SAN FRANCISCO: Google unveiled a new more affordable Pixel smartphone and said it would launch models tailored for super-fast 5G networks later this year.
The Pixel 4a boasts core features popular that made its top-of-the-line predecessor popular like a sophisticated camera system. The new phone will be available in the United States starting 20th August. Its starting price of $349 is about half that of the flagship Pixel 4 model.
While still a small player in the smartphone hardware market, Google found success with the release last year of the Pixel 3a, which stopped the trend of sky-high prices for top-tier handsets.
“Last year, Pixel 3a gave people a chance to get the helpful features of Pixel at a more affordable price,” said Google product management vice president Brian Rakowski.
“This year, Pixel 4a and the first 5G-enabled Pixels, Pixel 4a (5G) and Pixel 5 coming this fall, will continue to bring the features people love packaged in sleek new hardware at more affordable prices.”
The coming Pixel 4a synched to 5G networks still being built will start at $499, and be available in Australia, Britain Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Taiwan, and the United States.
The global smartphone market plummeted in the second quarter of this year while only Apple managed to grow. Apple shipped 45.1 million iPhones globally, a growth of 25 percent compared to the same period a year earlier
The smartphone market worldwide fell 14 percent to 285 million units in a second consecutive quarter of decline amid the coronavirus pandemic.
China’s Huawei overtook Samsung to become the number-one smartphone seller worldwide in the second quarter on the back of strong domestic demand.
The embattled firm which is facing US sanctions and falling overseas sales shipped 55.8 million devices for the first time topping Samsung, which shipped 53.7 million units.
The findings marked the first quarter in nine years that a company other than Samsung or Apple has led the market.
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