Google on Wednesday announced several new devices, including a revamped Chromecast streaming stick, complete with a remote and dedicated interface, a new Nest Audio smart speaker, and two new smartphones, the Pixel 4a 5G[1] and Pixel 5[2].
While the Chromecast is available to purchase right now[3], and the Nest Audio can be preordered right now[4], you're going to have to wait a couple of weeks to get your hands on the new phones.
The Pixel 4a 5G is effectively the same as the $349 Pixel 4a Google[5] released in August, but with the addition of 5G support. For the added bonus of a faster connection, you'll pay $499. You can't preorder it right now, but instead, you have to join a waitlist.
The Pixel 5, on the other hand, is a new design and a new approach for Google[6] . Instead of competing with the likes of Apple and Samsung with a flagship four-figure phone, the Pixel 5 is at the low end of flagship phones, priced at $699. You can order it now, and it will arrive Oct. 15.
There's plenty of smartphone competition for Google in this price range[7], so it'll be interesting to see if Google has more success with this year's release.
Taking a closer look at the Pixel 4a 5G, you can expect a 6.2-inch display, 6GB of memory, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G processor, 3,800mAh battery, 12.2-megapixel dual-pixel camera, and a 16-megapixel wide-angle camera on the back, an 8-megapixel front-facing camera, and a fingerprint sensor on the back of the phone.
The Pixel 5 has a slightly smaller display, measuring 6-inches, with what Google is calling a "transmissive" hole. It includes