Google Pixel fans are endlessly waiting for the arrival of the Pixel 4a midrange. While some rumors have claimed that the Snapdragon 730 powered smartphone will debut this month, while contradictory reports have claimed that its arrival could be postponed until October. Previous reports have claimed that Google could be launching the Pixel 5 and Pixel 5 XL phones in October. However, a fresh report on 9to5Google claims that the search engine will not be launching two phones such as Pixel 4a (5G) and Pixel 5 soon, and it will not be launching the Pixel 5 XL handset.

Dylan Roussel from 9to5Google scoured through the code of the latest beta edition of the Google Search app and came across the codenames of the entire Google Pixel lineup for this year. As shown in the below image, Bramble is the codename of Pixel 5 whereas the Pixel 4a (5G) is codenamed as Redfin. Initial reports had claimed that these handsets could be debuting as Pixel 5 and Pixel 5 XL.

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As previous reports have revealed, the Sunfish codename belongs to the upcoming Pixel 4a handset. The Pixel 4a XL and Pixel 5 XL are not on the list. This suggests that the search engine giant has not planned to launch these phones this year.

The Bramble phone i.e. the Pixel 5 is rumored to be equipped with Snapdragon 765 chipset and is not a flagship phone. The Pixel 4a (5G) could be powered by a less powerful 5G chipset. Qualcomm has recently launched the Snapdragon 690 5G that brings 5G capabilities on affordable devices. It remains to be whether Google uses SD690 on the Pixel 4a (5G). Even if the Pixel 4a (5G) arrives with SD765G, the company may offer it with cheaper build materials like plastic whereas the Pixel 5 may arrive with aluminum and glass chassis. Since the hardware information for Pixel 4a (5G) and Pixel 5 are just assumptions, it is advisable to wait for further reports to know more about their specs.

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Google is working overtime to expedite the process of moving base from China to Vietnam. Last year, Google moved the Pixel 4 production line partially, resulting in massive leaks before the official unveiling. This year the company plans to manufacture  the forthcoming Google Pixel 5 in Vietnam entirely. What started off as a precautionary step against the Sino-American trade war, just got a major priority boost due to the sudden Coronavirus outbreak.

According to Nikkei Asian Review, two well-placed sources within the industry have individually confirmed that Apple will manufacture the upcoming Google Pixel 4a and the Pixel 5 entirely out of Vietnam. This does not come as a surprise since Apple invested in one of its partner’s manufacturing units last year, prepping it for Pixel production. Although, the process was initiated due to the US putting a ban on direct trade relations with China. The gamble seems to have paid off this year due to the COVID-19 Coronavirus outbreak halting public life in China.

Editor’s Pick: Google Pixel 4A is codenamed “Sunfish” and packs Qualcomm Snapdragon 730 SoC

Although the coronavirus outbreak might still affect Pixel production as China faces a logistical barrier. Rumors suggest Google is contemplating the idea of moving base for some of its critical components that are still being manufactured in China. Google is not entirely dependent on China in terms of smartphone production, which is a luxury Apple cannot afford. Reports suggest that while Google sold around 7 million units last year, Apple sells over 200 million units manufactured at its Chinese plants. Hence, relocating to a different country is not as much of a headache as you would imagine.

Google’s projected timeframe for Pixel production at its Vietnamese facility is by April for the 4a and the second half of 2020 for the Pixel 5. The timeframe makes sense as Google’s usual calendar pins the Pixel 4a’s launch at mid-May. The delay in parts shipment from China might still hamper Google’s plans. According to an IDC spokesperson, “Even if production is moved outside China, critical component suppliers are still based in the country. Shipping out parts inevitably takes time, as the supply chain ecosystem takes time to rebuild”.

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Last year, Google had introduced the Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL smartphones with budget-friendly pricing before announcing the Pixel 4 series of flagship phones in October. The search engine giant is expected to debut with Google Pixel 4a and Pixel 4a XL with weaker specs than the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL along with affordable price tags this year. A previous report had claimed that the Pixel 4a XL does not exist, but a report from 9to5Google had revealed that it exists. XDA Developers received a tip on the codenames of Pixel devices for 2020. Scouring through the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) of Pixel 4’s firmware and newest version of Google apps revealed 3 codenames such as sunfish, redfin and bramble of new smartphones along with their respective processors. These codenames seem to belong to the upcoming Pixel 4a and Pixel 4a XL 5G.

Google Pixel 4a – Sunfish codename

The sunfish codename found in the AOSP repository is based on sm7150 which is the codename of the Snapdragon 730 mobile platform. It is the same processor that powers smartphones such as Redmi K30 and Realme X2. The publication has claimed that Sunfish has Android 10 and Android 11 based two development branches. The same codename along with the codenames of other Pixel devices was seen in a string in the Google app. This device is believed to be the Pixel 4a smartphone and it lacks support for 5G connectivity. Popular tipster has already shared the leaked CAD renders of the Pixel 4a smartphone in the previous month.

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Redfin and Bramble – Purported Google Pixel 4a XL

The Redfin codenamed device is being developed on the sm7250 and Android 10. The sm7250 is the codename of the Snapdragon 765 mobile platform. Since the SoC is integrated with 5G modem, it will be a 5G smartphone. The phone is being by manufacturer by FIH Mobile ODM, a subsidiary of Foxconn.

The Bramble codename was initially thought to be a Snapdragon 865 mobile platform. However, since it is running on Linux kernel version 4.19, it is not a SD865 device. As SD765 should be also based on Linux kernel vision 4.19, it could be based on sm7250 like the Redfin smartphone. There is no evidence on whether it is an ODM device. Like the Redfin, it is also being developed on Android and Android 11. There is a possibility that the Redfin or Bramble could end up as a 5G enabled Pixel 4a smartphone. Among Redfin and Bramble, one of them could be a commercial device whereas the other one could be a development board.

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Last week, popular leaker, OnLeaks shared renders of the Pixel 4a, the successor to Google’s first affordable Pixel phone, the Pixel 3a. He didn’t share renders of a successor to the Pixel 3a XL, so we assumed the device, which should arrive as the Pixel 4a XL, will show up in the future. Unfortunately, that may not happen according to tech YouTuber, Dave Lee.

In a YouTube video he posted yesterday, he revealed that there will be no Pixel 4a XL (around the 30-second mark). This is surprising as all the Pixel phones Google has released so far have a bigger variant.

He explains that the reason Google is ditching the bigger variant is that it didn’t sell as much as the smaller variant. The Pixel 3a launched for $399 while the Pixel 3a XL was priced at $479, pushing it into the affordable flagship killer price range. Seeing as the more affordable sold more, it is understandable why there won’t be an XL model this year.

He also revealed in the video that the Pixel 4a will come in three colors – Black (with a green power button), White (with an orange power button), and Arctic Blue (with a hot pink power button).

The Pixel 4a will have a 5.81-inch display with a punch hole at the top left corner. On the back is a squircle-shaped camera housing with a single camera and LED flash inside. There is also a fingerprint scanner in the middle.

The phone will have a plastic unibody with an audio jack at the top and a USB Type-C port at the bottom. It won’t have support for wireless charging which isn’t surprising as it is not a feature we expect a mid-range phone to have. The camera specs, battery capacity, and processor remain unknown at the moment but we are pretty sure it will run Android 10 out of the box.

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