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The $ 499 Pixel 4A 5G has the same cameras as its $ 699 Pixel 5 sibling.
Screenshot by Sarah Tew / CNET
In a world where almost all mobile phone manufacturers sell a 5G phone, Google did something unusual: It made a less expensive 5G device that doesn’t compromise on the features that consumers care most about, especially the camera.
The company’s new $ 499 Pixel 4A 5G, unveiled Wednesday, includes the same super-fast 5G connectivity as Google’s new $ 699 flagship Pixel 5, as well as the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G processor, 128GB of storage and a fingerprint sensor on the back. Importantly, the camera setup is identical, with both phones sporting an 8-megapixel front lens and two rear cameras – a standard 12.2-megapixel sensor and a 16-megapixel ultra-wide camera.
“Some people think that to get the full benefits of 5G at an affordable price, there has to be a compromise on some of our core features, like the camera,” said Soniya Jobanputra, Pixel product manager, during Wednesday’s press conference. . “But that’s not true”.
When it comes to other specs, the 4A 5G even has a larger 6.2-inch screen than the Pixel 5’s 6-inch screen, and it still comes with a headphone jack. The main advantages of the Pixel 5 over the 4A 5G are IP68 water resistance, a 90Hz refresh rate on the screen, reverse wireless charging, and a slightly larger camera – all features that don’t normally prompt consumers to upgrade.
The main reasons people generally buy new phones are better screens, batteries, and cameras. Waterproofing and wireless charging, the two most notable ways the Pixel 5 differs from the 4A 5G, don’t lure consumers to upgrade. That could lead to many potential buyers going for the cheapest of pixels.
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Google unveils Pixel 5 and Pixel 4A 5G
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“Google is doing exactly the right [thing by] without compromising image quality at a lower price [Pixel]”Said Strategy Analytics analyst Ville-Petteri Ukonaho.” But I have a hard time understanding how they justify the $ 200 price difference. “
He predicted that the Pixel 4A 5G will be the most popular of Google’s new phones. “Why would I buy the Pixel 5 when I can have almost identical specs to the 4A?” Ukonaho said.
Google, long known for its software prowess, has been making its own Pixel phones since 2016, long after its ill-fated acquisition and divestment of Motorola. But it hasn’t had much traction against Apple’s iPhones and companies that use Google’s Android operating system on their devices. Last year, Google was ranked 14th when it came to 1.4 billion smartphones shipped worldwide, according to Strategy Analytics. It shipped only about 8.4 million phones, well below Samsung’s 300 million, Huawei’s 240 million and Apple’s nearly 200 million, the firm said.
Google simply hasn’t been able to compete in high-end phones, leading it to design a mid-level line last year. The Pixel 3A powered Google’s smartphone operations, but the company discontinued the device in July. While the Pixel 4A 5G might appeal to buyers wanting a 5G phone for under $ 500, it will face stiff competition from Samsung’s A-series and even Apple’s $ 399 iPhone SE 4G.
Google’s camera prowess
Google has differentiated its Pixels from iPhones and other Android devices through its camera technology, something that could cause consumers to take another look at the Pixel 4A 5G. Its pixels have led the pack in terms of low-light capabilities, and Google’s phones often rank as the devices with the best overall cameras on the market. While Apple, Samsung, and others have been adding more lenses to the back of their devices, Google has chosen to make image improvements using software and artificial intelligence.
“Pixel is synonymous with a great camera experience, no matter what the price is,” said Carolina Milanesi, analyst at Creative Strategies. “They couldn’t commit to that. They had to give it what they do best, which sets them apart from similarly priced 5G phones.”
The company pioneered computational photography skills that result in better photos without increasing the device’s hardware to higher specifications. Because many improvements to the Pixel camera come through the software, Google may extend new features to older phones, making them useful for longer.
On the Pixel 4A 5G and Pixel 5, Google dropped the telephoto lens found on its previous phone in favor of an ultra-wide angle camera that can better capture groups of people, tall buildings, or narrow interior scenes. Apple made the same move with its iPhone 11, which became the company’s best-selling product.
Google also combined its Night Sight feature in low light with its portrait mode, which blurs details in the background. That “allows subjects to stand out even in low light,” Jobanputra said.
Cheaper 5G phone prices
First 5G phones available last year cost significantly more than their 4G counterparts. But the coronavirus pandemic It has forced mobile phone makers to re-evaluate their launch plans and drive down 5G phone prices much faster than many market watchers expected. Many have introduced mainstream devices alongside or shortly after the more expensive flagship models.
“Most of the first wave of 5G phones came out at a really expensive price,” Rick Osterloh, Google’s hardware chief, told reporters after the Google event on Wednesday. “We wanted to try to reach a majority market.”
Google is not alone. Samsung introduced a line of budget Galaxy A phones in the US earlier this year, with two 5G models for less than $ 650. Last week, it introduced its Galaxy S20 Fan Edition, a $ 700 5G phone that is adapted to the current environment. TCL has also designed 5G phones at more conventional prices, as have Motorola and other Android companies.
Those devices typically have tradeoffs compared to the flagship versions. In the case of Samsung, the South Korean company has used less expensive materials such as plastic and has made some concessions in the configuration of the rear camera, such as eliminating 8K video recording.
Although the Pixel 4A 5G costs $ 150 more than the 4G version of the device from early August, Google expanded the specifications to justify the increased costs. That includes a bigger screen, a second camera lens on the back, a bigger battery, and of course 5G. At the time the 4A was released, CNET’s Lynn La said that “for its price, the Pixel 4A has one of the best cameras you can get on a phone.”
Now Google will have to hope its camera prowess will help its new Pixel 4A 5G garner the same praise, even compared to the Pixel 5.
CNET’s Richard Nieva contributed to this report.
