The budget smartphone market in the United States is typically underwelling, but by 2020 it has turned (below) many other things) on top of that. Samsung released the Galaxy A51 earlier this year, grabbing decent hardware and a massive screen in a sub- $ 400 phone, and Google just started selling its best budget phone yet.
There are plenty of options for a budget Android phone this year, but for this article we will pit the ~ $ 400 Galaxy A51 and the $ 350 Pixel 4a against each other. Which phone is the best bet for your money? Which offers the best software experience? We evaluate both devices and give you the pros and cons of each.
Hardware: Some similarities, more differences
Despite the similar price, the Galaxy A51 and Pixel 4a do not have much hardware in common. They use different SoCs, the camera settings are different, the screens are not the same size, and so on. The only common factors between them are the storage, connectivity options, and fast charging capabilities.
| Pixel 4a | Galaxy A51 | |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G | Samsung Exynos 9611 |
| FRAME | 6GB | 4GB |
| Storage | 128GB | 128GB, with microSD expansion |
| Screen | 5.81-inch 1080 x 1340 OLED | 6.5-inch 1080 x 2400 AMOLED |
| Battery | 3,140mAh, 18W fast charging | 4,000mAh, 15W fast charging |
| Behind the camera | 12MP F1.7 Primary | 48MP F2.0 Primary 12MP F2.2 wide angles 5MP F2.4 Macro 5MP F2.2 Depth Sensor |
| Front camera | 8MP F2.0 | 32MP F2.2 |
| Connectivity | 802.11a / b / g / n / ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, USB Type-C, 3.5mm Audio, NFC | 802.11 a / b / g / n / ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0 + LE, USB Type-C, 3.5mm Audio, NFC |
| Colors | black | black |
| Dimensions | 144 x 69.4 x 8.2 mm | 158.5 x 73.6 x 7.9 mm |
| Weight | 143 g | 172 g |
| Software | Android 10 | Android 10 with One UI 2.1 |
| Price | $ 350 | $ 400 |
The first key difference between the two phones is the display. While both devices have 1080p AMOLED screens, with deep blacks and bright colors, the display of the Galaxy A51 is wider and higher than the Pixel 4a screen. If the biggest screen possible for you is important to you, then Samsung wins there. The Galaxy S51 also has a more massive 4,000mAh battery than the Pixel 4a’s 3,140mAh unit, though both phones will easily last you through an entire day.
Both phones also use different chipsets with varying amounts of memory. The Galaxy A51 uses Samsung’s own Exynos 9611 SoC with 4GB RAM, while the Pixel 4a has a Snapdragon 730G with 6GB RAM. The chipsets are very close in terms of real-world performance, but the extra memory in the Pixel 4a means you can switch between apps without having to reload them as often.
Pixel 4a camera samples
The setup of cameras are also worth considering. Google went with a single rear 12MP camera for the Pixel 4a, which can capture some unusual photos for a $ 350 phone. By comparison, Samsung stuck with the ‘quantity over quality’ approach with its 48MP main camera, 12MP wide angle, and 5MP macro. The main lens does not quite match the single rear camera of Pixel 4a (although it is close), the wide angle normally makes muddy photos with limited colors, and the extremely limited focus on the macro lens makes it too useful.
Main camera (left) vs wide angle (right) on the Galaxy A51
Besides those differences, the Pixel 4a and Galaxy A51 are similar in hardware. They both have 128 GB of internal storage, though the A51 has an extra microSD card slot to hold more offline content. Both phones also offer fast charging and come in one color.
Software: One UI vs clean Android
Unlike the hardware, the phones are even less similar in software. The Galaxy A51 runs Android 10 with Samsung’s One UI interface on top, while the Pixel 4a uses a most untouched version of Android 10.
The software experience on the Galaxy A51 is very similar to what you would find on Samsung’s recent flagships: Android 10 with the custom One UI 2.1 skin on top. That means you get system-wide dark mode, tight integration with Windows 10 PCs, (limited) automation with Bixby Routines, and all custom applications from Samsung. If you are looking for something that works like a Galaxy S20 or Note20 but costs no more than a thousand dollars, the Galaxy A51 is definitely very close.
One UI on the Galaxy A51
Meanwhile, the Pixel 4a uses a cleaner version of Android 10. However, there are still a few additions from Google that are not part of the core operating system, such as Live Caption and Call Screening. Google also consistently adds features with regular Pixel Feature Drops.
Android 10 on the Pixel 4a
There are certainly people who prefer the taste of Samsung from Android for its feature-rich experience and tighter integration with other Samsung products, but both phones have all the essential functionality that most people need. The devices will also receive similar levels of support in the long run – Google has guaranteed OS and security updates until August 2023, and Samsung has recently committed to three OS upgrades for the Galaxy A51.
Value: Pixel 4a is the winner
On paper, the Galaxy A51 may seem like the better buy. For only $ 50 more (minus any sales) than the Pixel 4a, you get three more rear cameras, a larger battery and display, and an extra microSD card slot. In fact, if a large screen is your top priority, the Galaxy A51 is the undisputed winner.
However, the Pixel 4a probably represents a better overall value. It’s $ 50 less than the Galaxy A51, but offers stronger camera performance on the main lens, more RAM, the same amount of storage, and faster OS / security updates. Even though the battery is smaller, it will still take a full day of regular use.
If you have not yet decided, check out our dedicated reviews of the Pixel 4a and Galaxy A51.
Where to buy the Google Pixel 4a
Where can you buy the Samsung Galaxy A51
