Google has finally lifted the lid on the heavily anticipated mid-tier Google Pixel 4a, sticking closely to the “a” philosophy by slimming the more expensive Pixel 4 down to a more affordable price point.
It comes off the success of last year’s Pixel 3a (and its XL variant), which is still widely considered one of the best Android phones you can get at the mid-market price. Officially arriving in September, Pixel 4a will precede Google’s first 5G-enabled Pixel phones – the 5G version of the 4a and the powerful Pixel 5, both coming to Australia in spring.
READ: Our 4.5 star review of the Google Pixel 3a XL.
Notably, there will be no XL variant for the Pixel 4a, with the line split between the standard and the eventual 5G version. Although rumours indicate that the 5G version may have a slightly bigger screen, but nothing has been confirmed.
So far, only a Just Black version will be available, with a sizable 5.8-inch OLED panel sporting a resolution of 1080 x 2340px with a 19.5:9 aspect ratio behind Gorilla Glass 3. A re-designed hole-punch camera is carved for the 8MP (f/2.0) fixed focus selfie camera with 1.12μm pixel size in the upper left corner of the screen.
Turn the phone over and its matte black rear houses a single 12.2MP (f/1.7) sensor with 1.4µm pixel size, 77-degree field of view, OIS + EIS, and dual-pixel phase detection. As is expected for Pixel software now, the lens will be enhanced with Night Sight, Portrait Mode and Top Shot.
Power will come from a Snapdragon 730G chipset paired with 128GB of onboard storage and 6GB RAM. This will be the only version of the phone, with extra storage not an option.
The Pixel 4’s battery life has been its pain point since release, but 3,140 mAh with 18W Power Delivery 2.0 charging should be enough for at least a day’s use. By comparison, the Pixel 4 XL has a 3,700 mAh battery.
Users will still get to enjoy a 3.5mm audio jack, a rarity nowadays but one that has become at least somewhat more common on mid-tier phones.
Pixel 4a is now available for pre-order in Australia here and at JB Hi Fi, Vodafone and Harvey Norman. It will be on-sale online from September 10 at those partners and Officeworks, and in store from mid-October.
