Pixel 4a may not get an XL variant according to rumor

Google’s Pixel phones are an important flagship hardware product for the company, even though they haven’t exactly set the sales charts alight. Part of the reason for the lackluster performance is that they have been on the expensive side while the second, third and current gen Pixel 4 have all had one controversy or another surrounding them. This has made the recently leaked, and surprisingly attractive, Pixel 4a a particularly important handset for the company this year.

However, if you had your eyes set on a larger Pixel 4a XL stablemate, it appears that Google might be forgoing that model this time around. According to respected vlogger Dave Lee, Google felt that last year’s Pixel 3a XL stole too many sales away from the more premium Pixel 3 XL. Given that the battery life of the smaller Pixel 4 has been pilloried by the press, it does makes sense for Google to address this particular shortcoming with a single mid-range entrant. At the same time, pushing customers who want a larger display to the more expensive, and less controversial, Pixel 4 XL model also makes financial sense.

In terms of what to expect from the Pixel 4a, early indications are that it will have a 5.7 to 5.8-inch AMOLED display with a Snapdragon 7 series chipset. As one of the big selling points of last year’s mid-range Pixel 3a range is that it retained a high-end camera set up, we expect Google to continue with this philosophy with the Pixel 4a as it is a clear point of market differentiation. While we’d love to see a Pixel 4a XL as a more affordable option for lovers of  more affordable large screen phones, Google’s apparent strategy rethink makes sense.

Pixel 4 on sale now at Amazon