Free, unlimited ‘High Quality’ uploads in Google Photos confirmed for Pixel 5 and older phones, Pixel 5a won't get it

One of the Google executives has now confirmed that Pixel 2 to Pixel 5 users will still have ‘High Quality’ uploads as free and unlimited

Google Pixel. (Unsplash)

Since past couple of years, Google has been launching its Pixel ‘a' series in India. The latest handset in the lineup to enter the country was the Pixel 4a. However, many have been expecting the next-gen Pixel ‘a' device, Pixel 5a to hit the Indian shelves too at some point this year. Tipster Jon Prosser too, recently claimed that Google may launch the Pixel 5a on June 11. However, as it turns out, the smartphone might be missing out on one of the key features - Free High Quality Google Photos upload.

In case you remember, Google last year announced that starting June this year, the ‘High Quality' image uploads on Google Photos, will start taking up Google Drive's space. This will mean that at some point users will have to start paying for more Google Drive space once their existing 15GB is full. For now, Google lets you upload ‘High Quality' images on Photos app without taking any space at all from the Drive. You can upload any amount of images you want. The new images that you upload in Photos from June, will start taking the Drive space.

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However, one of the Google executives has now confirmed that Pixel 2 to Pixel 5 users will continue to have ‘High Quality' uploads as free and unlimited, even after June. However, it won't be the case with ‘future Pixels' and probably OEM Android handsets.

HQ uploads from Pixels 2-5 will continue to be free and unlimited after June 1st. But uploads from other devices, including future Pixels, will count towards your Google account storage

— Raja Ayyagari (@mindofraja) March 14, 2021

“HQ uploads from Pixels 2-5 will continue to be free and unlimited after June 1st. But uploads from other devices, including future Pixels, will count towards your Google account storage,” tweeted Raja Ayyagari, product manager at Google Photos.

Although this might come as good news for current Pixel users, it may also push more people to get their hands on the older Pixel smartphones. Also worth mentioning is that since the future Pixel phones won't get this feature, it might not make Pixel 5a (whenever it launches) as popular.

So, we will suggest you to get your hands on any of the older Pixel phones if you want your ‘High Quality' image uploads as free and unlimited.