Will Google be launching a 5G Pixel handset next week?

Just when you thought the Google Pixel 4 leaks had nothing left to give, a new report has surfaced suggesting a 5G-ready phone could be in the making.

According to the XDA Developers site, a new report from the Nikkei Asian Review states Google will be launching a third phone that will support 5G. At this stage, it’s not totally clear whether this rumoured handset will launch at the 15 October event alongside the Pixel 4 and the Pixel 4 XL.

The reason for this is simple: the report states that the 5G smartphone is currently still being tested in China, implying we might be waiting a while until it becomes available. It’s possible that Google will hold off on its release until next year, which would be unprecedented but for the recent mid-cycle launch of the Google Pixel 3a.

It’s rumoured that the handset will be fitted with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor, a decision criticised by many simply because the chip could be superseded by the 865 at any minute. This will be particularly pertinent if the 5G Pixel 4 launches next year; by that point, the Snapdragon 855 will be positively archaic.

The Pixel 4 and 4 XL are expected to be using the same processor, alongside 6GB RAM and a 3,040 x 1,440 90Hz AMOLED display. A vast number of leaks have shed light on every other conceivable aspect of the new Google smartphones, from the design to the pricing; Google itself attempted unsuccessfully to stem the flow by sharing some information about Project Soli, a front-mounted sensor that enables state-of-the-art hands-free operation.

The question still stands as to whether releasing 5G enabled devices at this early stage in development is worth it. Currently brands such as Samsung, Oppo, OnePlus and LG have already jumped on the bandwagon, mostly releasing marginally improved versions of existing handsets with upgraded “antennae”. This dramatically increases the price of these devices, but doesn’t necessarily mean the benefit will be felt; the 5G rollout is minimal at best in its current state, even in the UK.

Apple, meanwhile, is rumoured to be holding off until 2020 to launch a 5G-ready handset which, whilst potentially risky, could pay off in the long run – if 5G adoption speeds up.