Google discontinues Pixel 3a ahead of rumored 4a launch
Could this mean the Pixel 4a is coming soon?
One of the best budget smartphones on the market right now, the Google Pixel 3a, has been discontinued. Following reports of the move on Thursday, Google confirmed the news to Android Police. It says that it has “sold through its inventory and completed sales of Pixel 3a.”
The $400 smartphone launched last year and has enjoyed a mostly favorable reception during its short lifespan. Google is also discontinuing the 3a’s larger cousin, the 3a XL. Their discontinuation will help the company make room for the rumored Pixel 4a as well as the Pixel 5 which is slated to launch later this year.
Dying Young
Typically, smartphones have a longer lifespan than the Pixel 3a. However, it shouldn’t be surprising that Google is doing away with the budget phone. Doing so is a smart move from a business standpoint.
It means that Google won’t have to offer steep discounts on the 3a to clear space for the unconfirmed Pixel 4a. At one point, the 3a saw its price slashed all the way down to $299. That was an incredible deal for a phone with the 3a’s specs and performance.
Now, its price is moving in the opposite direction. Retailers tend to surge prices of discontinued items as consumers scramble to buy the last few models.
Just because the Pixel 3a and 3a XL have been discontinued doesn’t mean they aren’t still available. Some third-party sellers will offer the phones until their inventory is depleted. The Verge notes that both models are available at Amazon and Best Buy.
Of course, that inventory likely won’t last long. Anyone who is desperate to get their hands on a new Pixel 3a should do so as soon as possible. If you’re in the market for a budget smartphone, you could do a lot worse.
Pixel 4a Rumors
If the world wasn’t battling a pandemic, Google probably would have already announced the Pixel 4a. Many speculate that the phone could have made its debut at Google I/O 2020, the company’s annual conference, had it not been canceled. Mention of the rumored device was also missing from last month’s Android 11 announcements.
As such, the release of a Pixel 4a remains up in the air. Current rumors suggest that the phone could arrive sometime in July.
For Google, there is a lot riding on the Pixel 4a. Unlike when the 3a was released last year, it will face stiff competition from other high-quality budget phones like the Samsung Galaxy A51. Meanwhile, due to the flat reception of the main Pixel 4, the 4a needs to pick up some slack for Google’s smartphone line.
If recent reports are true, the 4a will feature a 5.81-inch display (2340 x 1080 resolution), a Snapdragon 730 processor, 6GB of RAM, a 3,080mAh battery, and a 12.2-megapixel rear camera.
Sadly for fans of the larger model, it doesn’t appear that a Pixel 4a XL is being planned.
Stay tuned to The Burn-In for all things tech and the latest developments in the smartphone world.
Originally published at https://www.theburnin.com on July 3, 2020.
