Google has already confirmed that it is working on a Pixel 4a 5G, but we do not know very much about this upcoming phone beyond its price, overall release date and what its LTE sibling the Pixel 4a offers.
While 5G connectivity is probably not working for most customers right now, 5G will become increasingly popular over the next few years. As a result, buying a phone-resistant phone will be smart for those who are looking to save money. It will also mean that the Pixel 4a better matches rivals such as the OnePlus Nord, which already offers 5G support.
We would basically expect everything good about the Pixel 4a to return in the 5G version of the phone, along with maybe a few improvements if we are lucky. This is what we know so far about the Pixel 4a 5G.
Pixel 4a 5G price and availability
Google announced in a blog post that the 4a 5G would cost $ 499 when it appeared. That’s $ 150 more than the base $ 349 Pixel 4a, so we’ll have to see if Google adds an extra value with the 5G version that makes the price increase worth it or not.
The same Google announcement told us to expect the Pixel 4a 5G to appear next to the Pixel 5 this fall, probably around October or so. A leak seems to open the opening date of the Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a 5G in France mentioned October 8 as the opening day for pre-orders, but this could be a mistake, or potentially only applicable to France and the European market.
In terms of availability, we can assume that the Pixel 4a 5G will follow the path of the Pixel 4a, with availability from wireless carriers like Verizon, Google Fi and US Cellular, or retailers like Amazon and the Google Store itself.
Pixel 4a 5G design
We have one official image of the phone to go off, but we happily know what the standard Pixel 4a looks like, and can assume that the 5G version will look very similar to the original. That would mean it’s the phone on the right side of Google’s image above, instead of the more sparkly model on the left.
There may be subtle differences in the weight of the handset than in the ranking of its antenna lines around the edges, or even the overall size, but the important details will be identical to the Pixel 4a. Potential design features include a punch-hole display on the front, with a square camera patch and fingerprint scanner on the back. A color-contrasting power button on the side will add some extra visual interest. The chassis materials for the Pixel 4a 5G will likely be re-matte plastic, instead of the glass and metal we see on expensive phones.
Alternatively, the Pixel 4a 5G could be a Pixel 4a XL, renamed to emphasize its important feature. The Pigtou renderers of the supposedly canceled 4a XL give us an idea of what Google’s design would look like on a larger device.
The only other potential change will be if Google decides to offer a unique color option on the 5G model to help differentiate it from the standard 4G model. There’s only one Just Black option for the standard Pixel 4a, and Google normally offers two more options, one of which would be white. Since Google said it was trying to streamline manufacturing due to coronavirus-related delays, perhaps the rumored “Barely Blue” color scheme we heard about months prior to the launch of Pixel 4a is unfortunately no more.
Google Pixel 4a 5G display
We will probably find another OLED screen on the Pixel 4a 5G. Google has provided OLED panels on the Pixel 4a and the Pixel 3a, so there is no reason to expect a switch to LCD.
The Pixel 4a uses an FHD 5.81-inch display, which can achieve good maximum brightness and color and accuracy, even if the Adaptive Brightness system can be inconspicuous at times. Hopefully this is something that Google might just unpack in the near future in an OTA update.
Google could just use the same exact panel on the 4a 5G, or it could offer something bigger. Rumors of a Pixel 5 XL model seem to have more in common with the Pixel 4a instead of with the Pixel 5, so it is possible that larger phone will actually belong to the Pixel 4a family.
Google Pixel 4a 5G Cameras
Do not expect more cameras to grace the 5G version of the Pixel 4a. You’ll probably get the same 12.2MP rear camera and 8MP front camera found on the Pixel 4a, but that’s not a bad thing. Google’s photo software is great for getting the best out of an image, which can be in portrait mode, Night Sight low light photography or just a simple snapshot. Even if in phone terms their phones are lacking compared to competitors like the Nord, the Pixel 4a rightly holds a place on our list of best camera phones.
There are rumors that there will be an extra rear camera on the back of the 4a 5G, as rumored images of what people thought the Pixel 5 were actually from the 4a 5G are. This would be a departure from what Google did with the Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL, but it would help justify the extra $ 150 you pay for the 5G model.
Google Pixel 4a 5G specs
To give the Pixel 4a the ability to use 5G, Google will have to make some major changes to the base Pixel 4a. The most obvious move it will have to take is to swap out the Snapdragon 730 chip for something like the Snapdragon 765G, the most powerful of Qualcomm’s mid-range SoCs, which has a built-in 5G modem. This will also have the advantage of giving the phone a performance boost, and closing the gap on competing phones like the OnePlus Nord, which uses the same piece of silicon.
The new chip may also mean more RAM and storage capacity to go along with it, as the phone is more capable of intensive tasks. Google tends to use a small amount of RAM compared to other manufacturers, but perhaps an increase to 8GB, from the Pixel 4a’s 6GB would be a valuable change. Similarly, an option for 256GB storage would be welcome instead of the 128GB you currently get.
Google Pixel 4a 5G battery and charging
The Pixel 4a contains a 3,140 mAh battery, which you can charge up to 18W via a cable USB-C connection. That’s not an enormous cell, and it had an appropriately disappointing result in our battery life test of just under 9 hours, compared to the 11-hour average for smartphones. If Google were to change some of the interior components already, it would be great if the phone maker could fit in a slightly larger battery. That, however, is probably only desirable thinking.
Google Pixel 4a 5G software
Depending on the timing of the release of the Pixel 4a 5G, the new phone with Android 11 could be pre-installed. Google recently released the latest Android 11 beta, with a launch likely in early September. The Pixel 4a debuted with Android 10, but it will be able to upgrade to the new version as quickly as other Google-built phones.
Pixel 4a 5G view
While the price increase and the wait of a few months are regrettable, the Pixel 4a 5G could be the better of the two Pixel 4a options. This is not only because of the 5G compatibility, but rather the potential upgrades that Google could deliver in terms of screen size and performance.
The Pixel 4a 5G will not make the 4G version redundant – the $ 500 price on the 5G model will be a bit too much for customers looking for a budget Android phone. But for users who want great software and photography from Google at a price between the overall cost of mid-range and flagship phones, and the comfort of knowing their phone is ready for the 5G world of tomorrow, the Pixel could 4a 5G be pretty perfect.
