. Right now, especially after the OnePlus Nord announcement, the Pixel 4a may have already lost some of its appeal. On the other hand, no phone (except the latest Essential) has matched the Pixel’s speed in Android updates, but that advantage may have become almost negligible considering the growing list of hardware issues Google’s phones have exposed to throughout the years and generations.
