[ad_1]
Google Pixel Phones They are our favorite Android phones here at WIRED, and have been for a few years. They have industry-leading cameras, get software and security updates directly from Google (like Apple’s iPhones do), and are competitively priced. In recent years, choosing a Google phone was not difficult, but the 2020 line is different. Pixel 4A, Pixel 4A 5G and Pixel 5 are cheaper than their predecessors, but it is difficult to know which model to choose.
Don’t worry, we analyze the differences between the three new pixels and work out the right one for you. We also have exclusive Pixel tips for getting the most out of your new phone, and we recommend a few cases we’ve tried and like if you want extra protection.
Special offer for Gear readers: get a 1-year subscription to WIRED for $ 5 ($ 25 off). This includes unlimited access to WIRED.com and our print magazine (if you wish). Subscriptions help fund the work we do every day.
The best pixel for most of us
The Pixel 4A (9/10, WIRED recommends) is our favorite Android phone right now. It costs only $ 350, but it manages to excel in all the fundamentals. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G processor and 6 gigs of RAM inside offer impressive performance with very little stuttering, even when gaming, the 3,140 mAh battery capacity easily lasts a full day, and the main camera is the same as in the Pixel 4 flagship of 2019.
That last point is the most important. You get excellent image quality at any time of the day. Taking a few seconds to take multiple photos at different exposures and combine them, Google’s Night Sight mode produces bright, colorful images in low-light scenes. It’s leaps and bounds ahead of what you’ll find on most cheap phones. Put it on a tripod in a dark area and you can even capture the stars.
It is not an iPhone 12 Mini, but it is one of the smallest Android phones available. Don’t worry, the 5.8-inch OLED screen still looks cool and modern, with slim bezels all around. The body is made of plastic, but it feels good to hold and you don’t have to worry about breaking your back. Did I mention it has a headphone jack, NFC for Google Pay, and a rear fingerprint sensor? There’s no water resistance or wireless charging, and it lacks a MicroSD card slot (the latter is missing from all pixels), so you have to settle for the 128 gigabytes of storage, though that’s pretty generous.
