Google Unveils Pixel 5a 5G With Water-Resistant Metal Body, OLED Screen

In a bid to deliver a no-frills 5G smartphone experience, Google has unveiled its latest Pixel handset: Google Pixel 5a 5G. It retains many of the specifications of its predecessor, the Pixel 4a 5G, but adds a larger battery and wraps it in a water-resistant metal body. The phone closely resembles the Pixel 5 that was launched last year but misses out on a high-refresh-rate display and a premium feature like wireless charging to hit a lower price tag.

Google Pixel 5a 5G Specifications

The Pixel 5a 5G sports a 6.34-inch OLED display with Full HD+ resolution (2,400 x 1,080 pixels). Those expecting a high refresh rate are in for a disappointment, though, as the panel is capped at a standard-fare 60Hz refresh rate. It does, however, supports HDR10 video playback. Google’s new affordable smartphone is powered by last year’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G processor. It has 6GB RAM and 128GB internal storage. Like every other phone in this line-up, the Pixel 5a 5G lacks a storage expansion slot.

For shutterbugs, the Pixel 5a 5G is equipped with a dual-camera setup on its back, much like the Pixel 4a and the Pixel 5. The primary 12.2MP shooter has OIS to compensate for shaky hands. Along with that, you get a 16MP ultrawide camera that offers a 107-degree FoV (Field of View). Selfies can be captured using the phone’s 8MP fixed-focus snapper that sits inside a punch-hole in the left corner of the screen. Moving on to video recording, 4K at 60fps is the best the Pixel 5a 5G can do, and that too from the rear-facing camera. The front-facing camera is limited to 1080p 30fps.

The device houses a 4,680 mAh battery that supports 18W fast charging (via USB Power Delivery). This 5G smartphone comes with a single nano-SIM card slot and supports eSIM. This combination offers dual-SIM capability. It has two onboard speakers and a couple of mics for noise cancellation. The handset covers essential connectivity features such as dual-band Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0 (with LE), NFC, GPS, a USB Type-C port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. It is available in only one colour: Mostly Black.

Also Read: What Is 5G? Do You Really Need A 5G Smartphone In India?

The Pixel 5a 5G features a rear-facing capacitive fingerprint scanner. Its metal body is rated at IP67 for dust and water resistance. The smartphone runs stock Android 11, devoid of any bloatware (if you don’t consider unnecessary Google apps as bloatware). Since it is made by Google, the phone comes with a promise of a minimum of 3 years of OS and security updates. It means that the phone should receive the Android 14 update in 2023.

Google Pixel 5a 5G Price and Availability

The Pixel 5a 5G is priced at $449 (around ₹33,392) and is available for pre-order in the US and Japan. You can also purchase it with the carrier financing option provided by Verizon. At this point, Google hasn’t revealed its plan of a global rollout or its India launch plans.