Google confirms Pixel 5a 5G will launch this year

Just hours after it was reported that the Pixel 5a has been cancelled, Google responded saying that the phone is indeed launching this year. The news of Pixel 5a getting canceled was posted by Jon Prosser and also corroborated by Android Police. But a Google spokesperson later confirmed to 9to5Google that Pixel 5a 5G hasn’t been canceled.

“Pixel 5a 5G is not cancelled. It will be available later this year in the U.S. and Japan and announced in line with when last year’s a-series phone was introduced,” 9to5Google quoted the Google spokesperson as saying. Google Pixel 4a 5G launched in October last year so we’ll most likely see its successor around the same time. This means that we shouldn’t expect a new Pixel phone at I/O 2021 next month. Google in its statement mentioned Pixel 5a 5G so there’s no word on whether we’ll see a 4G variant of the phone. Pixel 4a launched in both 4G and 5G variants with the former making it to India.

Google is reportedly facing global supply chain issues which could be the reason behind the limited availability of Pixel 5a 5G to the US and Japan. The phone could launch in other markets at a later date. As for the phone, leaked renders revealed a design very similar to the Pixel 4a 5G with a punch-hole display that is said to be slightly taller and thicker as well.

Pixel 5a 5G is also expected to feature the same cameras as its predecessor, and run a Qualcomm processor. Google’s custom Whitechapel processor will most likely be reserved for the flagship Pixel 6.