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Google Pixel 4a could be the phone of the year — even with these trade-offs

Google Pixel 4a could exist the phone of the year — even with these trade-offs

Google Pixel 4a
(Paradigm credit: Concept Creator/LetsGoDigital)

Every time y'all buy an cheap smartphone — fifty-fifty if it's one of the best inexpensive phones — you're making a trade-off. Is that depression price you're getting worth the extra features and capabilities you'll have to give up? That's a question would-be buyers of the Google Pixel 4a will soon have to ask themselves.

Google hasn't appear the Pixel 4a yet, but based on the rumors surrounding this phone, a follow-up to last year's Pixel 3a, that may be merely a formality. The expectation is that Google will announce the new telephone next month, most likely during its June 3 online event that will preview Android 11.

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When it does arrive, the Pixel 4a is expected to feature a  five.8-inch OLED screen, a solid, if not peak-of-the-line, processor and a lonely rear photographic camera for snapping photos. Of course, if the Pixel 4a is anything like its predecessor, that'll be good news for bargain hunters. A year later its release, the Pixel 3a remains i of the best camera phones y'all tin buy thanks to Google's mastery of computational photography.

Until Google officially announces the Pixel 4a, we can't definitively say what compromises y'all'll be required to make to bask its price tag -- which we've but learned could be equally depression as $349. Just based on all the leaks surrounding this year's telephone, we can make a pretty adept gauge about Pixel 4a trade-offs. And even with those trade-offs the Pixel 4a could be the phone of the year for most people, especially for those of us on a budget.

Y'all'll become a less powerful phone with the Pixel 4a

Rumors betoken to the Pixel 4a running on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 730 system-on-fleck. That flake will deliver solid performance and can handle the everyday tasks of most smartphone users. Merely it won't provide flagship-quality power.

These days, the best Android phones run on the Snapdragon 865; the Pixel iv, which came out tardily final year, uses the Snapdragon 855, which was the best available Snapdragon chipset at the time. Meanwhile, the latest iPhones run on the pace-setting A13 Bionic chip — including the iPhone SE,  perhaps the Pixel 4a'due south main rival.

Leaked Pixel 4a benchmarks give us a skilful thought of the trade-off Pixel 4a owners will make. YouTube channel TechnoLike Plus claims that the Pixel 4a posted a score of 268,973 in the AnTuTu benchmark. That's a meliorate result than terminal year's Pixel 3a models got, but it's behind the mark posted past the iPhone SE (441,752).

When we tested the Pixel 3a final yr, its Geekbench score was behind the Pixel 3 and even the older Pixel 2. The Pixel 3a's Snapdragon 670 chipset is less powerful than the Snapdragon 730, only we'd nonetheless expect Google's new budget phone to lag backside its flagship Pixel 4 for functioning.

Does it matter?: Not really. People who use processor-intensive apps or play demanding games will want a more powerful telephone than what the Pixel 4a is expected to deliver. For nigh everyday tasks, though, a slower processor won't make much of a deviation.

Yous'll get a smaller screen with the Pixel 4a

Google Pixel 4a concept design

(Image credit: Pigtou and xleaks)

Rumors signal to the Pixel 4a featuring a 5.viii-inch screen. That's only a chip larger than the 5.6-inch display on the Pixel 3a, though considering the Pixel 4a is expected to shrink the top bezel by using a dial-hole cutout for the front camera, the new phone should offer more than screen real manor.

Plus, a 5.8-inch display would dwarf the puny 4.7-inch panel on the iPhone SE, which as well suffers from big bezels all effectually its Retina Display.That'due south the practiced news. The bad news is that if you lot prefer larger displays, you're probably not going to have that selection with the Pixel 4a.

Terminal year, Google offered two versions of the Pixel 3a: a standard model, and  a 6-inch XL edition. This fourth dimension around, rumors propose that Google likely won't make a Pixel 4a XL as the Pixel 3a XL's had underwhelming sales. If that's true, fans of big-screen phones won't be satisfied with a sub-6-inch display.

Does information technology affair?: Screen size is a affair of personal gustation. Plenty of people even so similar meaty phones that fit easily into pockets, then a five.eight-inch Pixel 4a would exist a perfectly adequate device. Phablet fans may find the lack of a 4a 40 to be a deal-breaker, though.

