Leak suggests Google might launch Pixel 3a phones in May
Google's new lower-cost phones, expected to be marketed as Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL, could launch in May. According to a leak, new devices "sargo" and "bonito", which are reported codenames for the mid-range Pixel 3 phones, have been listed on Google Play Console as "midyear experiences". This suggests that Google might launch them sometime soon, perhaps in May. Here's everything we know.
Google might launch the Pixel 3a phones at I/O 2019
The appearance of "bonito" and "sargo" devices on Google Play Console confirms that Google is working to launch new smartphones soon. However, considering that the company launches flagship Pixel devices in October, the "midyear experiences" phrase could be for a May release. Hence, we can expect Google to unveil these new mid-range Pixel 3a phones at I/O 2019 event which starts on May 7.
Pixel 3a, Pixel 3a XL: At a glance
As per renders, both phones will sport a notch-free rectangular display with bezels, plastic chassis, and headphone jack. On the back, they'll feature a single camera, and fingerprint sensor - similar to Pixel 3 flagships. Reportedly, Pixel 3a ("sargo") will sport a 5.56-inch OLED display with 1080x2220-pixels resolution while the Pixel 3a XL model ("bonito") will get a 6-inch OLED panel with 1080x2160 resolution.
For the shutterbugs and selfie lovers
Given Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL flagships share roughly the same specifications (internals and optics), we can expect to see the same trend on the lower cost Pixel 3a models. As per previous leaks, both the Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL will come with a 12MP rear camera and a single 8MP selfie snapper.
Under the hood
Again, leaks suggest that Pixel 3a will be powered by a Snapdragon 670 chipset while the Pixel 3a XL will be backed by Snapdragon 710 processor. Further, the Google Play Console listing confirms that both phones will come with at least 4GB of RAM. Under the hood, the Pixel 3a is said to pack 3,000mAh battery and run Android Pie out of the box.
Google's Pixel 3a phones will be cheaper than iPhone Xr
The Russian tech blog, which leaked the Pixel 3a (aka Pixel 3 Lite), speculated that this phone could be priced anywhere between $400-500 (approx. Rs. 28,000-Rs. 35,000). This pricing is significantly lower than that of Apple's "affordable" phone, the iPhone XR, which starts at $749 in the US or Rs. 59,900 in India.
