The Google Pixel 4a vs. the competition: The midrange heats up
You don't have to spend a lot to get an awesome phone.
For years most of our attention has been focused on flagship handsets from companies like Apple, Google and Samsung. But since last year’s release of the excellent Pixel 3a, midrange devices have gotten a lot more interesting. Today Google finally announced the Pixel 4a, which cuts a few corners but still delivers fast performance and even a flagship-level camera for the low price of $350. But it isn’t your only choice if you want a great phone in the midrange. We lined up the Pixel 4a’s specs against those of the iPhone SE and Samsung’s Galaxy A51 to see how these devices measure up under the hood. (We didn’t include the OnePlus Nord since it’s not available on the US.) If you want the full scoop on the Pixel 4a, though, be sure to check out our full review.
Pricing | |||
Dimensions | 144 x 69.4 x 8.2 mm (5.7 x 2.7 x 0.3 inches) | 158.5 x 73.6 x 7.9 mm (6.24 x 2.89 x 0.31 inches) | 138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm (5.45 x 2.65 x 0.29 inches) |
Weight | 143g (5.04 ounces) | 172g (6.07 ounces) | 148g (5.22 ounces) |
Screen size | 5.81 inches (147.6 mm) | 6.5 inches (165.1 mm) | 4.7 inches (119.38 mm) |
Screen resolution | 2340 x 1080 (443 ppi) | 2400 x 1,080 (405 ppi) | 1,334 x 750 (326 ppi) |
Screen type | FHD+ OLED | FHD+ Super AMOLED | Retina HD LCD |
Battery | 3,140 mAh | 4,000 mAh | 1,821 mAh |
Internal storage | 128GB | 128 GB | 64 / 128 / 256 GB |
External storage | None | None | None |
Rear camera(s) | 12.2MP, f/1.7 | Quad camera: | 12MP, f/1.8 |
Front camera(s) | 8 MP, f/2.0 | 32 MP, f/2.2 | 7MP, f/2.2 |
Video capture | 1080p at 30 fps | 4K at 120 fps | 4K at 60 fps |
SoC | Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G | Samsung Exynos 9611 | Apple A13 Bionic |
CPU | 2.2 GHz octa-core | 2.3 GHz octa-core | 2.65 GHz hexa-core |
GPU | Adreno 618 | Mali-G72 MP3 | unnamed quad-core |
RAM | 6 GB | 4 GB | 4 GB |
WiFi | Dual band, 802.11ac | Dual band, 802.11ac | Dual band, 802.11ax |
Bluetooth | v5.1 | v5.0 | v5.0 |
NFC | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Operating system | Android 10 | Android 10 | iOS 13 |
Other features | USB-C, 3.5mm headphone jack | USB-C, 3.5mm headphone jack | IP67 certified, Lightning connector, Qi wireless charging |
