The Pixel 4a was one of the best phones to come out last year. There’s a good chance we’ll see Google come out with an updated model in 2021. We do not yet know what features it will include, but that does not mean we can not discuss what we would like to see. the Google Pixel 5a.
As with all of our wish lists, we tried to make it realistic. This means you will not see us include a feature like a microSD slot. Chances are that Google will change its position on expandable storage.
Here are five things we want to see from the Google Pixel 5a.
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Do not make the Pixel 5a more expensive than the Pixel 4a
Credit: David Imel / Android Government
The best thing about the Pixel 4a is how affordable it is. For $ 349, you get a phone that is relatively fast, features the best camera software from Google and does not sacrifice things like battery life and display quality. While we’d like to see Google add some cool new Pixel 5a features and enhance existing features, we don’t want it to lead to a more expensive phone.
See also: The best budget phones you can buy right now
This, of course, is easier said than done. Google needs to find a way to make the Pixel 5a price convincing against other budget phones that will appear in 2021. This is where the features highlighted below come into the picture. We think these are reasonable inclusions that the company can offer without making the next low cost device more expensive.
A more versatile camera
Credit: David Imel / Android Government
We all know Google makes some of the best camera software in the industry. However, the hardware that drives the photographic experience of the company is starting to show its age. One current issue is that the primary 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 12MP sensor shows its age.
If you spend enough time with the Pixel 4a, it’s easy to spot the limitations of its camera compared to some phones you can buy for about the same price. While its 12MP sensor can easily deliver better results than devices like the Galaxy A51, you will notice a loss of detail when cropping photos due to the lower resolution sensor.
Even if the Pixel 5a does not include a new sensor, Google can still make the phone’s camera more versatile in other ways. Since we see so many other devices in the Pixel 4a’s price range coming out with multi-camera settings, we think Google can realistically add an ultra wide sensor to the Pixel 5a without making the phone more expensive. That’s what it did with the Pixel 4a 5G.
A 90Hz screen
Credit: David Imel / Android Government
Considering the size, resolution and color accuracy of the Pixel 4a screen, it has almost everything you want from a phone at its price point. The only thing it lacks is a faster than 60Hz refresh rate. Since we’ve seen 90Hz screens make their way to budget phones like the OnePlus Nord N100, this’s something Google could possibly add to the Pixel 5a without raising the price. It is also a more realistic inclusion than other features such as wireless charging or better waterproofing, which companies usually save for their more expensive models. As an added bonus, it will make the Pixel 5a more responsive without an expensive processor upgrade.
5G
Credit: David Imel / Android Government
Let’s be honest, 5G is not a feature that most of us pay attention to, and its possible inclusion will not make the Pixel 5a better than the 4a. However, it is an additive that feels inevitable at this point. When it comes to mass-market devices like the Pixel 4a, keep in mind that carriers, not consumers, are Google’s main customers. Telecommunications, especially in the US, want to sell their subscribers on 5G. So Google will probably find a way to include 5G support. If you do not, the Pixel 5a will be a non-starter for users.
Related: The best 5G phones you can buy right now
If 5G prices for the Pixel 5a follow those of the Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a 5G, a potential mmWave version could cost more than its sub-6GHz counterpart. This is not bad news though, as a 5G-capable Pixel 5a could simplify Google’s range. If the 5a does come with 5G, there is no reason for Google to release a separate 5G variant of the 5a as with the Pixel 4a and 4a 5G. As such, you do not have to save between money and buying a better phone. Since all current processors support Qualcomm 5G, this is a good idea.
Give us more colors
Like a true Model T, the Pixel 4a got only one color: black. Quitting the usual playful approach to color was one of the ways Google could make the Pixel 4a so affordable. The company eventually came out with a Barely Blue model, but you could only buy it in the US and Japan.
This time we would like to see the Google Pixel 5a introduced in different colorways to give consumers more choice and that the options are available outside the US.
What feature would you like to see in Google Pixel 5a? Let us know in the poll below and in the comments section.
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