Highlights:
The Google Pixel 4a 5G was Officially Announced September 30 2020 And was officially released November 5t 2020
There are three distinct devices to choose from this year, with the Pixel 4a 5G slap bang in the middle. From afar, it feels like the Pixel 4a 5G could easily become the forgotten Made by Google device for 2020. I’m here to tell you that is probably the wrong assumption.
Get the Pixel 4a 5G in your hands and, like almost every Pixel device thus far, it’s more than just about omissions and inclusions on this smartphone. This is a great way to save a little cash and get a ton of features usually reserved for “flagship” smartphones with a little bit of network future proofing sprinkled on top.
Pros:
Large, colorful display
5G phone for less than $500
Excellent cameras
Google's latest software
Cons:
Poor battery life
Verizon version costs more
Subpar performance relative to similar phones
Pixel 4A Specifications:
Technology GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
2G bands GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71
5G bands 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 28, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78 Sub6, mmWave (market dependant)
Speed HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE-A (CA), 5G
LAUNCH
Announced 2020, September 30
Status Available. Released 2020, November 05
BODY
Dimensions 153.9 x 74 x 8.2 mm (Sub-6) or 8.5 mm (Sub-6 and mmWave)
Weight 168 g (5G Sub-6); 171 g ( 5G Sub-6 and mmWave) (5.93 oz)
Build Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame
SIM Nano-SIM and/or eSIM
DISPLAY
Type OLED, HDR
Size 6.2 inches, 95.7 cm2 (~84.1% screen-to-body ratio)
Resolution 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~413 ppi density)
Protection Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Always-on display
PLATFORM
OS Android 11
Chipset Qualcomm SDM765 Snapdragon 765G (7 nm)
CPU Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver)
GPU Adreno 620
MEMORY
Card slot No
Internal 128GB 6GB RAM
UFS 2.1
MAIN CAMERA
Dual 12.2 MP, f/1.7, 27mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS
16 MP, f/2.2, 107˚ (ultrawide), 1.0µm
Features LED flash, Auto-HDR, panorama
Video 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS
SELFIE CAMERA
Single 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
Features Auto-HDR
Video 1080p@30fps
SOUND
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakers
3.5mm jack Yes
COMMS
WLAN Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot
Bluetooth 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
GPS Yes, with A-GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDS
NFC Yes
Radio No
USB USB Type-C 3.1
FEATURES
Sensors Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
BATTERY
Type Li-Po 3885 mAh, non-removable
Charging Fast charging 18W
USB Power Delivery 2.0
MISC
Colors Just Black
Models GD1YQ, G025I
Price $ 499.00 / € 605.00 / £ 419.00
Pixel 4A 5G Design:
The Pixel 4a 5G is a classic phone, and at times, when it was sitting face-up on my desk opposite of a Pixel 4 XL, I had to do a double-take before I knew which phone to grab. That's not the case when the Pixel 4a 5G is flipped over — the back is made from plastic, and it definitely looks it.
You may not get a fancy glass or metal frame to lend your phone a touch of style, but the Pixel 4a 5G is still comfortable to hold. Even with a 6.2-inch screen, it's fairly lightweight at just 5.9 ounces (168 grams). The fancier-looking LG Velvet tips the scales at 6.3 ounces, and if you like easier-to-carry handsets, the Pixel 4a 5G's lighter weight makes a word of difference.
The edges on the Pixel 4a 5G are fairly plain, with the power button (in a contrasting white on the Just Black version of the phone) and volume rocker on the right side. The top contains a headphone jack, which is good news for people still using wired headphones and earphones.
On the back of the phone, a little bit southeast of the rear camera array, Google included a fingerprint sensor. The location seems a little high up for my taste, as I sometimes had trouble locating the sensor. Maybe that explains why it occasionally took me a couple tries to unlock the phone, especially when I was holding it with my right hand.
When buying the Pixel 4a 5G from Google, and you can only pick the Just Black option. That's also the color offered to U.K. Customers. Verizon currently gives you a choice between black and white, which aren't exactly the most vibrant color decisions you'll ever be asked to make.
Pixel 4a 5G review Display:
Like the Pixel 4a and Pixel 5, the Pixel 4a 5G uses an AMOLED display with an FHD resolution, and a punch-hole notch for the front camera in the top left corner. At 6.2 inches across, the Pixel 4a 5G is the largest of the 2020 Pixel line-up, beating the 5.8-inch Pixel 4a and 6-inch Pixel 5.
The display is one of the biggest trade-offs you'll make when you choose between the Pixel 4a 5G and the Pixel 5. It's not that the more expensive Pixel has a more colorful screen — it covers 128.8% of the sRGB color spectrum, compared to 128.3% by the Pixel 4a 5G. Rather, the Pixel 5 offers a 90Hz refresh rate that can make scrolling smoother and other content more immersive. The Pixel 4a 5G goes with a more conventional 60Hz rate.
Set the two phones side by side and you'll notice a difference. A phone with a faster-refreshing display offers a better experience overall. I'm not sure it's $200 worth of difference, though, and unless you're downgrading from a phone that already offered a fast-refreshing screen, you're not likely to be bothered by its absence on the Pixel 4a 5G.
The Pixel 4a 5G's screen is colorful enough, though the LG Velvet captures more of the sRGB color spectrum at 140.6%. Colors are just as accurate on both phones, though, as they have equal Delta-E rating of 0.3. That's about equal to the Pixel 4a's 0.29 rating, but behind the iPhone SE and its 0.2 score. (Numbers closer to zero are better.)
One of my biggest complaints with last year's Pixel 3a lineup was the dim screen Google used on its budget phone. Things have improved with the Pixel 4a 5G, which can reach a maximum brightness of 638 nits when you've got Adaptive Brightness turned on. That's not as good as the Pixel 4a's 681-nit rating, but in line with the iPhone SE's 625 nits. It's also ahead of mid-tier 5G phones like the LG Velvet (567 nits), Motorola Edge (558 nits) and Galaxy A71 5G (481 nits).
Pixel 4A Battery:
I’m glad that Google has taken on board the battery criticism of devices in recent years, as this is arguably where the biggest and most important gains have been made here in late 2020. Put it this way, the battery on the Pixel 4a 5G is not that bad. Although other Consumers are complaining on the poor battery life, I’ve killed it a couple of times on busier days — when I’m constantly scrolling social media and watching YouTube/Netflix videos.
On average I’ll personally see six or so hours of screen on time with the brightness at around 60%. Most of the time, I’m ending the day with around 20 to 30% battery remaining. I’d consider myself to be a moderate-to-heavy smartphone user, so I think with light usage and by toggling the enhanced battery saver modes you might be able to push that to 2 days pretty easily.
Conclusion:
So you’ve read this review and are still thinking of picking up the Pixel 4a 5G and want to get the device at the best possible price. Well, you might just be able to grab some of the late Black Friday deals that are hanging around.
You can grab it for just $299 directly from the Google Store when taking out a new Google Fi line, Amazon, Best Buy with $50 discount after activation, Verizon, B&HPhoto, AT&T and more at various Black Friday week discounts.
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