Google Pixel 4a 5G buyer’s guide: Know before you buy

The Google Pixel 4a 5G is here, and it’s bigger and better than the already-excellent Google Pixel 4a. It’s also more expensive.

We’re here to make your purchase decision easier by answering some key questions. Is the new Pixel 4a 5G a good deal? Should you buy the 5G model or stick with the trusty LTE version? Is it worth spending a bit more for the Pixel 5? What about all the other great options out there?

Let’s go through the key facts in our Google Pixel 4a 5G buyer’s guide.

Editor’s note: We’ll regularly update this Pixel 4a 5G guide with more tips, resources, and details, so keep it tuned.

Google Pixel 4a 5G at a glance

The Pixel 4a 5G was announced on September 30, 2020, alongside the Pixel 5, the Google Nest Audio, and the latest Chromecast.

The Pixel 4a 5G is, in essence, the 5G-enabled version of the regular Pixel 4a, which came out on August 3. However, there are more upgrades to the Pixel 4a 5G. The phone has a bigger screen, features a faster Snapdragon 765G processor, and comes with a bigger battery.

Pixel 4a 5G is a value-oriented phone made for people who don’t want or need a flashy high-end phone. Like the Pixel 4a, the 4a 5G model’s strong points are its cameras, smooth software, and rock-solid update policy.

What experts think of the Pixel 4a 5G

Our very own Oliver Cragg reviewed the Pixel 4a 5G and was impressed with it in many ways. In fact, he called it one of the best mid-range phones to date.

He thinks that the handset takes the best of the Pixel 5 and combines it with the value offered by the Pixel 4a, making it a perfect balance between premium and budget. It features the best camera in its class, a great display, good battery life, and a fantastic software experience. Oliver also highlighted the fast fingerprint scanner, 5G support, and great performance.

Read next: The best Google Pixel 4a 5G cases you can buy

As expected, the phone also has a few drawbacks you need to keep in mind. Oliver pointed out that the display’s refresh rate is low at just 60Hz and that the ultra-wide camera is a bit underwhelming. The phone also uses an older version of Gorilla Glass up-front for protecting the display, which isn’t as strong as the latest model.

What other reviewers from around the web think

To give you the best overview of Google’s mid-range phone, we looked at what reviewers from other publications had to say about the Pixel 4a 5G.

• Tech Radar’s Tom Bedford said that the Pixel 4a 5G is a “fine but unexciting mid-range phone.â€� The performance of the handset isn’t that great in his opinion, and the camera experience is hit-and-miss. But on the other hand, Tom liked the software experience and the fact that there’s a headphone jack onboard. The battery life is good as well, especially for a Pixel phone.
• Tom’s Guide’s Philip Michaels had a lot of good things to say about the Pixel 4a 5G. He liked the display of the phone and the fact that it offers 5G support, especially considering its price point. He also loved the cameras as well as the clean software experience. However, Tom didn’t care much for the battery life, which he described as well below average. He wasn’t impressed with the performance of the phone either, especially since you can find similarly-priced devices with faster chipsets.
• Cnet’s Lynn La said the Pixel 4a 5G has a solid battery life, fantastic rear cameras, reliable performance, and great software support. Then there’s the addition of a headphone jack and 5G support. These features, combined with a competitive price tag, make it easy to recommend to most people. There are a few drawbacks to consider, with the biggest one being the lack of wireless charging.

Do you even need a 5G phone?

Before we go any further, ask yourself: will you be able to use the 5G connectivity of the Pixel 4a 5G?

This isn’t a simple question, as the answer depends on a few factors outside of your control. While 5G coverage is becoming more common, it’s still scarce in many places around the world. Not only does your carrier need to offer 5G service in your area, but you may also need to be signed up for a 5G plan. Furthermore, the 5G network needs to cover the places in which you actually live and work. Finally, even if you do technically get 5G, you might not notice a speed improvement at all — 5G connections can actually be slower than 4G in some cases.

Go deeper: What to look for in your perfect 5G plan and network

That’s a lot of ifs and maybes. For this reason, we don’t recommend you go out of your way to buy a 5G phone in 2021.

What about “future-proofing?� If you think you’ll want 5G service down the road, then yes, the Pixel 4a 5G is a good choice, though it’s far from the only one.

How good are the cameras on the Pixel 4a 5G?

The Pixel 4a 5G sports two rear cameras. You get the primary 12.2MP Sony IMX363 sensor we’ve seen on every Pixel phone since the Pixel 3 series and an 8MP ultra-wide lens. The camera setup is nearly identical to that of the Pixel 5, which means the Pixel 4a 5G is arguably the best in its class when it comes to photography.

Thanks to Google’s software enhancements, the phone takes great images in just about any lighting condition. You can expect sharp and accurate colors, a wide dynamic range, and near-flawless exposure. At least when it comes to the main sensor. The ultra-wide camera is a bit different, as the colors are muted and there’s a lack of sharpness.

Additionally, the wide-angle lens isn’t as wide as we’d like with its 107-degree field of view. For reference, the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra’s wide-angle lens has a 123-degree field of view, meaning it can capture more in a photo.

Overall, the results from the wide-angle camera aren’t bad by any means, they just aren’t as good as what you get with the main sensor. Most people should be happy with it, though.

To learn more details, check out our Pixel 4a 5G camera review.

Does the Pixel 4a 5G have good battery life?

The battery life of the Pixel 4a 5G is good, but not great. The phone packs a 3,885mAh cell that was good for around six hours of screen-on-time of moderate-to-heavy use during our testing. With lighter usage, the battery should last even longer.

