Pixel 6a hits FCC with four different models

As Droid-Life notes, Google’s next mid-range phone, the Pixel 6a, has appeared in the FCC.

What is most surprising about the listing is the timing. The April submission of the Pixel 6a to the FCC is the earliest we’ve seen for the A series in a long time. The Pixel 5a was listed by the FCC in July 2021 and launched a month later in August, while the Pixel 4a entered the FCC in June 2020 and was also released in August. The first Pixel A phone, the Pixel 3a, was listed by the FCC in February and unveiled at Google I/O in May. This year’s (virtual) Google I/O event will take place on May 11, 2022, so that date is currently the phone’s most likely release date.

The list of four US models also indicates widespread adoption, and we could see the phone appear on several major carriers. I hope this will lead to more international support as well. The Pixel 5a is only sold in the US and Japan, presumably due to a worldwide shortage of chips. The variety of models listed may indicate that Google has sorted out its inventory and may be returning to a more conventional Pixel rollout across 13 countries.

We already know a lot about the Pixel 6a. The design was leaked in November and it showed that Google is continuing the excellent design of the Pixel 6 in a mid-range model. The Pixel 6’s trademark camera bar holds the cameras while providing a solid base to rest on your desk, avoiding the wobbly wobbliness you get from hitting an off-center camera. It will be the first Pixel A phone to feature an in-display fingerprint reader, which will be a big departure from the capacitive rear-facing fingerprint reader in previous models.

9to5Google Geekbench

We’re just looking at specs, but the Pixel 6a feels like it could be a small, powerful phone, and it might even push people to reconsider buying the flagship Pixel 6. The Pixel 6a’s only big “downgrade”is its smaller 6.2. inch screen size compared to a 6.4-inch 90Hz screen on the Pixel 6 and a 6.7-inch 120Hz screen on the Pixel 6 Pro. If the Pixel 6a’s display is 60Hz (the refresh rate isn’t clear at the moment), this could be a major deciding factor. The other downside is the camera system which only has two sensors and the main camera is reportedly the tried and trusted 12.2MP Sony IMX363 which was the main camera on the Pixel 2, 3, 4 and 5. It should still be great camera.

The Pixel A series is a fantastic buy if you’re looking for a no-frills Android phone. If the price is right, Google could have another winner.