It was only yesterday when Google started to tease an August 3 launch of what’s expected to be the Pixel 4a. Now, thanks to a comment by a Googler on the Android Open Source Project, we’re already getting references for what’s to come well beyond next week. The upcoming 2020 Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5 make another appearance, but there's also a mention of next year's Pixel 5a as well.

A comment made in an AOSP code change first spotted by 9to5Google references the Pixel 4a, Pixel 4a 5G, Pixel 5, and Pixel 5a. The first one is of little surprise to us since it's been leaked so extensively, while the next two are also unsurprising since this appearance marks the third time we've seen their names. However, this is the first time we're hearing of the Pixel 5a, and it's before the Pixel 4a has even launched.

 

Source. Via: 9to5Google

It ultimately shouldn't come as a surprise that Google is already setting its sights on what’s to come next year. Companies typically have product roadmaps planned years in advance, and with the success of the mid-range Pixel line, a more affordable Pixel 5a was inevitable.

Based on the comment and the code in context, the Pixel 5a will likely launch with Android 11 rather than next fall’s Android 12. Furthermore, it seems that the Pixel 4a 5G won't launch alongside the Pixel 4a next week, since the comment mentions it as having a first API level of 30, which means it'll run the not-yet-stable Android 11 release out-of-the-box. More juicy information, such as what hardware the Pixel 5a will run on, isn’t available just yet.

One last thing that's mentioned in the comment is that Google is preparing to drop support for the Pixel 2. The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL were announced back in 2017 with Android 8.0 Oreo. Both devices will receive official updates to Android 11, but Android 11 will be the final OS upgrade for both devices. Google promises 3 years of Android OS and security patch updates for each Pixel device, so this news isn't surprising. Hopefully, future Pixel phones will have longer-lasting support periods as Google continues its work on modularizing Android.

Featured image: The Google Pixel 4