The battery life can be extended even further with Extreme Battery Saver, which is Google’s new software feature that disables access to non-essential apps and services.

The Pixel 4a 5G supports 18W wired charging that gets the battery from zero to 100% in around 90 minutes. In 30 minutes, you can expect to get it up to roughly 40%. These numbers aren’t bad, but they are nothing special.

Keep in mind that the Pixel 4a 5G doesn’t support wireless charging or reverse wireless charging. If these two features are important to you, the Pixel 5 is the better choice.

Google Pixel 4a 5G ($499) vs Pixel 4a ($349): What’s the difference?

At a glance, here’s how the Pixel 4a 5G differs from the Pixel 4a:

• The Pixel 4a 5G is larger and heavier than the Pixel 4a.
• The screen on the Pixel 4a 5G is bigger, at 6.2 inches vs. 5.81 inches. Both are 60Hz displays.
• The Pixel 4a 5G features a slightly more powerful processor. We found the 4a’s Snapdragon 730G to be good enough for most daily tasks, but you’ll want to pick up the Pixel 4a 5G if you want better performance.
• The battery on the Pixel 4a 5G is 24% larger than the Pixel 4a’s. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean the 5G model will have 24% longer battery life, as the bigger screen and the 5G connectivity consume more power.

Related: Google Pixel 5 vs Pixel 4a 5G vs Pixel 4a: Which should you buy?

Google Pixel 4a 5G ($499) vs Pixel 5 ($699): What’s the difference?

As for the Pixel 4a 5G compared to the top-of-the-line Pixel 5, the key differences are:

• The Pixel 4a 5G’s screen is 0.2 inches larger than the Pixel 5. However, the Pixel 5 features a 90Hz refresh rate, making for a smoother experience. The Pixel 5 also has a better grade of Gorilla Glass protecting it.
• The Pixel 5 has 8GB of RAM, compared to just 6GB of RAM on the Pixel 4a 5G. We believe 6GB is still enough for most users right now, but the Pixel 5 is better equipped to run smoothly for longer.
• While the main cameras are similar on both phones, the Pixel 5 has a 16MP ultra-wide camera, versus 8MP on the Pixel 4a 5G.
• The Pixel 4a 5G has a headphone jack, the Pixel 5 does not!
• The battery is slightly larger on the Pixel 5: 4,080mAh vs 3,885mAh. Again, it remains to be seen what kind of difference that makes in terms of battery life.

Google Pixel 4a 5G software updates

If fast and frequent software updates are your thing, you can’t go wrong with the Pixel 4a 5G. Google promises three years of OS upgrades for the device, which means it should get Android 12 in 2021, Android 13 in 2022, and Android 14 a year after that. These updates will be available on the day a new Android version makes its debut, as is the case with other Pixel phones.

Additionally, the handset is guaranteed to get security updates until September 2023. It will also stay fresh for a while thanks to Feature Drops, which are Pixel and Google app updates rolled into one quarterly update for Pixel phones.

Google Pixel 4a 5G specs

Google Pixel 4a 5G alternatives

• Pixel 4a and Pixel 5 – For Google fans who want a recent phone, the Pixel 4a ($349) and Pixel 5 ($699) are the only alternatives. The Pixel 4a 5G sits right in the middle; read the sections above to get an idea of the differences between the phones.
• Galaxy A71 5G and A51 5G (~$500) – Depending on where you get them from, Samsung’s 5G mid-rangers can be bought for about the same price as the Pixel 4a 5G. We find their performance a bit lackluster, but they provide niceties like a microSD card slot, more versatile cameras, and bigger batteries.
• Motorola One 5G (~$445) – This unassuming phone features a massive 5,000mAh battery and a very similar processor, though the Pixel pulls ahead with the better image quality and update policy.
• OnePlus Nord (~€410) – Currently not available in North America, the OnePlus Nord beats the Pixel 4a 5G when it comes to the battery size and charging speeds, RAM and storage, and the 90Hz display.
• Poco F2 Pro (€375) – The only Snapdragon 865 phone on our list of Pixel 4a 5G competitors, the Poco F2 Pro is all about value for money. On paper, it beats the Pixel 4a 5G in multiple ways, but the two phones target very different buyers.

To see a more comprehensive list of Google Pixel 4a 5G alternatives, head here.

Where to buy the phone

The Pixel 4a 5G is available from Best Buy and Amazon. The phone has launched in many other countries including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom.

In the US the unlocked Pixel 4a 5G is now also available in the Clearly White colorway alongside the Just Black option.

The Pixel 4a 5G is also available for $499 outright or $20.79/month for 24 months with 0% APR Google Store financing.

Google Pixel 4a 5G FAQs

Q: Does the Pixel 4a 5G have a headphone jack?

A: Yes, the Pixel 4a does have a 3.5mm audio jack.

Q: Does the Pixel 4a 5G have a microSD card slot?

A: The Pixel 4a 5G doesn’t have a memory card slot, so you won’t be able to expand the storage beyond the internal 128GB.

Q: What colors is the Pixel 4a 5G available in?

A: The Pixel 4a 5G is available in Just Black and Clearly White.

Q: Is the Pixel 4a 5G waterproof?

A: The Google Pixel 4a 5G doesn’t have an official IP rating for water and dust resistance. You shouldn’t expose it to any liquids.

Q: Does the Pixel 4a 5G screen offer 90Hz or 120Hz refresh rates?

A: No, this is a standard 60Hz display.

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