Now that the dust has settled and we know the exact contours of the Google Pixel smartphone lineup for 2020, it’s time to take stock of what you can buy and what you can’t. Even more so for buyers in India, who will only be able to buy Google Pixel 4a from the troika that sees the Pixel 4a with 5G and the Pixel 5 as the other phones. The Google Pixel 4a with 5G and the Pixel 5 will not arrive in India this year, just like last year’s Google Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL. As it stands, Google has confirmed that the Pixel 4a will go on sale on October 17. And as in the past, it will also be for sale on Flipkart. It remains to be seen if this sale coincides with the upcoming Flipkart Big Billion Days sale. We also do not know the price in India of the Google Pixel 4a at the moment.
Before you get too excited about being able to buy the new Google Pixel 4a saying “it’s a Google phone” and “it’s the latest Pixel phone” or something like that, it should be understood that the Google Pixel 4a is at the very bottom of the latest line of Pixel phones. Let’s take a look at the specs to understand the subtle differences between the Google Pixel 4a, Google Pixel 4a with 5G and Pixel 5.
Google Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a with 5G are ready for the 5G network. Yes, we don’t have 5G networks yet, but you don’t buy a phone right now, right? The Pixel 4a that you and I will be able to buy will not support 5G networks when available. That also makes a big difference when it comes to the guts. While the Google Pixel 4a with 5G and Pixel 5 are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G processor, the Pixel 4a we get will be powered by the lower spec Qualcomm Snapdragon 730 processor.
The Google Pixel 4a with 5G and Pixel 4a will be available in the 6GB RAM and 128GB storage options, while the Google Pixel 5 will get the 8GB RAM specification along with 128GB of storage. While 6GB of RAM is more than enough, it may not be future proof when phones like the OnePlus Nord are doing a good job when it comes to RAM and storage combinations, at less than Rs 30,000. Mind you, the OnePlus Nord also runs the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G processor and is 5G compatible.
When it comes to the camera, one would expect the Pixel phones to really improve the game. The Google Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a with 5G have dual cameras on the back: a 12-megapixel dual-pixel and a 16-megapixel ultra-wide. That means they can offer Night Sight, Live HDR +, Cinematic Pan, ultra-wide lens, and Portrait Light. The Google Pixel 4a that you can spend your money on has only a 12-megapixel dual-pixel camera. I remember that the Apple iPhone XR was designated by many people for having only one camera. That was 2018. This is 2020.
The screen size of the Google Pixel 4a is also the smallest of the entire range. This is a 5.8 inch OLED Full HD + screen. The Google Pixel 5 gets a smooth 6-inch OLED screen, while the Pixel 4a with 5G makes do with a 6.2-inch OLED screen. The Pixel 4a also has the smallest battery, with a capacity of 3,140 mAh. The Pixel 5 has a 4,080 mAh battery, while the Pixel 4a with 5G has a 3,885 mAh battery. The difference could be due to the lack of 5G capabilities and a smaller screen on the Pixel 4a, which reduces battery voltage.
The conservative approach of the Google Pixel 4a may well be down to the requirements of the time. It doesn’t have a high-resolution screen, it doesn’t have face unlock, and instead relies on the good fingerprint sensor, not the more powerful processor and rather limited camera hardware. From the outside, it looks like they really wanted to keep costs down. Google may be anticipating limited appeal for an expensive phone in some markets, including India. And that may well be a masterstroke. That said, will Google be able to price the Pixel 4a long enough to outshine its rivals?
Much will depend on the price of the Google Pixel 4a, potentially for many buyers. If Google puts it around the price of Rs 30,000, the Pixel 4a will compete against the OnePlus Nord, which on paper seems to be performing better in almost every aspect of the spec sheet. However, there may still be a huge possibility for the Pixel 4a. After all, a Pixel phone will still have its fans and appeal intact. And if the price is higher, it has the likes of the OnePlus 8, and potentially the upcoming OnePlus 8T and the soon-to-launch Samsung Galaxy S20 FE, all of which could offer significantly better specs and potentially even better performance. . And in some cases, 5G is future proof too. If that’s the case, the spec sheet just doesn’t favor the Google Pixel 4a.
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