Google Pixel 4a Unboxing: The Chosen Android to Take Down the Apple iPhone SE?

Specs

✓ 6GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage

✓ Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G

✓ 3,140 mAh battery

✓ Android 10

✓ 5.81-inch 1080p OLED display with 443 ppi

✓ Pixel Imprint fingerprint scanner

✓ Corning Gorilla Glass 3

✓ 12.1 MP f/1.7 main sensor rear camera

✓ 8 MP f/2.0 selfie camera

Retail Price: $349.00

Pre-order on the Google Store

First Impressions

2020 has been an odd year for sure, but if you’re a budget phone lover, it’s actually been a very prosperous year. We’ve seen offerings from Apple with the $399 SE, OnePlus with the Nord and now the long awaited Google Pixel 4a. Priced at $50 less than the MSRP of last year’s 3a, the $349 makes this phone an extremely attractive option even without further analysis. What I mean by that is we know exactly what a Stock Pixel experience is supposed to be like as do we have an idea how a Pixel camera should perform. That’s exactly what we have here on the 4a; the same software experience and the same camera sensor as the Pixel 4. So the only real notable differences are the subtractions Google had to compromise to hit this sub-$400 price point. 

The most notable alterations are the lower quality build material used and the sub-flagship processor housed inside the 4a. Pulling the Pixel 4a out of the box felt like the same Google unboxing experience we’ve come to know. The phone fits rather comfortably in the hand and although it’s of plastic material, the 4a seems well constructed. With a very standard button layout only including the signature dual tone power button to distinguish it from other brands, this budget offering is no nonsense. This phone is Just Black. Literally. Google only sells the 4a in one color.

As for the processing power of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G, we’ll have to push the phone a bit before we record our experience in our full review as this is the first Snapdragon 730G phone we’ve encountered at The Sypnotix. But if the reputation of phones like the Xiaomi Note 10 and the Realme X2 are to be believed, then the 4a housing the same processor should work out for a pretty solid device. Factor that in with clean Android 10 software, 3 years of OS updates and the Pixel 4a does look more attractive by the minute.

Everything else on the 4a just seems perfectly acceptable on paper. A 5.81-inch 1080p OLED display with 443 ppi looks terrific for the price point. 6GB of ram and 128 GB of storage is a standard for 2020. There’s no expandable storage, but Google does give users their beloved headphone jack back for this budget offering. 

One thing we will have our eyes set on during our review period will definitely be the 3,140 mAh battery. It isn’t a huge number but considering that the 4a doesn’t use a power stressing 5G processor and is around the same size as the regular Pixel 4 but contains a bigger battery capacity (Pixel 4 only has a 2,800mAh), it’s plausible to expect better battery life.

Most people are attracted to the Pixel line expecting quality camera results. We’re going to put it through the ringer and comment on the quality of the photos in our full review. However, that single Sony IMX363 sensor is something we’ve grown quite accustomed to as Pixel users. We’re expecting the same quality of photos from the 12.2 MP sensor paired with the excellent Google processing software.

Rounding up the budget cuts, Google reintroduces the Pixel Imprint fingerprint scanner on the back of the phone in lieu of the face unlock we saw on the Pixel 4. It does its job and I honestly prefer fingerprint sensors over face unlock security anyway. This particular Pixel 4a doesn’t have 5G capabilities as that is reserved for the upcoming Pixel 4a 5G which will be launched soon along with the Pixel 5.

As far as initial unboxing impressions go, the Google Pixel 4a looks like a solid winner so far. Barring unpredicted issues with the phone, my concerns over the two biggest unknowns (the build and processor) have been squashed at least for the moment. Our full review of the Pixel 4a will be out shortly.

---

---