Yous won't get 5G connectivity with the Pixel 4a

Some Pixel 4a rumors have Google'due south upkeep phone using a Snapdragon 765 chipset. That would be significant and not just considering the 765 promises better functioning than the Snapdragon 730. The Snapdragon 765 has a congenital-in 5G modem and any phone using information technology will exist able to connect to emerging 5G networks.

Alas, rumors of a Snapdragon 765-powered Pixel 4a accept died down in contempo weeks, so nosotros're pretty sure Google's upcoming phone won't connect to the 5G networks AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon are building out. It makes sense that Google would want to salvage 5G connectivity for its Pixel five flagship release this autumn, but it'due south still a trade-off Pixel 4a shoppers should keep in mind.

Does it matter?: Information technology won't for a while.5G networks are still in the early stages, with only T-Mobile'due south 5G network providing nationwide reach. That network is built on low-band spectrum so you won't see massive speed boosts at this moment. (AT&T plans to have its ain nationwide network by mid-twelvemonth, simply information technology'due south using the same low-band engineering as T-Mobile to extend its reach.) 5G speeds will improve over fourth dimension, but you won't miss out on much over the adjacent year or then if y'all don't buy a 5G phone this year.

Y'all'll get a smaller battery with the Pixel 4a

Google Pixel 4a

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

The Pixel 3a debuted last yr with a iii,000 mAh battery, which is much smaller than the batteries you find in flagship phones. (1 notable exception: The Pixel 4 and its two,800 mAh bombardment, which probably explains why we found battery life for that phone and then disappointing.) Bombardment size isn't everything, though and the Pixel 3a nevertheless managed to land on our best telephone battery life list with a runtime close to 12 hours.

The Pixel 4a is rumored to take a slightly larger 3,080 mAh battery, so it's very possible that it could friction match or exceed the endurance of the excellent Pixel 3a.

The bigger compromise may be with how yous charge your phone. No ane expects the Pixel 4a to add the wireless charging capabilities institute in premium phones, and the Pixel 4a is probable to offer but 18-watt charging when faster options are already available.

Does it affair?: Because how well the Pixel 3a did on our battery test, battery size shouldn't thing, so long as Google avoids the mistakes it made with the Pixel 4's ability consumption. Wireless charging may be harder to sacrifice, especially if you've already invested in wireless-charging accessories.

You lot'll go a plastic phone with the Pixel 4a

Forget the drinking glass and metal designs you see in premium smartphones. Google used plastic for the Pixel 3a, and those same materials are probable to be on order for the Pixel 4a. Apart from the placement of the forepart camera, this year's phone will bear a hitting resemblance to last year's model.

Does it matter?: If you lot're shopping for $400 smartphones, you're probably non expecting premium designs, so this is an easy compromise to make. That said, if you desire a telephone with looks that far exceed its price, consider the TCL x Pro, which delivers a premium design for $450. And the iPhone SE offers a drinking glass and metallic design that's h2o resistant for $399.

You'll merely go one camera with the Pixel 4a

Google Pixel 4a

(Image credit: Concept Creator/LetsGoDigital)

Google has no plans to change its arroyo to cameras on upkeep phones, if rumors are accurate. The  Pixel 3a fabricated do with a lone 12.2-megapixel camera and all signs betoken to the Pixel 4a post-obit suit.

That ways there will be no telephoto lens offering an optical zoom, and no ultra wide angle lens for pulling back to testify more than surrounding details. (Information technology as well means no macro lens like those showing up on many  lower-cost phones, though we're fine with that omission.)

As nice equally it would be to accept the actress hardware, the Pixel 3a did just fine with its lonely shooter, capturing pictures that rivaled those taken past more expensive handsets. The hero here is Google'southward software, which enables features like Night Sight for great depression-light photos and Super Res Zoom for filling in details when you zoom in digitally.

We'd wait those features to return in the Pixel 4a, along with photographic capabilities Google introduced with the Pixel four concluding fall. (Retrieve AI-powered white-balancing and real-time HDR optimization.)

Does it matter?: Not at all. More than whatever telephone maker out there, Google has figured out that it's non how many cameras your phone has, it's how well those cameras perform. And given the visitor's track record when it comes to mobile photography, nosotros're confident that the camera is 1 area where the Pixel 4a won't require whatsoever compromises.

Philip Michaels is a senior editor at Tom's Guide. He has strong opinions about Apple, the Oakland Athletics and former movies. Follow him at @PhilipMichaels.

Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/opinion/google-pixel-4a-could-be-the-phone-of-the-year-even-with-these-trade-offs

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