- According to two sources speaking with Android Central, the Google Pixel 5a may have been canceled.
- The alleged reasoning behind the cancelation is the ongoing global chip shortage.
- With no Pixel 5a, the Pixel 4a and Pixel 4a 5G would likely remain Google’s budget models throughout 2021.
Update, April 9, 2021 (01:22 PM ET): Not long after publishing the article below, Google issued us a statement on the matter. Here is what a Google spokesperson had to say:
Pixel 5a 5G is not cancelled. It will be available later this year in the U.S. and Japan and announced in line with when last year’s a-series phone was introduced.
Not only does this confirm that there will, in fact, be a Pixel 5a, but it also confirms that it will support 5G connections. Stay tuned for more info!
Over the past few months, we’ve seen a few rumors leak out related to Google’s next expected budget phone, the Pixel 5a. We’ve even seen renders of the phone from reliable leaker @onleaks (see above). However, a new report from Android Central suggests that the phone might not make it to launch.
According to the report, two sources confirmed with AC that Google has canceled the Pixel 5a entirely. The reasoning behind the alleged cancelation is the ongoing global chip shortage, which would make perfect sense. The shortage has already prevented Samsung from launching the next iteration of its Galaxy Note phones.
Related: Google Pixel 5a: All the rumors so far
With no Pixel 5a, the 2020 “a” phones from Google would likely remain in production throughout 2021. This would be a big change from what Google did with the Pixel 3a, which it discontinued around the launch of the Pixel 4a.
We expected the Google Pixel 5a to land in May at Google I/O 2021, which the company confirmed earlier this week. However, it appears that might not happen.
We reached out to Google to get confirmation on this, but have yet to hear back. We will update this article should Google issue a statement.
