Ahead of the high-end Pixel 6 and 6 Pro launching this fall, Google today launched its latest entry-level smartphone with the Pixel 5a with 5G. The new iPhone SE competitor brings an all-metal body, high-capacity battery, headphone jack, and more alongside the next-gen cellular connectivity.
At the beginning of August, Google showed off the upcoming flagship Pixel 6 and 6 Pro. Those devices will compete head-on with the iPhone 13 and 13 Pro and come with Google’s first custom SoC.
- Ahead of iPhone 13, Google teases new Pixel 6 and 6 Pro with its own custom silicon
- Roundup: The iPhone 13 is coming next month; here’s what we know so far
And ahead of those new premium devices, Google has launched its latest budget smartphone with the addition of 5G connectivity and more. It’s priced $50 above the $399 that Apple’s iPhone SE goes for, however, the Pixel 5a with 5G includes things like a larger 6.3-inch display (4.7-inch on iPhone SE) and headphone jack.
Another selling point is the biggest battery ever put in a Pixel smartphone – 4680mAh. That’s over 2.5 times bigger than the 1821mAh capacity of the iPhone SE battery. And an upgrade coming from previous Pixel devices is a full-metal body with the 5a. All of that means a compelling package at just $449.
- Pixel 5a with 5G Review: Uncompromised $449 value counters a wave of pricey flagships
- Pixel 5a with 5G: Everything you need to know about the new mid-ranger
As for the next-gen iPhone SE, it is expected to come with 5G and an upgraded processor in the first half of 2022.
Reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicted that the 2022 iPhone SE with 5G would retain the same 4.7-inch screen and overall design as the current model. But we could see the iPhone SE shift to a hole-punch design display in 2023.
- Kuo: New iPhone SE with 5G and new processor still on track for first half of 2022
- Analyst: iPhone SE adding 5G in 2022, hole-punch design coming in 2023
