When the Google Pixel 5 arrived on the scene a few months ago, it felt like something was missing. While past Pixel phones launched with the XL model, the Pixel 5 debuted on its own; will the Pixel 5 Pro be the missing piece to Google's smartphone puzzle?

There is a lot of mystery surrounding the Pixel 5 Pro, and not a little debate as to whether it is actually in Google's pipeline. Nevertheless, there have been several rumors about the Pixel 5 Pro as a possible addition to Google's lineup, some of which contradict each other.

Here is what we have heard so far about the Google Pixel 5 Pro and the likelihood of this phone going from rumor to reality.

Before we get into the Pixel 5 Pro rumors, we first need to review the status of Google's Pixel lineup. Currently, Google sells three models with the Pixel 5 as its flagship; this $699 Pixel, announced in October, continues Google's tradition of mobile photography in software, making it one of the best camera phones you can buy. It also has 5G connectivity.

However, the Pixel 5 may not be the best 5G phone Google has to offer. That honor goes to the Pixel 4a 5G, which offers many of the same features, including dual rear cameras and an identical Snapdragon 765G processor; the Pixel 4a 5G does not have the fast refresh rate of the Pixel 5's display, nor does it have the water resistance of the Pixel 5. However, it is also priced $200 less and has a slightly larger screen at 6.2 inches versus 6 inches.

The Pixel 4a rounds out Google's smartphone lineup. It has only one rear-facing camera, runs on a less powerful processor, and has no 5G connectivity. However, at $349, it is one of the most affordable smartphones, especially for high quality photos.

So, with three models ranging from $349 to $699, the Pixel 5 Pro will likely surpass all of these models in terms of specs and introduce a price as high as Google used to charge for its flagship devices. The Pixel 5 Given the lack of an XL version, a larger screen is also expected to compete with phablets like Samsung's Galaxy Note 20 and Apple's iPhone 12 Pro Max.

Rumors about the Pixel 5 Pro first began to emerge in October, when respected leaker Max Weinbach tweeted that he had heard from two people that a "true flagship Pixel" would arrive in March 2021. Even then, Weinbach described the rumor as "unfounded." Two months later, he declared that the Pixel 5 Pro did not exist. He tweeted, "I wish the Pixel 5 Pro was real, but it isn't."

Some believe there is fire behind the Pixel 5 Pro smoke. Ross Young, an analyst who tracks display suppliers, replied to Weinbach's tweet and said panel suppliers have told him that the Pixel 5 Pro is on hold.

In other words, even if one buys the idea that the Pixel 5 Pro exists as something in Google's plans, the original March 2021 release date seems unlikely to happen. That would mean that it would be released later in the spring, when Google is known to announce its budget smartphone at the same time as its developer conference. Any later than that would clash with the Pixel 6 launch, which is likely to take place in the fall, when Google traditionally launches its latest flagship models.

If the rumors don't agree on when the Pixel 5 Pro will arrive or even if it will exist, we can't expect any clarity on pricing; given that the Pixel 5 is priced at $699, we expect the Pro version to be much higher. How much higher will depend on what features will be included, but $100 to $200 more would be reasonable. Incidentally, the Pixel 4 XL, which debuted in 2019, was priced at $899.

If Google were to release a Pro version of the Pixel 5, it stands to reason that the phone would be a more advanced version of Google's current flagship. That means addressing some of the areas where the Pixel 5 fell short, and there is no better way to improve that phone than to upgrade the processor.

To keep the cost of the Pixel 5 down, Google chose a processor less powerful than those found in major Android flagships: the Snapdragon found in the Galaxy S20, OnePlus 8, and other top Android phones. Instead of the 865, the Pixel 5 is powered by the Snapdragon 765G. This is a capable system-on-chip that can handle the tasks most people use their smartphones for, but it is no match for phones that benefit from Qualcomm's more powerful silicon.

One would imagine that the Pixel 5 Pro would opt for Qualcomm's best-in-class 8 series chipset. And the arrival of the Snapdragon 888, a new mobile processing platform that is likely to be featured in devices like the Galaxy S21, gives Google an opportunity. Google can offer a more powerful phone without a very large price increase by switching to the Snapdragon 865 now that it is no longer Qualcomm's primary chipset. The Snapdragon 888, on the other hand, could be used in the Pixel 6 coming next fall, as expected.

Google also removed the Motion Sense gesture control introduced in the Pixel 4 from the Pixel 5. This was also to remove the thick top bezel that houses the sensors needed to detect gestures and support facial recognition. However, Motion Sense is also a feature without broad appeal and may be better suited for professional phones.

One of the few leaks suggesting a possible Pixel 5 Pro feature was a series of photos posted on Slash Leaks. One photo in particular depicted a phone without any sort of notch or cutout for a front camera. Some people interpreted this as Google developing a phone with a camera under the display, which is currently only available on the ZTE Axon 20 5G. However, this alleged photo of the Pixel 5 Pro has been widely dismissed as a fake.

If you still want to believe, another screenshot from the same source revealed some of the Pixel 5 Pro's reported specs. These include 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, double the capacity of the Pixel 5.

The biggest thing we now want to hear about the Pixel 5 Pro is whether or not this phone will materialize. At this point, unless the pace of rumors picks up very quickly, we would assume that this product will simply not happen.

That said, if the Pixel 5 Pro is a possibility, we would expect a phone that lives up to its "Pro" label. That is, a more powerful processor than the one in the Pixel 5 and productivity-enhancing features that make this phone more than just a photography device (even if those photos are the best you can get from a smartphone, like other Google devices).

Google's recent phones do not have very long battery life: the Pixel 5 battery test was just shy of 9.5 hours, while the Pixel 4a 5G was only 8 hours and 12 minutes. These numbers are not close to the smartphone average, so we hope the Pixel 5 Pro will do a better job at power management. Google's phones charge fast, and I hope it approaches the charging speeds that Samsung and OnePlus bring to their high-end flagships.

Finally, describing something as a Pro model suggests a level of sophistication and glamour that has been lacking in Pixel phones to date. all I can say about the Pixel's design is that it is functional and does not get in the way of photography or other mobile activities. the Pixel 5 Pro will hopefully go the extra mile with its design and give us something that will stand out from Google's other phones--assuming there is an actual product that needs to stand out.