This has been a pretty tough year for everyone. And for phone manufacturers like Google, it was even tougher. You see, the majority of these phones are manufactured in Asia. Where the pandemic first kicked off into high gear. Which meant that getting prototypes for new phones was nearly impossible even before the pandemic hit North America.
Companies like Samsung were okay, because everything is done in their home country of South Korea. But for Google, they use Vietnam and China for their devices.
Originally, Google had planned on releasing two Pixel 5 smartphones this year, and not a Pixel 5 XL. But instead a Pixel 5s. Which would have been the more premium model. While the Pixel 5 was more for “everyone”.
As the pandemic swept the world, Google had to change their Pixel strategy
While the pandemic was sweeping the world in March and April, Google had to make changes to their Pixel launch this year. And with the Pixel 4a being delayed until August, and not actually being available until late August, Google had to really rethink how it was going to launch its Pixel smartphones this year.
So the regular Pixel 5 became the Pixel 4a XL and then the Pixel 4a 5G. While the Pixel 5s became the Pixel 5. Which also helps to explain why the two devices are so similar, even though on denotes that it’s a mid-ranger while the other is a high-end device.
It’s still confusing, but that was bound to happen, as phones started getting delayed, due to the pandemic. This is also why the iPhone event hasn’t happened yet, and October is tomorrow. Normally Apple does their iPhone event in mid-September.
All three 2020 Pixels are very similar
All three of the Pixels released in 2020 are super similar in specs and size. All three offer up FHD+ OLED displays, with the 4a models doing 60Hz displays and 90Hz on the Pixel 5.
The 5G models sport the same chipset – Snapdragon 765G. With the 4a models sporting 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. And of course the Pixel 5 having 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage.
But there is a silver-lining. We are getting great smartphones that don’t cost $1,000 from Google. And that’s something to be excited about. The Pixel 4a is $349. While the Pixel 4a 5G is $499 and the Pixel 5 is $699. All of which are really great for their prices. Not to mention they have those amazing cameras on-board this time around.