With Google’s biggest event, Google I/O, happening next week, many have started to wonder what the Android behemoth has in store for users this year – But in now typical Google fashion, plans have leaked, holding promise to close the gap in what has for a while been Google’s lineup’s most formidable issue: price.
The Pixel 3 and its (bigger and beefier) XL counterpart launched last year to seemingly positive reception, but with the advancement in hardware and technology, Google left one glaring problem visible: The premium phone’s price-tag. Starting at $799 for the smaller, less desirable variant, it was fair to say that Google, like Apple and Samsung, saw value with creating premium smartphones, but unlike the two aforementioned companies, did not offer the budget lineup that keeps an unspoken balance in the smartphone industry.
Google may be looking to address this inherent issue, as a leak by Droid-Life details not only the speculated existence of a Pixel 3a and 3a XL, two more budget oriented versions of their well-regarded pixel brothers, but shares an in-depth first look at the possible specifications these devices may boast.
According to the post, the 3a will pack a 5.6-inch display, while its larger XL counterpart will feature a full 6-inch screen. Both devices will feature a 12.2-megapixel dual-pixel rear camera, 8-megapixels on the front, a budget 4GB of RAM and a more than sufficient 64GB of storage, while also packing the same rear fingerprint scanner found on its more premium counterparts.
The fingerprint scanner and camera quality are not the only features the 3a series will carry over from the Pixel 3 brand of devices, as the 3a and 3a XL will also feature the squeeze feature, allowing users to fully interact with Google Assistant in a funky, yet ultimately convenient way.
Droid-Life also details that while it is unsure about the final processor the devices may carry, with the only certainty being that it won’t feature the same Snapdragon 845, the post does detail battery capacity: 3000 mAh for the pixel 3a and 3700mAh for its XL variation.
The post does not mention price, but as noted by CNET, the device may start at $399 for the 3a, and $479 for the 3a XL according to prior leaks. If this were true, these would fill a gap currently present in Google’s lineup, potentially aiding the company in fully realizing its smartphone ambitions.
The Google I/O conference is set to happen on May 7th, 2019.
