Google Pixel 3a spec leak makes it look like excellent value for money
Just a few days before Google is expected to announce a new addition to its smartphone family, the Pixel 3a has comprehensively leaked online.
This isn't quite on the same scale of the Pixel 3, which ended up in the hands of just about everyone weeks ahead of launch. But it gives us a good indication of what the cut-price Pixel 3a will be like.
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The latest piece of information comes from Droid Life, which claims the Pixel 3a and larger Pixel 3a XL will be available in white, black and purple, with the latter being new for the Pixel family. All three have black fronts with sizeable bezels above and below the display. The white model has an orange power button, while it is a lime color on the purple model, and black on the black version.
All three feature the same design as the regular Pixel 3, which means a single camera and central fingerprint scanner on the back, and a split design where the top third of the rear is gloss and the lower two thirds are matt.
The leak tells us to expect an "extraordinary" camera on the Pixel 3a, complete with Google's excellent Night Sight system, as found on the more expensive Pixel 3 and 3 XL. There will also be portrait mode, Motion Auto Focus, and unlimited Google Photos storage - all staples of previous Pixel handsets. Fast charging is also onboard, as is a guarantee of the handset receiving software updates from Google for at least three years after purchase.
As for the specifications, the Pixel 3a is said to have a 5.6-inch display, while the Pixel 3a XL will measure in at six inches. Earlier leaks claim the phones will have screen resolutions of 2160 x 1080 and 2220 x 1080 respectively.
They'll both have a 12.2-megapixel camera on the back, an 8MP camera on the front, 4GB of RAM, Active Edge (where a squeeze on the phone launches the Google Assistant), and Android 9.0 Pie. An update to Android Q will be available later in the year, and the batteries measure in at 3,000 mAh and 3,700 mAh for the 3a and 3a XL respectively.
The only feature we can see that's missing is the Pixel 3's dual front camera, which uses two lenses to offer wide-angle selfies. We also don't know yet exactly what the 3a will feel like, and if it will have the same build quality and glass back as the Pixel 3. That aside, this looks like a very good smartphone - especially if it is to cost from $399 (and from $479 for the XL), as rumored.
This puts it far below the other 'budget' offerings of Apple and Samsung - the iPhone XR and Galaxy S10e - which each start at $749.
Google is expected to announce the Pixel 3a and 3a XL at its I/O developer event, which kicks off with a press conference on May 7.
