Google Pixel 3a: New phone looks like a repackaged flagship with dated design

Google Pixel 3a series is set to debut next month. Here are key features and specifications expected from the cheaper Google flagship phones.

Here’s what to expect from Google Pixel 3a smartphone (AP)

Google has long been rumoured to be working on a cheaper flagship phone, similar to Apple's iPhone XR and Samsung's Galaxy S10. Dubbed as Google Pixel 3a, the latest smartphone is set to launch early next month. Ahead of the official release, Pixel 3a has made an early appearance, courtesy reliable leakster Evleaks.

Press renders posted by the leakster reveals Google Pixel 3a will get rid of wobbly notch design seen on the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3XL phones. While most of the premium and low-end phones are embracing smaller dewdrop notches to offer higher screen-to-body ratio, Google's Pixel 3a seems to be following an older design with thicker bezels on the top and bottom. As seen in the images, the phone is running on Android Pie. The back panel seems to have not changed with singular camera lens and fingerprint sensor.

This is not the first time details about Pixel 3a have emerged online. The phone was inadvertently confirmed by Google on its May 8 event web page. The affordable Google flagship is expected to retain key features of the main flagship but will make some trade-off.

 

Google Pixel 3a pic.twitter.com/WFb1bfvlK9

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) April 24, 2019

According to reports, Google Pixel 3a will be available in two models with the top-end model being called Pixel 3a XL. The high end version will sport a bigger 6-inch display with 1080 x 2160 pixels resolution and 400 DPI. Google Pixel 3a XL also comes with 4GB of RAM and Android 9 Pie out-of-the-box. The base model could come with a 5.6-inch display with 1080 x 2220 pixels resolution and screen density (DPI) of 440. Pixel 3a features 4GB of RAM and will ship with Android 9 Pie.

Good news is Google Pixel 3a may retain the camera specifications of the main version. Pixel 3's camera is considered one of the best in the industry right now. Its night mode has already received wide positive reviews. As far as performance goes, the phone may come with Snapdragon 675 processor, same chipset that powers Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 Pro.

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