All You Need to Know About the New Google Pixel 3a

There’s been a lot of speculation that Google are planning to launch affordable versions of their Pixel smartphones, and now the Google Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL appear to confirm those rules. Here’s all you need to know about the Google Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL.

Release Date and Price

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) listed two new unannounced Google phones in February. The phones had the model number G020C and G020G, which are most likely the Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL. The latest news from Android Police, which has been corroborated by 9to5Google, is that the phones will launch in the Spring and, at least in the US, likely through Verizon.

There hasn’t been any official word on the prices of the phones, but the latest rumours suggest somewhere between $400 and $500. Given that the price of a Google Pixel 3 begins at $799, we can expect the price of the 3a to be lower.

Hardware Specs

Information on the hardware specs of the phones mostly comes from Russian website Rozetked, who first leaked images allegedly showing prototypes of the phones back in November 2018. They say the standard version has a 5.56 inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 2,220 x 1,080. 9to5Google say that the size and resolution will be that, but they believe the screens will be OLED and not LCD.

It’s believed the phones will have an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 670 chipset, which is slower than the Snapdragon 845 found in the regular Pixel 3. They’ll have 4GB of RAM but will have less internal storage space.

One of the interesting things about the Pixel 3a is that it will have almost the exact same camera as a standard Pixel 3. It is said to have the same 12MP rear camera and a single 8MP front-facing camera, compared to the two sensors in the Pixel 3. Though the weaker processor does mean that the camera performance won’t be as good.

Another interesting little note is that the Pixel 3a and 3a XL are said to retain the old 3.5mm headphone jack, which is great news for people who still want to use their regular headphones. The downside is that it won’t have the same dual front-facing speakers found on the Google Pixel 3.

Unfortunately there’s not much known about the Pixel 3a XL and what the differences are. It’s believed it will share many of the same specs as the standard 3a, including the same processor, storage, memory, and camera. It will have a bigger screen though – around 6 inches and full HD+ resolution – and a bigger battery.

Who Should Get a Google Pixel 3a or Pixel 3a XL?

One of the biggest questions around these new phones is who should buy them; who are the target audience? One group of people who would be interested would be those who have heard great things about the Pixel 3’s camera, but don’t have the money – or don’t want to spend it – on a full phone. With lower-end specs and materials but a similar camera, the Pixel 3a is a great choice.

Google could also be trying to sell their phones in more countries, especially India; where cheaper phones are the norm. Providing those countries with the 3a could be a smart move on their part, as reasonably priced phones that have great quality cameras could stand out from the rest of the crowd.