Google released its budget flagship phone, Google Pixel 4a after months of delay. Since my original Google Pixel XL was already 3 years old and no longer supported by Google, I placed my order as soon as the phone was up for pre-order. I received it about 1 month later on 9 Sep. Here’s my take on Google Pixel 4a after using it for 3 months.
Google Pixel 4a 101
Google has been producing its own phones since 2009. I know it, because I owned the original Nexus. I remembered receiving it during the Chinese New Year period in 2010. The phone was a collaboration with HTC and sported one of the best hardware at that time. With a mid-range price and high-end specs, the Nexus range of phones was the most value for money in the market. It was also a hardy one; I only replaced it in 2013 with a Samsung Note 3.
Another 4 years later, I reverted to Google, and this time, I bought the original Google Pixel XL. The Pixel range is a revamp of the Nexus lines, with Google taking full control of the design and production under the “Made by Google” label. Another difference is that the Pixel is now costs the same as the flagships in the market. i.e. A Pixel costs around SGD1,000.
These Google branded phones are meant to demonstrate the best of Android. Other phone makers tend to layer their own User Interface (UI) over the original Android. While these phones sported their unique look and user experience, they also had their own range of problems. From bloatware to delayed security patch updates, these phones could not match the quality experience from using the vanilla Android that shipped with the Nexus and Pixel phones.
In 2019, months after releasing Pixel 3, Google released a budget version Pixel 3a. Reviews of the budget phone were raving, with many people saying that the user experience of Pixel 3a matched that of the flagship. In other words, Google managed to retain the essence of the Pixel experience, while cutting back on other aspects to bring the price down.
With Google dropping support for the original Pixels, and with my wallet being very tight after returning from my studies, this year’s budget iteration of Pixel 4 became my logical choice to replace my Pixel XL that followed me around the world for the past 3 years.
Specifications of Google Pixel 4a
There is no shortage of information for the specifications of the phone. You can even find the information on the official Google Pixel 4a microsite. Here is a snapshot of what one can expect from the phone.
| Category | Google Pixel 4a | Google Pixel 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | SGD499 | SGD1,199 (and above) |
| Display | 5.8″ display | 5.7″ displaySmooth Display |
| Battery | 3140 mAh | 2800 mAh |
| Body | “Plastic” | Glass backActive Edge (control phone by squeezing the edge)Water resistant |
| Memory | 6GB RAM | 6GB RAM |
| Storage | 128 GB storage | 64GB or 128 GB storage |
| Processor | Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 730G with Octa-core Titan M security module | Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 855 with Octa-Core Titan M security module |
| Rear Camera | 12.2MP (Both phones’ camera have the same specifications) | 12.2MP (Both phones’ camera have the same specifications) |
| Rear Camera 2 | NA | 16MP telephoto camera |
| Front Camera | 8 MP wide-angle (Both phones’ camera have almost the same specifications) | 8 MP wide-angle (Both phones’ camera have almost the same specifications) |
| Speakers | Dual stereo USB-C audio 3.5mm audio jack | Dual stereo USB-C audio |
Why Did I Buy Google Pixel 4a?
Best Features In Its Price Range
At SGD499, I found the mid-range Google Pixel 4a to be very attractive. The Pixel 4 with the lowest spec costs at least SGD600 more. The additional features of the latter just weren’t good enough to persuade me to fork out the extra SGD600.
For example, Pixel 4’s “Smooth Display” offers a higher screen refresh rate of 90Hz. Online reviews agreed that this is only good for those who are using the phone for high end gaming. People like me using phones for everyday use won’t notice any difference.
Similarly, I have no use for the “radar feature” that detects when I’m going to pick up my phone and “pre-unlocks” the phone for me. I’m not going to bring my phone for underwater shooting, so I’m fine with Pixel 4a’s just being splash proof. Also, I’ll be using a phone cover, so it doesn’t matter whether the body of the phone is made from “high end” materials.
Same Front and Rear Cameras As Google Pixel 4
Other than the absence of a 2nd rear camera, the rest of the camera hardware is the same for Pixel 4a and its flagship sibling. The only downside is that Pixel 4a will take a longer time to process each photo due to its slower processor. However, this is not going to be an issue for me, since I don’t need to take quick bursts of photos like a stalker/stomper.
Oh yes… If you’re quite active in taking pictures to catch people not wearing their masks properly or cross-mingling across tables at restaurants, then perhaps the slow image processing speed might be an issue.
Bigger Battery With Longer Battery Life
The battery life is also a great plus for me. Pixel 4a has a slightly bigger battery than Pixel 4 and specs that demand less energy, so there’s a compound effect resulting in a longer the battery life. With my ageing Pixel XL running out of battery 2 hours after leaving the socket, a long battery life will be the greatest relief for me!
With a larger battery and less energy sapping hardware, the Google Pixel 4a is expected to have much longer battery life than the flagship Google Pixel 4.
