TL;DR

• The Pixel 5a may ship with the biggest battery ever put in a Pixel phone.
• Google could announce it on August 17.
• The phone otherwise appears identical to the Pixel 4a 5G.

A new set of leaked photos of Google’s Pixel 5a purport to show not just the phone’s external design, but its internal components, including a 4,680mAH battery that would be the biggest ever in a Pixel.

The images depict parts being sent out to repair stores, according to a source for Android Police. The person also claims that the 5a will be announced August 17, possibly ahead of a previously-rumored August 26 release date.

Few other new details are available, but the back is said to feel somewhat more “rubbery” than the Pixel 4a 5G, which the 5a otherwise closely resembles. In fact based on the repair parts, the only other conspicuous difference is a ribbed power button.

The huge battery is presumably needed to cope with 5G. The technology is still creating a massive power drain on phones, to the point where some people will turn it off despite the bandwidth advantages.

Other Pixel 5a rumors have pointed to a dual-lens camera — seen in one of the photos — and a $450 pricetag. It could, however, use the same Snapdragon 765G processor as the Pixel 4a 5G, which would be disappointing for people hoping it could stay more competitive as the Pixel 6 approaches this fall.

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