The Google Pixel 4a is finally here, offering another affordable entry point into Google’s smartphone ecosystem. Like last year’s Pixel 3a, this latest model tries not to win over the performance-enthusiastic audience. Instead, the Pixel 4a offers just enough of everything you need in a comprehensive, reliable smartphone package.
At least that’s the theory. However, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G chipset and 6GB RAM from Google Pixel 4a look rather anemic in addition to the comparable price OnePlus Nord, with its 5G-enabled Snapdragon 765G and up to 12GB RAM. Even more so compared to the £ 399 (~ $ 519) powerhouse Poco F2 Pro and its flagship tier Snapdragon 865 processor.
Is the Google Pixel 4a powerful enough for a budget phone in 2020? Or is Google lagging behind with slow hardware? Let’s find out with what Pixel 4a benchmark tests.
Our verdict: Google Pixel 4a Review: Google’s Best Phone in Years
Snapdragon 730G vs Snapdragon 765G
Before you dive into the benchmark numbers, here is a little recipe on the Snapdragon 730G. This is the G variant, which benefits from a bit more graphic grunt, as well as a few extra display features. It also packs in two heavily upgraded Cortex-A76-based CPU cores to help with the early, more demanding workload. That’s an upgrade over the two Cortex-A75-based cores in Google Pixel 3a’s Snapdragon 670, and fairly close to the Snapdragon 765G setup. Just without a higher clocked “Prime” core.
The Pixel 4a is not that powerful on paper, but does it really matter?
The graphics package is more reserved, with the Qualcomm Adreno 618 performing slower than the 765G’s Adreno 620. With that said, we’re looking forward to a notable upgrade over last year’s Adreno 615 in the Pixel 3a. There’s also a Hexagon 688 DSP with Tensor Accelerator, for improved AI processing in the Pixel 4a’s SoC, but there’s no 5G integration like on the OnePlus Nord. The chip of Pixel 4a is built on an 8nm process, which leads to better energy efficiency than the previous generation. Although, it is not built on the 7nm process of its expensive siblings.
Overall, the Pixel 4a’s Snapdragon 730G processor is a notable upgrade from last year and a decent package. However, it certainly lacks a few features and higher performance components that you will find in the competitors of the 4a.
Classic benchmarks: Google Pixel 4a with AnTuTu, Geekbench and 3DMark
Let’s start with a quick look at classic industry benchmarks to see how Google Pixel 4a compares in CPU, GPU, and overall system departments.
The results are about what we expect, based on the chipset’s discussion. The Poco F2 Pro seems to have a healthy advantage over these other inexpensive handsets. The gap between the Pixel 4a and the OnePlus Nord is not that big in the single-core CPU department, and the handset is within about 10% of LG Velvet’s Snapdragon 765G performance. Google’s latest phone is more than capable of handling demanding apps.
The biggest wave, however, is in the Graphics department. The Pixel 4a clocks in a way between its previous incarnation and its closest contemporary. High-end gaming does not seem to be out of the question yet.
That being said, the Pixel 4a is still a major step up from last year’s universal favorite Pixel 3a, especially when it comes to CPU and overall system scores. It is a definite improvement.
Sustainability test
One-time benchmarks give us a snapshot of peak potential, but they tell us nothing about how a phone handles long-term stress, or when performance slows down to extend battery life when the tank runs low. For that, we turn to Speed Test G which runs on a loop.
The Google Pixel 4a results here are much more interesting. The phone starts out quite similar to the Snapdragon 765G from LG Velvet, but can only hold competitive performance for about 25 minutes. We can see why by turning to the CPU diagram, where performance continues to fall over the length of the test. This is probably a result of excessive heat buildup in the sharp frame of the Pixel 4a. Finally, the phone may not run at full charge for extended length of time, unlike some of its rivals. On the plus side, it’s a no-brainer for Google’s low battery performance.
Read more: Google Pixel 4a specs: Is a Pixel 3a upgrade enough?
With graphics, the Pixel 4a lands pretty much exactly where we would expect. It’s a fraction better than the Pixel 3a. However, performance fluctuates over a longer session (30 minutes +), and it certainly does not keep up with its higher-end competitors. The flagship tier GPU in the Poco F2 Pro results in a greater than 2x faster rendering speed versus the Pixel 4a in our graphics benchmark.
The Pixel 4a is competitive in short bursts, but can not keep up with long sessions.
On that note, this test shows just how badly the Poco F2 Pro holds up for long-term abuse. While it may offer a flagship performance of 2020 for a little over 20 minutes, the CPU will soon bounce back to somewhere between the North and the Velvet. Incidentally, these two are the most consistent of these mid-rangers. The Poco F2 Pro is still the fastest handset, but it does not quite deserve the praise that the one-shot benchmarks suggest. Even so, the extra graphic power of the Poco F2 Pro still makes it the best affordable option for gamers.
Benchmarks use real world usage
Sustained performance is clearly not the strong suit of Pixel 4a. That said, we need to look at the big picture. The handset is not aimed at the kind of consumer who will probably binge two or three hours of gaming sessions at a time. It’s built for browsing, email checking and zip via Google’s suite of apps.
Most workloads only require fast processing and minimal graphics, which is why the Pixel 4a feels so snappy to actually use.
As our benchmarking showed, the Google Pixel 4a actually weighs above its weight for cases of burst usage, which is how most phones end up being used. This is reflected by David’s time spent with the handset, where he called it “almost seamless”. Even after a few days without deleting recent apps, he did not notice any hiccups or stuttering. Just try not to do it for too long.
Do not forget: Google Pixel 4a price and release date: What you need to know
In summary, yes, the Google Pixel 4a is fast enough for a modern mid-range handset when it comes to the real world. While not the fastest, the Pixel 4a offers enough performance that you will struggle to notice any difference between other mid-rangers or even flagship tier chips in daily tasks. Google’s latest affordable phone matters where it counts. However, those looking for an affordable workhorse or gaming phone may want to check out the OnePlus Nord as the less consistent Poco F2 Pro.
- Google Pixel 4a vs iPhone SE: Which is Better?
- Google Pixel 4a vs OnePlus Nord: Which is Better?
