Google Pixel 5a unveiled: budget Pixel camera phone with water resistance

(Image credit: Google)

Google has officially announced the Google Pixel 5a, the latest budget Pixel phone from the company. Following last year's popular Google Pixel 4a, this new handset will feature a larger battery, water resistance and a marginally larger screen. While the Pixel 5a is only seeing nominal updates from the 4a, the affordable price tag of just $449 (around £350 / AU$650) is definitely likely to help entice consumers as well.

Featuring IP67 water resistance, a new powerful battery and a dual camera system, the Google Pixel 5a also boasts 5G connectivity (although it doesn't support the fastest mmWave 5G networks).

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The Google Pixel 5a will feature a 4,680 mAh battery that features fast-charging and Adaptive Battery. These features are designed to ensure that the Pixel 5a will be "ready all-day, especially when you need it most", according to Google's blog announcing the handset. Plus, the Extreme Battery Saver mode means that the Google Pixel 5a is billed to be able to last up to 48 hours on a single charge.

Meanwhile, the Google Pixel 5a will feature IP67 water and dust resistance for the first time every within the Pixel A-series. An IP67 rating means that the Pixel 5a would be able to be dropped into a body of water up to a meter deep for half an hour.

For the keen smartphone snappers, the Google Pixel 5a features a rear dual camera system with a 12MP standard lens and a 16MP ultrawide lens. Meanwhile, fun camera features such as Night Sight, Live HDR+, Cinematic Pan and Portrait Light will open up lots of photographic opportunities for Google Pixel 5a users.

The Google Pixel 5a is now available for pre-order from $449 (approx. £350 / AU$650) in the US and Japan on the Google Store and it will begin shipping on 26 August. Release dates for other regions have yet to be announced.

With over a decade of photographic experience, Louise arms Digital Camera World with a wealth of knowledge on photographic technique and know-how – something at which she is so adept that she's delivered workshops for the likes of ITV and Sue Ryder. Louise also brings years of experience as both a web and print journalist, having served as features editor for Practical Photography magazine and contributing photography tutorials and camera analysis to titles including Digital Camera Magazine and Digital Photographer. Louise currently shoots with the Fujifilm X-T200 and the Nikon D800, capturing self-portraits and still life images, and is DCW's ecommerce editor, meaning that she knows good camera, lens and laptop deals when she sees them.

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