Know It All Nev

On Demand Reviews – 2021

Category: Google Pixel

Google might have by accident proven off the Pixel 6’s in-display fingerprint sensor

Nifty Nev
Android, Google Pixel, Google Pixel 6, Google Pixel 6 Pro, Mobile, News |

Google may have already shared a lot about the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, but there are still quite a few unanswered questions the company will address at its proper launch later in the year. However, an accidental post from Google’s Android chief Hiroshi Lockheimer may just have revealed the position of the phone’s in-display fingerprint sensor — and it marks a change from rear-mounted fingerprint sensors (and the short-lived face unlock of the Pixel 4).
In an image shared on Twitter, the senior vice president posted a screenshot of the lock screen of an Android 12 phone with an in-display fingerprint sensor in a bid to show off the Material You interface. Eagle-eyed users quickly noticed that the elements on display matched what the Pixel 6 would be expected to show. The folks over at 9to5Google note that this could be a coincidence. Phones like the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra andOnePlus 9 Pro can be used on Android 12 at the moment, and they have in-display fingerprint sensors, albeit with differing positioning. However, the fact that the image was deleted rather quickly does make it more likely to be a Pixel 6. Google did also accidentally reveal the Pixel 5a’s camera in a similar manner earlier in the year.

Hiroshi Lockheimer apparently posted (and then deleted) a screenshot from what's likely the Pixel 6 Pro (the image resolution was 1440×3200.) The phone is connected to Verizon 5G, likely the carrier's sub-6GHz network. Also shown is the position of the UDFPS.
H/T @jspring86az pic.twitter.com/Pessh7RvNV
— Mishaal Rahman (@MishaalRahman) August 24, 2021
The Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro are Google’s 2021 flagship devices, and the first true flagships since the Pixel 4 and 4 XL. Google is going all out with the hardware, no longer content to rely on its software to carry its products. With screens going as high as 6.7-inches, QHD displays, 120Hz refresh rates, large batteries, and 33-watt fast charging, these are competitive smartphones. The company has also done a lot of work with its Google Tensor chip, which it plans on using to help create a product that can reflect its hardware ambitions more than Qualcomm’s third-party chips will. It’s a drastic change from older products, and the in-display sensor is just one more way Google is setting these phones apart from older ones.
A launch date has yet to be given, however, Google will likely launch the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro at a dedicated hardware event in October if previous trends hold.

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Google discontinues Pixel 5, Pixel 4a 5G after Pixel 5a launch

Nifty Nev
Android, Google Pixel, Google Pixel 4a 5G, Google Pixel 5, Google Pixel 5a 5G, Google pixel discontinued, Mobile, News |

Google has discontinued the Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a 5G barely 10 months after launch, the company confirmed this week. While eagle-eyed observers had noticed fluctuating stock levels on both Pixels globally, Google had yet to officially weigh in one way or the other until now.
“With our current forecasts, we expect Google Store in the U.S. to sell out of Pixel 4a (5G) and Pixel 5 in the coming weeks following the launch of Pixel 5a (5G). The Pixel 5a (5G) is a great option for customers and delivers valuable hardware upgrades compared to the Pixel 4a (5G), all at a lower price point,” a Google spokesperson confirmed to Digital Trends. This will also apply to non-U.S. markets, with UK vendors like Carphone Warehouse and John Lewis no longer stocking the older Pixels. The older Pixel 4a remains on sale as a low-cost Pixel option.
While the Pixel 5a 5G offers many of the same features you’ll find in the Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5, with the IP67 rating and metal body offering durability boosts over the 4a 5G and the larger battery adding staying power over the 5, it’s not going to be an option in international markets. Google has explicitly limited the Pixel 5a 5G to the U.S. and Japan.
This means once the current crop of Pixels sells out, your only hope for a 5G Pixel would be the premium-priced Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. While it seems counterintuitive for Google to drop its Pixels without even releasing the next batch, it makes a bit of sense. The reason for the Pixel 5a 5G’s limited launch is due to a chip shortage affecting the Snapdragon 765 which powers both older Pixels. If Google can’t secure enough chips to launch the new 5a 5G widely, it certainly can’t secure enough to keep two older devices on the shelves.
Fortunately, users in international markets won’t suffer a dearth of cheap Android phones as evidenced by phones like the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G, the OnePlus Nord 2, Xiaomi’s Mi 11 Lite 5G, and so many others. With Google having covered two markets that are typically neglected by Chinese phones, what appeared to be a puzzling decision makes a lot of sense in hindsight.

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