Fingerprint Sensor At The Back
Another reason why I chose to buy a Pixel 4a over the Pixel 4, was the latter’s lack of a fingerprint sensor. Call me someone who resists advances in technology. Many of the high-security apps I’m using have not incorporated facial recognition. If I migrate to the Pixel 4, I would have to revert to typing passwords when I want to do mobile banking.
Sounds like a step backward to me instead.
However, considering how I’m growing fatter by the day, I’m also worried that my phone would not recognise me one year down the road. So a fingerprint sensor on Pixel 4a it would be!
I am also sticky about having a fingerprint sensor set into the phone screens like some phones do. It’s weird, because there would be a cut out in the screen protector in the place of the fingerprint sensor, which makes the whole phone look hideous.
The Pixel 4a’s fingerprint sensor is set at the back, on the upper half of the phone. I usually put my phone into my pocket head down. This makes the placement of Pixel 4a’s fingerprint sensor so perfect. When I reach in for my phone, I can also unlock my phone simultaneously!
Like my old Pixel XL, the fingerprint sensor for Pixel 4a is recessed into the body. However, the recess is less pronounced for the Pixel 4a. That presented some difficulty in finding the sensor while it was in the pocket. However, having the casing (with raised edges around the sensor) solved that problem completely.
Vanilla Android
Don’t be confused. Although Android versions are named after desserts (the latest version is named “Red Velvet Cake”), “Vanilla Android” (or “Stock Android”) refers to the operating system that’s as released by Google and unmodified by phone manufactures.
As mentioned earlier, phone manufacturers lay over the Vanilla Android with their own customised version of Android. As they will need to adapt their code and conduct testing, usually their versions of User Interface (UI) will only be released a few months after Google released the Android.
In other words, I will be able to get the latest version of Android on my Google Pixel before everyone else.
However, there’s another practical reason for using Vanilla Android. Whenever Google releases security patches for Android, the phone manufacturers still need some months to adapt the code. This puts users of those phones at security risk for those months.
On top of that, their own codes may also contain bugs and security loopholes, so those customised UIs have an added layer of security risk.
Using Google Pixel 4a minimises all these security risks.
Unboxing Google Pixel 4a
I placed my pre-order for Google Pixel 4a via Challenger, so it came in a generic mailer bag via courier. However, my friend who ordered it direct on Google Store received his Pixel in a cardboard box that looked like an origami. Way to go on making low end (and sustainable) packaging looked cool!
No matter the method of purchase, we got a 120GB bonus data from MyRepublic. However, when one orders from the Google store, he will also enjoy entertainment and extra storage with 3 month trials of YouTube Premium and Google One. On the other hand, I get to accumulate points when I purchased my Pixel 4a from Challenger. Google will also only charge the credit card after the phone delivered, whereas Challenger charged the amount even though the phone would only be delivered 1 month later.
The actual box itself was minimalistic and felt sturdy in hand. After peeling off the “fresh seal” sticker, the main compartment slid out onto my hand with a silent “whoosh”.
The phone, being the focus, laid on top of the compartment. Removing the tray that held the phone revealed the main compartment. Inside, one could find the charger, wire, USB Type 2 to USB C dongle, and the instruction manual.
I heard Apple stopped providing the charger with their phones. On hindsight, the sight of the charger in the box was real comforting!
3 Months Into Using Google Pixel 4a
Battery Life
I have never felt more freedom with Google Pixel 4a’s battery life. On any day, I only need to charge the phone once a day. When I keep a 24-hour charging routine, I will be charging the phone when the juice is at about 30%.
My daily usage included browsing and posting on social media in the day, watching videos for about an hour before sleep, and recording my exercise and activities with Google Fit. Every now and then, I listened to Spotify (which I believe will increase when I stop working from home), took pictures and did some mobile banking.
My most intensive usage had got to be during the 11.11 period, when I was jumping between several shopping platforms to compare prices for the big day. 1 hour of online shopping drained about 10% of battery.
That being said, Google claimed the battery life could last “from dawn to dusk”, which essentially meant one can go to work without bringing a power bank. It remains to be seen how long my Pixel 4a’s battery life will take to drop to below Google’s claim.
Photo Quality
Even though I’m not a professional photographer, I still rely a lot on my phone to take photos and videos for my blog posts.
Most of the time, the photos were good to be posted online without edits. Here are some of the photos I had taken with my Google Pixel 4a, unedited.
That being said, Google Photos, the default photo management app on all Google Pixels, offers photo editing features. It came with 13 default filters, on top of simple functions like crop and rotation. If those weren’t sufficient, it also featured advanced editing features, where one could tweak the contrast, saturation, tint and vignette, to name a few.
Camera Features
However, I could still have some control over how I took the pictures with the Google Camera app.
