Google Pixel 4a reportedly delayed until October, Barely Blue to be scrapped

Google’s Pixel 3a and 3a XL launched last year on May 7. We have been eagerly waiting for the Pixel 4a to arrive this year, with rumors initially suggesting that Google was going to announce it during Google I/O. That event was cancelled due to the pandemic, and the phone kept getting further delayed. Photos of the phone’s retail packaging leaked back in early-April and we’re already more than two months since then.

The latest report comes from Jon Prosser via Twitter. According to the tipster, the Google Pixel 4a has been again delayed after the phone was expected to be announced sometime in July, and released in August. Prosser reports there will still be a launch event taking place on July 13, but his source shows that a Black variant won’t launch until October 22. At the same time, a new Barely Blue color option is being eliminated altogether.

Where’s Pixel 4a?

Here’s an update:

AGAIN, it seems Google has delayed Pixel 4a 🤦🏼‍♂‍

Announcement still happening on July 13

But in the system, it’s listed that the “Black” model now launching October 22 😬

“Barely Blue” has been removed entirely…

I’ll keep you updated. 🤷🏼‍♂‍ https://t.co/UgsWJrYK4U pic.twitter.com/TX209u9Jqb

— Jon Prosser (@jon_prosser) June 13, 2020

That release date in October sounds like the Pixel 4a could launch around the same time as the Pixel 5 is announced. Prosser has previously reported that Google has Pixel 4a devices ready to go, but delays have been piling up due to “market conditions”. Surely, COVID-19 has affected many industries and people’s willingness to spend. Perhaps Google wants to wait until consumers are ready to buy a new midrange phone.

We can speculate that Google might even rebrand the Pixel 4a as a “Pixel 5a”. Why would Google eliminate a Barely Blue option? Why is Google sitting on completed Pixel 4a units? Could it be that Google would rather launch the Pixel 4a closer to the holiday season? At this point, there are more questions than answers. Prosser has had accuracy in other Samsung and Apple rumors, but the uncertainty of the market makes it more difficult to predict Google’s moves.

Leaked Pixel 4a render

The Pixel 4a is expected to arrive with 64GB of internal storage and running a Snapdragon 730 CPU and 6GB of RAM. It’s got a 5.81-inch OLED screen with FHD+ resolution and a 12.2MP main camera with an 8MP selfie camera in the punch-hole cutout. There’s also a 3,080 mAh battery, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and the 4a will no longer include the Active Edge feature.

Via Twitter