Pixel 6a could debut during the Google I/O conference in May, and I hope so

According to rumours, the Google Pixel 6a is shaping up to be an attractive budget smartphone. It’s expected to get the same Tensor GS101 chip that the Pixel 6 uses, and hopefully keep the same $449 price tag as the Pixel 5a.

And now, the latest rumor claims that Google could announce the next Pixel A series phone at its annual Google I/O conference, which is expected to take place in May.

That would be great news.

Spring is the perfect time of year to announce the Pixel 6a, especially in light of late summer releases for that phone’s predecessors. The Pixel 4a and 5a arrived in August 2020 and 2021, respectively. This differed from the Pixel 3a, which Google revealed at its 2019 developer conference in May.

In other words, the coronavirus pandemic pushed back the timelines for the 4a and 5a launches (although the Pixel 5a launch was not helped by the current chip shortage). That caused the August window to launch for new Pixel A series phones by default.

Why the Pixel 6a launch in May makes sense

I think Google should break away from its current parent and go back to the spring release window with the Pixel 6a. With an August release, the A-series only has about two months to breathe before the flagship Pixels come out. In the case of the Pixel 5a, it was less than two months before the Pixel 6 arrived. That’s not a long time for a phone to sit on shelves, and while the A-series is the budget alternative to regular Pixels, it’s still a consideration.

The Pixel 6a could support much of the design language of the Pixel 6 (Image credit: 91mobiles/OnLeaks)

Move the Pixel 6a’s launch window to spring, though, and that leaves all of summer and the early part of fall to attract buyers. It’ll also give us all a break between Google (and other major) phone launches. I’d be lying if I said that idea doesn’t appeal to me.

In recent years, Google I/O has become less of a developer-focused conference. It’s one of the biggest events of the year for Android fans, as it’s where Google talks about that year’s Android software update. At last year’s virtual conference, for example, the company introduced Material You, the new design language for Android in the future. But Google has revealed hardware at I/O before, like with the Nexus 7 and 9 many years ago, and the aforementioned Pixel 3a.

Google I/O is about software, more than just Android, and the focus has never been on hardware. Historically, most of the hardware revealed (and sometimes handed out to attendees) was related in some way to what Google announced during the event.

All this to say, I really hope Google announces the Pixel 6a at I/O 2022. Not only will this move make the conference more exciting than it already will be, it will also give the 6a more time to be in the light. of calcium. After all, if the rumors pan out, the Pixel 6a will be an incredibly powerful budget phone that’s well positioned to take on the iPhone SE 3, which is also expected to launch around that time.