One feature, which I believed was not new for iPhone users, was Motion Photos. When activated, the app took several photos so that I could either create an animation, or select the “Top Photo”. You know, for the times when the subject blinks.
I rarely take human subjects. Instead, I need more control when I take selfies. The Portrait mode also had that multiple shots function, on top of a bokeh effect to blur out the background. The latter was a feature missing from my old Pixel, so I liked the fact that I need not create the bokeh effect in post-edits.
The most touted feature of the Google Camera app was Night Sight, which could allow one to take pictures of the night sky. Unfortunately, I have not tried taking pictures of the night sky, since Singapore suffers badly from light pollution.
My experience of Night Sight on my previous Pixel phone was fantastic. That same experience was extended to my Pixel 4a. Photos taken in low light conditions were not grainy. Although I still had to hold my hand still for a few seconds when taking the photos, even if I did move slightly, the photo didn’t come out blurred.
Overall, I am satisfied with the photos taken on my Pixel 4a, just as I did with my old Pixel.
Click here for a professional review on the camera of Google Pixel 4a.
Speed
Although the Pixel 4a was supposed to suffer from speed issues, I didn’t find that to be a deal breaker. Perhaps it was because I had switched from the old Pixel, which was like 4 generations ago.
I had some experience with budget phones from Samsung which was in the same price range as my Pixel 4a. In terms of user experience, Pixel 4a felt like a Ferrari while the Samsung phone felt like a tortoise.
For example, when opening an app on the Samsung phone, I had to breathe in and out (and then some more at times) before the app fully opens. I never had this issue at all with my Pixel 4a.
The only times when I did sense some lag in the Pixel 4a was when I was taking photos. As mentioned earlier, Google Camera is a very powerful app and thus processor-heavy. The app basically takes a few pictures at once and then uses the algorithm to generate the amazing photos that we see in the end. This process requires a lot of processing juice and the richer the photo (e.g. photos with more colours and more objects at different distances) the more processing speed the app would require.
Therefore, depending on what I was taking, the delay to get a see the final photo varies. When I was taking photos of food indoors, for example, the photo would be processed almost immediately. When I was taking landscapes on a sunny day, the lag would be more significant.
Considering that the lags are limited to photo taking, which laymen like me don’t do on a constant basis, this lack in processing speed does not affect user experience significantly.
Google Pixel 4a is smaller than my old Google Pixel XL, but ironically has a larger screen than its great grandfather.
Size
One aspect of Pixel 4a that I needed getting used to was its smaller size. Compared to Pixel XL’s 15.4cm x 7.5cm, the Pixel 4a is a midget (14.4cm x 6.9cm). However, the smaller size was much easier for my small hands to deal with. I no longer have to use 2 hands to type messages or to reach for the icon on the other side of the screen.
Ironically, the display size of Pixel 4a is bigger than its great grandfather. It’s just slightly longer and has smaller bezels than the Pixel XL. For a long time, I was wondering why people got so hyped up about no bezels on the phone. I finally appreciated that when I started using Google Pixel 4a.
Downside to Google Pixel 4a
Having said that, the Pixel 4a isn’t an all rounder too. As could be seen from its specs, it lacked a 2nd rear camera compared to Pixel 4 In fact, many contemporary phones in the same price range as Pixel 4a sport 2 or more cameras.
Although the Google Camera app more than made up for the deficiency, it did limit the Pixel 4a’s capability to do more. If it had the telephoto lens that the Pixel 4 had, then it could zoom in on objects that are further away at high quality.
Another feature that I felt should be in the Pixel 4a was wireless charging. This is a personal preference. For all my older phones, the first part to suffer from wear and tear was the charging port. That was no thanks to the plugging/unplugging when charging the phones. Wireless charging would avoid that and help my phone last longer.
Even though Google Pixel 4a doesn’t sport the high end features of a flagship phone, it still has features that far exceed my needs as an average phone user.
Parting Words
Most of us are very attached to our phones, yes. However, we use them to watch videos, browse social media and listen to Spotify on long commutes. None of those required processing speed found in flagship phones. Unless you are a hardcore gamer, a professional media creator or someone chasing after the latest trends, you do not really need a top-of-the-line phone.
The Google Pixel 4a retains the best of Google Pixel 4, while doing away with the parts that we average users don’t need. Why would I need a metal body and glass back, when my phone would be hidden in a casing most (read: 99.9%) of the time? Why do I need a radar on my phone to pre-unlock my phone when I reach for it, when I’m not using my phone for time sensitive tasks?
Therefore, even though Google Pixel 4a doesn’t sport the high end features of a flagship phone, it still has features that far exceed my needs as an average phone user. Even better, it has the best performance among the phones in its price range.
If you are ever thinking of changing phones, or are wondering what to buy for your loved one for Christmas, I think the Google Pixel 4a would be a very worthwhile purchase.
Till then, stay hungry!