Google has always used flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets on its high-end Pixel devices to date. The coming Pixel 4a and the Pixel 3a series are exceptional cases as they use non-flagship mid-range Snapdragon chips. All though that’s fine they are not flagship products. There is a high probability that Google will be using Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 765G chip for the Pixel 5 series instead of using the Snapdragon 865.
A Google Camera APK was leaked from the Pixel 4a containing a code. It reveals two important things about the Pixel 5 series. The first is that it carries the codename ‘bramble’ and ‘redfin’ and they will be featuring a telephoto camera. The telephoto sensor is not surprising for users since Google has used it previously in the Pixel 4 series as well.
As for the ‘redfin’ and ‘bramble’ codenames, they have leaked once before as well in AOSP. Google is now developing the devices on the Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 765G platform. This is the San Diego-based company’s second-best chip for 2020. It seems it is 20-40% slower when compared to the Snapdragon 865, but it does have 5G courtesy of an integrated X52 modem. The Snapdragon 765G is, in reality, the successor to the Snapdragon 730, which Google will use inside its upcoming Pixel 4a.
It is going to be a little surprising if Google decides at launching the Pixel 5 series accustomed with a non-flagship Snapdragon chipset. However, the using a premium mid-tier chip will allow the company to price their handset more in a more affordable manner instead of tagging a $1,000+ price in it which is becoming a trend nowadays for flagship phones.
Google has been selling its Pixel series phones by relying on flagship based specs since 2016. It will be interesting to see how things may change if they are changing their approach this year going with a non-flagship product. Their plans for the Pixel 5 is still under covers and if the conjecture is true then everyone will surely be waiting for it to come out.
Pixel phones are generally up for sale by October every year. Well, it is going to be a long wait for tech enthusiasts.