Pixel 5a release date: Google’s mid-range phone could arrive on August 26, but its availability may be limited

The release of Google Pixel 5a has been confirmed for months, but the company has yet to reveal when it is actually arriving in stores. Now, a report has claimed that the mid-range phone could officially launch later this month.

Google Pixel 5a release date, availability

Google unveiled its next flagship phones, Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, earlier this week. The announcements did not provide updates on the company’s anticipated mid-range phone, but Google fans might already have the exact release date for the device.

A report from Front Page Tech cites “sources familiar with the matter” who claimed the Pixel 5a would launch on Thursday, Aug. 26. The mid-range phone is expected to be sold through Google’s official online and physical stores only. It is still unknown if the company will hold a special event to present the device, but considering its approach last year, the Pixel 5a could also be unveiled through a simple press release announcement.

Last April, rumors quickly spread online, claiming that Google had canceled Pixel 5a. It was quickly picked up by leading tech publications that prompted the company to release a statement, possibly earlier than they preferred, to confirm that the mid-range phone is underway.

In the same statement provided to 9To5Google, the company referred to the device as “Pixel 5a 5G,” and that could be a hint that there is no plan to release an LTE variant like Google did last year. At the time, Google also mentioned that the device will be available in the United States and Japan, suggesting that the mid-range phone’s availability this year will be limited.

Google Pixel 5a design, specs

Supposed renders of Pixel 5a have leaked way back in February through the well-known source OnLeaks. It showed that the upcoming device will not look very different from its predecessor, but a dual-camera is expected to be a standard feature for the Pixel’s “A” series this year.

As for the processor, Google confirmed that Pixel 5a will not launch with its first-ever in-house mobile SoC called Tensor. That means the phone expected to launch this month would still be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset. Meanwhile, an analysis of the Android 12 Developer Preview code earlier this year made references that seemingly point to the use of Snapdragon 765G for the Pixel 5a.

Photo by Daniel Romero on Unsplash