Google recently unveiled the affordable Pixel smartphone series – Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL at the Google I/O 2019 developer conference. Both the devices feature mid-range specifications like Snapdragon 670 processor, 6GB RAM, and 64GB internal storage. Despite these specifications, the Pixel 3a carries a feature which Pixel 3 does not have, and that is the 3.5 mm audio jack.
In an interview, Google product manager Soniya Jobanputra explained different changes in the Pixel 3a series. Similarly, she described the existence of headphone jack on the Pixel 3a series and said, “We debated on this headphone jack, but we really felt that consumers at this price point, in this price tier, really needed flexibility and that’s what that headphone jack gives you.”
In other words, it appears some officials at the Google premises believe that the customers of Pixel 3a series can’t afford Bluetooth headphones. A 3.5mm jack allows users to leverage existing headphones without the need for USB-C adapter.
However, Google will keep facilitating the standard Pixel devices with the digital audio as it is the “the ultimate way to consume your audio.”
Google suspended the Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL from the official Android Q beta support. The reason behind it is unknown, but the devices will remain on the March Security update until next month. The formal OTA upgrade is suspended until June, whereas users can still sideload the OTA image from the Android Developers page. Despite being not eligible, some Pixel 3a users successfully managed to sign-up for the Android Beta program.
