Pixel 5a release date, specs: Camera specs leak as Google possibly published a photo taken with the upcoming device

Pixel 5a is still months away from its official launch, but Google may have accidentally revealed some of its camera specs already. The company is speculated to have published a photo possibly captured using the upcoming device.

Pixel 5a camera specs could include a 12.2MP lens

A Google AI Blog post published on Friday discussed how HDR+ with bracketing works on Pixel phones works. It contained several photo samples taken with readily available Pixel devices, but a few images are speculated to have been captured using the Pixel 5a upon analyzing their information.

The photo in question was part of a photo album linked in the blog post, and several reports were able to obtain the said image before Google appears to have taken it down. The photo’s EXIF data reportedly indicated it was captured with the “Google Pixel 5a” phone. 9To5Google noted that the lack of “5G” distinction could be a hint that Google is still planning to launch an LTE version of the upcoming device.

It can be recalled that Google was compelled to confirm the Pixel 5a after rumors circulated earlier this month that the device had been canceled. Google referred to the device distinctly as “Pixel 5a 5G” and mentioned the US and Japan as the markets where it will be released.

Meanwhile, the same photo’s resolution was at 4032 x 3024, leading XDA Developers to suggest that the Pixel 5a would sport the staple 12.2MP lens, which is also available on the Pixel 4a, Pixel 4a 5G, and Pixel 5. The same report pointed out that the camera used had an f/2.2 aperture and 16mm focal length, hinting at an ultra-wide-angle sensor. However, it should also be noted that the image was dated Oct. 1, 2020, which means the possible Pixel 5a prototype used to capture it was using an earlier version of the Google Camera app.

Pixel 5a could be released with an old Snapdragon 7 series chip

The processor to be used for the Pixel 5a may have also been recently revealed through the Android 12 Developer Preview 3. An earlier report from 9To5Google confirmed that the update made several references to a device called “Barbet.” It is believed to be the Pixel 5a 5G accompanied in the Android 12 update by the model identifier “sm7250,” which happens to be the Snapdragon 765G’s part number.

Google announced the virtual I/O conference this year, happening on May 18-20. However, the Pixel 5a launch could happen a few months later. As the company noted in its official statement, it would be released “in line with when last year’s a-series phone was introduced.” The Pixel 4a was announced in August 2020.

Featured photo by Sebastian Bednarek on Unsplash