Google Pixel 3a has been discontinued - does this mean the Pixel 4a release is near?
The budget beast is no more
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TheGoogle Pixel 3awas one of the most pleasantly surprising smartphones of 2019, as no one was expecting the company to release an affordable version of itsPixel 3handset, but a year on and the anticipatedGoogle Pixel 4ahas yet to materialize.
People who are in the market for a great cheap phone might be alarmed to learn, then, that theGooglePixel 3a has been discontinued by the company, so people who want a good affordable phone will soon have to look elsewhere. Google confirmed this in a statement toAndroid Police.
For the time being, retailers with stock will continue to sell the Pixel 3a, but when the devices have sold out you’ll only be able to buy them second-hand. At the time of writing theGoogle Storehas units available in the UK, but not the US.
Once the phones sell out, people looking for a great affordable handset will have to look elsewhere, perhaps at theiPhone SE (2020),Xiaomi Mi Note 10or phones in theSamsungGalaxy A series - that is, unless Google launches the Pixel 4a very soon.
Bring on the Pixel 4a
Most of the time, when smartphones are discontinued, it happens at the same time as a newer version is launched. TheSamsung Galaxy S10was discontinued on the day of theGalaxy S20launch, theiPhone XRwas dropped byAppleat theiPhone 11launch event, and so on. Sometimes, though, the phones stop being sold just before, as is often the case withOnePlus phones.
The Google Pixel 3a discontinuation, then, could suggest the Pixel 4a is right around the corner. Rumors have generally been pointing to a July release date (although some suggest it will be unveiled towards the end of the year alongside thePixel 5), and suffice to say it’s July right now.
It seems very likely, then, that the Pixel 3a’s demise heralds the arrival of the Google Pixel 4a, so if you’re in the market for a new affordable device, you might not have long to wait.
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Saying that, there are still Pixel 3a units available from certain retailers - we’ll list prices in your region below:
Tom Bedford was deputy phones editor on TechRadar until late 2022, having worked his way up from staff writer. Though he specialized in phones and tablets, he also took on other tech like electric scooters, smartwatches, fitness, mobile gaming and more. He is based in London, UK and now works for the entertainment site What To Watch.
He graduated in American Literature and Creative Writing from the University of East Anglia. Prior to working on TechRadar, he freelanced in tech, gaming and entertainment, and also spent many years working as a mixologist.
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