Formally revealed on the launch of Google’s Pixel 4a last month, the search giant’s upcoming Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a 5G handsets are actually inching closer to launch, with new FCC filings in the US lending credence to an earlier report that they might be launching as soon as September 30.
As reported by 9to5Google, new regulatory filings assumed to be for multiple variants of the Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a 5G have landed at the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which more often than not signifies {that a} launch is imminent.
Interestingly, charts included with the FCC filings suggest that the Google Pixel 5 will offer separate variants for both the Sub-6 and mmWave 5G bands.
While mmWave technology offers a lot faster downlink speeds over 5G than bands that are Sub-6 solely, it does so at the expense of geographical coverage, main us to assume that your carrier and area will decide which model of the phone you receive.
As for the Pixel 4a 5G, it appears the handset will solely offer assist for the slower Sub-6 bands, which seems about proper given its very reasonable value of $599 (AU$799 / around £448).
What to expect
Both phones (together with the top-tier Pixel 5) are anticipated to hold the Snapdragon 765G chipset, which is the processor presently driving quite a few higher mid-range handsets, together with the Motorola Edge Plus and the LG Velvet.
This may counsel that Google is looking to hold the worth of its next flagship down, rather than take on the likes of Samsung’s beastly (and incredibly costly) Galaxy Note 20 Ultra.
That said, we’ll have to wait till the Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a 5G are formally launched to find out exactly what Google has in store for us.