Google Pixel 6? Forget it, I'm just excited for the Google Pixel 5a

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• Google Pixel 6? Forget it, I'm just excited for the Google Pixel 5a

We're a week away from Google IO 2021, and while we're excited about all the software updates, an Android 12 preview, and some clues about secret projects the company is working on, I haven't had to. only for one thing at the event: the Google Pixel 5a. All Google has in store for us is the one Google phone that I'm really excited to see. Don't get me wrong, the Google Pixel 6 is said to have some cool new features, but last year there was very little reason to buy the Google Pixel 5 given that most of its best qualities found their way to the significantly cheaper Google Pixel 4a 5G. And since many of the phone's core features are software-related, including the cameras, the standard Google Pixel 4a was (and still is) incredible value. Google's flagship phones are great, of course, but unless something drastically different happens this year, we expect the Google Pixel 5a to follow suit and lead the way as another low-cost, great-value device with great software benefits passed down. by dearer brothers. It might not be any different from the Pixel 4a, at least it's rumored to be, and heck, it might not even turn off the screen or cameras. And yet, my opinion is firm: the Google Pixel 5a is still more exciting than the Google Pixel 6, and it should be one of the most exciting technologies we'll see at this year's Google IO event.

From left to right: Google Pixel 4a, Google Pixel 4a 5G, Google Pixel 5. (Image credit: Google)

All aboard the exaggerated Pixel 5a train

Because? The Pixel 4a stands out from the competition at its price point ($349 / £349 / AU$599), while the Google Pixel 4a 5G released in late 2020 offered most of the Pixel 5's specs at a higher price point. cheap from £499. / £499 / AU$799. The compromises Google has made to lower the price of the Pixel 5 ($699 / £599 / AU$999) leave it less competitive at its 'affordable flagship' tier ''. The latter's Snapdragon 765 chipset, for example, is less powerful than the Samsung Galaxy S865 FE's Snapdragon 20 silicon (£699 / £699 / AU$1,149), not to mention Asus Zenfone 888's Snapdragon 8 (£599 expected). . / €425/AU). €769). And while Google's camera software is great for day and night panoramic shots, its zoom photography isn't great compared to its dedicated telephoto competition. To put it bluntly, the Pixel 5a has more reasonable competition for its price, with even the top-end budget phones of the Moto G Stylus (£299, around £220 / AU$384) struggling to compete on capabilities. , and its successor will probably take better photos. It will be one of the first phones to get Android 12, minimizing the benefit of pricier Pixel phones. And while the Pixel 5a is 4G LTE only, it's not far off as 5G networks continue their slow rollout.

(Image credit: future)

So what will the Google Pixel 6 do better?

Of course, we're already seeing some intriguing rumors about the Pixel 6, including a new render leak showing a striking redesign with a wide horizontal camera block. It's a great new look, but since it doesn't have any spec information, it's hard to say what changes may occur, or if it's just a cosmetic upgrade. The renderings support an earlier leak that suggests the phone will get an in-display fingerprint scanner, which is a long-overdue perk so standard on phones that it trickles down to mid-tier devices. Range and low budget. Most intriguing, of course, is the mysterious ``Whitechapel'' silicon that Google is reportedly building to debut in the Google Pixel 6. There's still a lot of mystery surrounding the chipset, though I could go on. Apple's example of tailoring its silicon to make even better use of its operating system, which could give the device an edge over other Android phones. So the Google Pixel 6 is full of unknowns, and given the features Google has removed from the Pixel 5 to compete in the more affordable flagship market, it's less clear if Google can change its strategy to produce a more powerful device or stick with it. a cheaper and less powerful phone. It's that uncertainty that keeps my eyes on the Google Pixel 5a, and the other surprises that await me at Google IO 2021.