The Pixel 4a was one of the best phones launched last year. There is a good chance that we will see Google launch an updated model in 2021. We don’t know what features it will include yet, but that does not mean that we cannot discuss what we would like to see in Google Pixel 5a.
As with all of our wish lists, we try to make them realistic. This means that you will not see us include a feature like a microSD slot. There is very little chance that Google will change its stance on expandable storage.
Here are five things we want to see on Google Pixel 5a.
Google Buyer’s Guide: Everything you need to know about Google hardware
Don’t make the Pixel 5a more expensive than the Pixel 4a
Credit: David Imel / Android Authority
The best thing about the Pixel 4a is how accessible it is. For $ 349, you get a phone that is relatively fast, has the best Google camera software in its class, and doesn’t sacrifice things like battery life and screen quality. While we would love to see Google add some cool new features of the Pixel 5a and improve existing ones, we would not like them to lead to a more expensive phone.
See too: The best budget phones you can buy now
Obviously, it is easier said than done. Google needs to find a way to make the Pixel 5a’s price attractive compared to other budget phones that will launch in 2021. That’s where the features highlighted below come into play. We think these are reasonable inclusions that the company could offer without making its next low-cost device more expensive.
A more versatile camera
Credit: David Imel / Android Authority
We all know that Google makes some of the best camera software in the industry. However, the hardware that powers the company’s photographic experience is beginning to show its age. A constant problem is that the main camera of the Pixel 4a uses a Sony IMX 363. This is the same sensor that Google has been using since 2017 with the Pixel 2.
The Pixel 4a’s 12 MP sensor is showing its age.
When you spend enough time with the Pixel 4a, it’s easy to spot your camera’s limitations compared to some of the phones you can buy for the same price. While its 12 MP sensor can easily provide better overall results than similarly priced devices like the Galaxy A51, you will begin to notice a loss of detail when cropping images due to the lower resolution sensor.
Even if the Pixel 5a doesn’t have a new sensor, Google can still make the phone’s camera more versatile in other ways. Given that we’ve seen so many other devices in the Pixel 4a’s price range with multiple camera configurations, we thought Google could realistically add an ultra-wide sensor to the Pixel 5a without making the phone more expensive. After all, that’s what happened with the Pixel 4a 5G.
A 90 Hz screen
Credit: David Imel / Android Authority
When you consider the size, resolution and color accuracy of the Pixel 4a’s screen, it has almost everything you could want from a phone in this price range. The only thing missing is a refresh rate above 60Hz. Given that we’ve seen 90Hz screens making way for cheap phones like the OnePlus Nord N100, it’s something that Google could add to the Pixel 5a without increasing the price. It is also a more realistic inclusion than other features, such as wireless charging or better waterproofing, which companies generally save for their most expensive models. As an added bonus, it would make the Pixel 5a look more responsive without an expensive processor upgrade.
5G
Credit: David Imel / Android Authority
Let’s be honest, 5G is not a feature that most of us care about, and its potential inclusion will not make the Pixel 5a better than the 4a. However, it is an addition that seems inevitable at this point. When it comes to mass-market devices like the Pixel 4a, you should keep in mind that operators, not consumers, are Google’s main customers. Telecommunications, especially in the US, wants to sell 5G to its subscribers. Therefore, Google will likely find a way to include 5G support. Failure to do so would make the Pixel 5a a failure for operators.
Related: The best 5G phones you can buy now
If the price of the 5G for the Pixel 5a follows that of the Pixel 5 and the Pixel 4a 5G, a potential mmWave version may cost more than its Sub-6GHz counterpart. However, not all is bad news, as a Pixel 5a with a 5G capability could simplify Google’s programming. If the 5th comes with 5G, there is no reason for Google to launch a separate 5G variant from the 5th as it did with the Pixel 4a and the 4th 5G. That way, you wouldn’t have to choose between saving money and buying a more efficient phone. Considering that almost all current Qualcomm processors support 5G, this is a no-brainer.
Give us more colors
Like a true Model T, the Pixel 4a came in just one color: black. Abandoning its usual playful approach to color was one of the ways Google managed to make the Pixel 4a so accessible. The company ended up launching a Barely Blue model, but you could only buy it in the U.S. and Japan.
This time, we’d love to see the Google Pixel 5a come out in several different colors to give consumers more options and to make those options available outside the U.S.
What feature do you want to reach Google Pixel 5a? Let us know in the poll below and in the comments section.
Loading poll