Google launched a new Pixel overnight (so yesterday morning, USA time!) - the Pixel 5a 5G is effectively just last year's 4a 5G but with significantly bigger battery and formal waterproofing. But for someone who wants the best of Google at the lowest price ($449), it's hard to beat. In the USA and Japan, anyway, so far, I'm sure that a UK and European release isn't far behind.

The Google Pixel 5a 5G has:

• metal backplane (covered by the same soft touch resin as the Pixel 5)
• IP67 water resistance
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G 5G, 6GB RAM
• 128GB storage
• 4620mAh battery
• stereo speakers
• 3.5mm audio jack
• 6.34", 2400 x 1080 pixels OLED, 60Hz screen
• Dual rear cameras:
  • Main: 12.2MP, 1.4μm, f/1.7, OIS
  • Ultrawide: 16MP, 1.0μm, f/2.2
• Front: 8MP, 1.12μm, f/2.0 fixed focus
• rear capacitive fingerprint scanner

So a nice iterative step up from last year's 4a 5G, though I'm disappointed by the identical cameras. The 4a/4a 5G/5's optics were very underwhelming. Still, at a relatively low price and with up to five years  of support, no one's going to be complaining too much.

The Pixel 6 range is due for formal launch in a month or so and then we'll have far larger optics and sensors, in addition to a proper telephoto camera system. At a flagship price, of course!