Google Pixel 4a Review: Best Mid-Range Smartphone

Google Pixel 4a (2020)

Overview

The Google Pixel 4a is a mid-range 4G smartphone unveiled on August 3, 2020, and released globally on August 20, 2020, with a starting price of $349. Positioned as a value-driven alternative to Google’s flagship Pixel 4 series, it prioritizes the Pixel lineup’s signature computational photography, pure Android experience, and compact design—all at a budget-friendly price point. Targeted at users seeking flagship-level camera performance without the premium cost, the Pixel 4a launched with Android 10 and received OS updates up to Android 13, plus 4 years of security patches (ending in August 2024). Its model codes include G025J, GA02099, and G025N, with regional variants for different markets.

Key Technical Specifications

Category	Details
Display	5.81-inch OLED (HDR support); 1080×2340 (FHD+) resolution; 443 ppi; 19.5:9 aspect ratio; 60Hz refresh rate; Corning Gorilla Glass 3 front; Punch-hole camera cutout (top-left); 100,000:1 contrast ratio
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G (8nm manufacturing process); Octa-core (2×2.2GHz Kryo 470 Gold + 6×1.8GHz Kryo 470 Silver); Adreno 618 GPU
Memory & Storage	6GB LPDDR4X RAM; 128GB UFS 2.1 storage (non-expandable); Nano-SIM + eSIM (dual-standby for select regions)
Camera System	Rear Single Camera: 12.2MP wide sensor (f/1.7 aperture, 27mm focal length, 1/2.55″ sensor size, 1.4µm pixels, dual-pixel PDAF, OIS, Sony IMX363 sensor); LED flashFront Camera: 8MP wide sensor (f/2.0 aperture, 24mm focal length, 1.12µm pixels); Auto-HDRVideo Capabilities: Rear 4K@30fps (gyro-EIS), 1080p@30/60fps; Front 1080p@30fps
Battery & Charging	3140mAh non-removable Li-Po battery; 18W USB-PD 2.0 fast charging (USB-C 2.0 port); No wireless charging
Design & Build	Plastic back and frame; Gorilla Glass 3 front; Dimensions: 144.9×69.4×8.2mm; Weight: 143g; Rear-mounted fingerprint scanner; No water/dust resistance rating
Connectivity	4G LTE Cat.18; Wi-Fi 5 (802.11a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band); Bluetooth 5.1 (A2DP, LE); NFC (Google Pay support); GPS/GLONASS/Beidou/Galileo/QZSS; USB-C 2.0 (OTG compatible)
Audio & Extras	Stereo speakers (bottom-firing + earpiece); 3.5mm headphone jack; Active noise cancellation (with dedicated microphone); No wireless audio features
Software	Android 10 (launch); Upgradable to Android 13; 3 years of OS updates, 4 years of security patches; Stock Android with Google Assistant, At a Glance, and Google Photos (unlimited high-quality storage for Pixel users)
Sensors	Accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity sensor, ambient light sensor, compass, rear fingerprint scanner, face unlock (software-based, non-secure)

Core Features & Innovations

1. Flagship-Grade Computational Photography

The Pixel 4a’s single rear camera delivered image quality that rivaled 2020 flagship phones, thanks to Google’s industry-leading computational photography algorithms:

Night Sight: Captured bright, detailed low-light photos without flash, using multi-frame exposure and AI to reduce noise and enhance color.
Portrait Mode: Created natural background blur (bokeh) for portrait shots, even with a single lens, by leveraging machine learning to detect subjects and edges.
Super Res Zoom: Used AI to upscale digitally zoomed photos, preserving detail at up to 8x zoom (vs. traditional digital zoom’s loss of quality).
Top Shot: Automatically captured multiple frames and recommended the best shot based on subject expression, lighting, and sharpness.

2. Pure Android Experience

The Pixel 4a ran stock Android with zero bloatware, offering a clean, intuitive interface and direct access to Google’s latest software features:

Timely Updates: Was among the first devices to receive Android 11, 12, and 13, ensuring users had access to new security patches and features.
Google Assistant Integration: Supported hands-free voice commands, screen context awareness, and real-time translation.
Unlimited Google Photos Storage: Pixel users could back up an unlimited number of photos and videos at high quality (compressed but visually indistinguishable from original) without using cloud storage quotas.

3. Compact, User-Friendly Design

Weighing just 143g and measuring 8.2mm thick, the Pixel 4a was optimized for one-handed use—a rarity in the era of large smartphones. Key design perks included:

Rear Fingerprint Scanner: Placed in an ergonomic position for quick, easy unlocking.
3.5mm Headphone Jack: A rare inclusion in 2020 smartphones, catering to audiophiles who preferred wired headphones over Bluetooth alternatives.
Punch-Hole Display: A minimal cutout for the front camera, preserving most of the screen real estate compared to the Pixel 4’s notch design.

4. Value for Money

At $349, the Pixel 4a offered a rare combination of flagship camera performance, clean software, and reliable hardware—undercutting competitors like the iPhone SE (2020) and Samsung Galaxy A51 on camera quality while matching them on price.

Pixel 4a vs. Pixel 4a 5G: Key Differences

Feature	Google Pixel 4a	Google Pixel 4a 5G
Network	4G LTE	5G (Sub-6 GHz)
Chipset	Snapdragon 730G	Snapdragon 765G
Display Size	5.81-inch OLED	6.24-inch OLED
Battery Capacity	3140mAh	3885mAh
Weight	143g	168g
Release Price	$349	$499
Water Resistance	None	IP53 (splash/dust)

Market Reception & Legacy

The Pixel 4a was a critical and commercial success, praised by tech reviewers for its class-leading camera, pure Android software, and unbeatable value. It became Google’s best-selling Pixel device at the time, expanding the Pixel lineup’s reach to budget-conscious users who had previously avoided the brand’s premium flagships.

Its legacy lies in three key areas:

Design Pragmatism: Prioritized user-centric features like the 3.5mm jack and compact size, ignoring the trend of unnecessary hardware gimmicks in flagships.

Mid-Range Camera Benchmark: Proved that a single camera with advanced software could outperform multi-lens setups in competing mid-range phones.

Pure Android Accessibility: Made Google’s clean software experience accessible to a wider audience, shifting consumer expectations for mid-range device software quality.