Google Pixel 5a hits FCC, signaling imminent launch
Robert Triggs / Android Authority
TL; DR
- A phone that is undoubtedly the Google Pixel 5a has just landed with the FCC.
- Interestingly, the phone has three model numbers, suggesting it could end up in more countries than the two previously confirmed.
- As usual, a public FCC listing almost always indicates an imminent launch date.
Although Google has confirmed that its next A-series smartphone is absolutely on the way, the rumor mill has been pretty quiet lately. While we’ve seen leaked renders and can infer some specs, there hasn’t been much new regarding the Google Pixel 5a in the past few weeks.
However, the phone just appeared on the FCC (h / t Android police). Well, to be clear, a nameless Google smartphone just went through the FCC. But according to the information from the FCC, it is practically certain that it is the Pixel 5a.
Connected: Google Pixel 5a: All the rumors so far
Sometimes FCC lists can provide information about the phone’s specifications. This time around, however, the most interesting piece of information is the fact that the Pixel 5a appears to have three model numbers: G1F8F, GR0M2 and G4S1M. The G1F8F is almost certainly the model for the US that provides the LTE bands for most carriers as well as Sub6-5G bands. There’s no mmWave on board, but that’s to be expected for a budget-minded device.
The other two models – GR0M2 and G4S1M – appear to be international variants. This is strange, however, as Google said the Pixel 5a would only land in the US and Japan. If so, why should there be two non-US models? It is possible that there is a third country of departure that we do not yet know about. If so, Google could only withhold this information for now. Conversely, the company could only get approval for a third model with no intention of releasing it.
The Google Pixel 5a will likely be a subtle variation on the Pixel 4a 5G, albeit without mmWave support. With that in mind, it will likely be cheaper than the Pixel 4a 5G and would likely replace both it and the vanilla Pixel 4a as an active, budget-conscious pixel.
With that listing, plus Google’s previous claims, we should be launching this phone sometime in August.
