Google Pixel 3 Lite: Release Date, Features, Price for the Budget Pixel

Google’s smartphone strategy in 2019 might be markedly different from its competitors. The tech giant has muscled its way into the hardware market with smart speakers, displays and high-end smartphones. This year it’s reportedly going to release its most affordable handset yet in a play to lure users over to its software and operating system.

For month’s now we’ve been treated to chatter, leaked images, and even some hands on videos of the Google Pixel 3 Lite. The rumored smartphone is supposed to be a budget-friendly version of the Pixel 3 duo the company launched in October of 2018 with mid-tier specs to bring its price way down. On Wednesday, a report from Nikkei Asian Review said the Pixel 3 Lite is the start of “an aggressive push into hardware” that could capitalize on Apple’s declining iPhone sales.

Consumers aren’t too keen on spending four figures on an iPhone. That leaves room for Google to show tech fans that they don’t have to drop a month’s rent to get a capable smartphone.

Here’s everything w know about the Pixel 3 Lite:

Google Pixel 3 Lite: Price

While an official price has yet to be revealed, Nikkei expects it to be cheaper than Apple’s cheapest 2018 release, the $749 iPhone XR. Seeing as the Pixel 3 starts at $799 it’s possible that the Lite could cost substantially less.

Russian blog Rozetked — the same blog that successfully leaked the Pixel 3 last year — says it has gotten its hands on a re-released model of the Lite. It says the upcoming phone will cost somewhere between $400 and $500.

Motorola also recently launched a trio of incredible affordable smartphones, with the cheapest model priced at $199. It’s unclear if Google will opt for such a low-price option, but it seems poised to lure the consumers who were disappointed with how not-so budget-friendly the XR turned out to be.

Google Pixel 3 Lite: Release Date

There hasn’t been any word as to exactly when the Pixel 3 Lite might ship, but the fact that it’s a variant of the currently available Pixel 3 models offers some hints.

Google has consistently launched its new luxury phones in October, which is when the Pixel 4 is expected to debut. It’s possible that the company could launch it along side its new flagship or earlier. Releasing the Lite afterward would make it seem stale compared to its flashy new models.

Google Pixel 3 Lite: Display

The budget-friendly model will likely pack a smaller screen than most phablets are shipping with today. The tech YouTube channel Andro News, published a convincing hands-on video with a leaked model of the alleged device in January stating that its screen would be 5.56-inch diagonally. The video has since been taken down but it was re-uploaded on separate channels.

That number was backed up by the Rozetked leaks, so it’ll be the same size at the Pixel 3.

Google Pixel 3 Lite: Camera

Rozetked and Andro News are only sources on the phone’s camera situation and it seems to be similar to what the Pixel 3 comes with. The leaks state it packs a single, 12-megapixel rear camera and one 8MP front-facing lens.

That means the Lite will have one fewer camera on the front than the Pixel 3, which isn’t a big surprise as the phone could cost up to $300 less. Plus Google has a track record introducing pretty incredible camera capabilities and features using artificial intelligence techniques, so a single front-lens may not prove too limiting for most users in the long run.

Google Pixel 3 Lite: Tech Specs

Both Rozetked and Andro News line up exactly with the Lite’s tech specs and the Russian publication even posted some screenshots taken from the phone itself.

To start, both leaks show that the phone will come with a headphone jack. That’s pretty surprising seeing as Google ditched it with the release of the Pixel 2. This could be another way to win over Apple fans that are bummed the company has long turned its back on the 3.5mm port.

As for its internals, it’s expected to pack a 2915 mAh battery,4 GB of RAM, run Android 9.0, and come with a Snapdragon 670 chipset. That last stat is where it is likeliest to prove lacking, especially if you’ve used high-end smartphones from 2018 that come with the Snapdragon 845. Its processor will be slightly more sluggish, but that’s another expected, marginal downgrade in light of the Lite’s cost.