There’s slick Google Assistant integration, a clean Android interface with three years of guaranteed updates, and a seriously impressive photography experience considering the Pixel 4a has just one rear camera.
However, pull out the spec sheet and compare it to similarly priced rivals and the Google Pixel 4a doesn’t seem like such a great deal, with less power, less RAM, fewer cameras, a smaller screen and no 5G connectivity – although a Pixel 4a 5G variant will arrive later in 2020, alongside the Google Pixel 5 (which will also be 5G enabled).
Battery life is mediocre, with the phone just about lasting a day on a single charge – and if you really push it you’ll be reaching for a charger come late afternoon.
The design will be divisive. On the one hand it’s a cutesy, curvy polycarbonate handset that sits comfortably in the palm, and its lightweight frame makes it easy to hold and use. There’s a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner, there’s almost no screen bezel, and there’s even a headphone jack.
On the other hand, it feels a little cheap, and it lacks the premium gloss of other handsets in its price bracket.
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If you’re thinking about getting the Google Pixel 4a you’ll need to carefully consider what’s important to you when it comes to a new smartphone. If you’re looking for maximum bang for your buck, and features galore, the Pixel 4a is unlikely to whet your appetite.
That said, its compact size, clean interface and great point-and-shoot camera will appeal to those looking for an affordable, reasonably sized handset with enough grunt for social media, web browsing and emails, plus the ability to capture some excellent pictures.
Google Pixel 4a Review
FEATURES
- New, unlocked Android phone gives you the flexibility to change carriers and choose your own data plan; works with Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint, AT&T, and other major carriers
- Capture great photos using your cell phone on the 12 MP dual pixel rear camera with features like Live HDR+, Night Sight, and Portrait Mode; share photos directly from the viewfinder of your Pixel camera to Google and popular third party apps
- The Adaptive Battery lasts up to 24 hours as it learns your favorite apps and reduces power to the ones you rarely use
- HDR+ makes your photos look better by automatically adjusting for color and lighting; Night Sight lets you capture rich detail and color even in the dark; Portrait Mode helps you take beautiful portraits with a DSLR quality look
- Get things done with just your voice: Send texts, get directions and reminders, and multitask on the go on your mobile phone with help from Google
- The custom made Titan M security chip helps secure the operating system and protect sensitive data, like passwords; automatically receive the latest OS and security updates on your cell phone for at least 3 years.
- With Google’s Personal Safety app, if your mobile phone senses that you’ve been in a car accident, car crash detection can help reach 911 for you.
- Beautiful bezel-less design with an 5.8 inch Full HD+ OLED display that goes from edge to edge, so you can immerse yourself in your videos and apps
- With Call Screen, Google Assistant helps you automatically filter out robocalls on your cell phone before it ever rings
- Please refer to the product description section below for all applicable legal disclaimers denoted by the bracketed numbers in the preceding bullet points ( etc.)
Google Pixel 4a release date and price
The Google Pixel 4a price is $349 / £349 / AU$599. There are no configuration options, there’s no, larger Pixel 4a XL, and there’s only one colour: Just Black. If you want the Pixel 4a, you’ll have to sacrifice choice for that low-price tag.
That’s a competitive price point, and one that’s $50 / £50 / AU$50 cheaper than the launch price of its predecessor, the Google Pixel 3a. You also get more RAM (6GB vs 4GB) and more storage (128GB vs 64GB) with the Pixel 4a, so Google is giving you a decent amount of bang-for-your-buck, at least within its own ecosystem.
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