Google Pixel 5a 5G will only launch in Japan and the U.S.

According to a report on Android Central, the upcoming Google Pixel 5a 5G is experiencing production issues due to a chip shortage and as a result, it will only come to the Japanese and U.S. markets. The existence and the planned launch of the phone were confirmed by Google after Jon Prosser posted on Twitter that he had been told the device had been cancelled, which turned out to be wrong.

Following reports that the Google Pixel 5a 5G had been cancelled, Google issued the following statement to let everyone know what was actually going on:

“Pixel 5a 5G is not cancelled. It will be available later this year in the U.S. and Japan and announced in line with when last year's a-series phone was introduced.”

With the new phone only launching in two markets for definite, Google will keep selling the Pixel 4a and the 5G variant throughout the year in other areas. According to Android Central’s sources, Google engineers will continue to focus on the Google Pixel 4a 5G for testing software as it will likely be one of the more popular products in markets that don’t get the newer Pixel 5a 5G.

Google is set to host its annual Google I/O event this year from May 18 to May 20. It is being held virtually this year due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic but will be the first Google I/O event since 2019 due to its last-minute cancellation last year. We may hear more about the Google Pixel 5a 5G launch plans at the event.