Cheaper Google Pixel phones might be on their way

Google may be working on cheaper versions of its Pixel 3 phones, the Google Pixel 3a and the Google Pixel 3a XL, 9to5Google reported Monday, citing a source familiar with the phones. 

There have been previous rumors about the new Pixels, with an alleged launch date in the spring, but now we’re also getting details on some of the phones’ specifications. Exact pricing has not been revealed, but per 9to5Google, the new phones may be “a couple hundred dollars cheaper.” (Currently the Pixel 3 is on sale for $600 at the Google Store.) 

According to the new report, the Pixel 3a will have a 5.6-inch OLED display with a 2,220×1,080 pixel resolution. It will be powered by a Snapdragon 670 chip, and come with 4GB of RAM, a 12-megapixel rear camera, an 8-megapixel wide-angle selfie camera, and a 3,000mAh battery. 

The Pixel 3a XL will likely have a 6-inch display; there’s no word on the chip or the camera.

Both phones are said to have USB-C connectors, 64GB of storage, Active Edge squeeze sensors on the sides, a Titan M security chip, and 18W fast charging. And both phones will come in either white or black (the Pixel 3 and 3 XL are also available in pink). 

If the reports are true, the new Pixels might be a way to get all of Google’s software goodies that are exclusive to Pixel phones without spending a ton of money. 

It’s unclear when the phones will hit the market, but 9to5Google says it seems like the launch is “imminent.”