Google Pixel 4a 5G

Last updated: May 10, 2021 (

6.2-inch OLED screen ; Great camera, including ultrawide ; Good battery life

No IP68 water or dust rating ; No wireless charging ; 5G tax increases price, especially on the mmWave version

Google managed to make a 5G phone for under $500, an important price point. But while the networking might matter to some, the bigger deal is the faster Snapdragon 765G processor and new ultrawide camera.

Excellent cameras ; Solid performance ; Guaranteed OS upgrades and security updates for three years ; Headphone jack

Questionable durability ; No wireless charging ; Adding Verizon mmWave connectivity costs $100

The Pixel 4a 5G offers excellent camera performance, a top-notch Android experience, and 5G connectivity for under $500, but Google's Pixel 5 ultimately delivers better value in the long run.

Clean Android experience 3.5mm headphone jack

A touch slow in use Hit-and-miss camera experience

With the same cameras, chipset and connectivity, and a similar design, the Pixel 4a 5G is very similar to Google’s Pixel 5, but its lower price should give it broad appeal. As an overall package it’s a fine mid-range 5G phone, and the Android...

Affordably priced ; Excellent cameras ; Reliable software updates ; Headphone jack

No wireless charging ; Relatively poor battery life

Pixel 4a 5G isn’t a flagship phone and it isn’t trying to be; with its excellent cameras and unmatched software support (among Android phones), it is an amazing option at under $500.

Great display - larger than Pixel 5 ; Super camera experience ; Includes 3.5mm headphone socket ; Speaker offers great quality ; Sensible price - less than the Pixel 5

No waterproofing ; No optical zoom camera - and there's a 2x digital zoom bug

This phone makes the most sense in Google's 2020 Pixel series line-up. It's cheaper than the Pixel 5, has a larger display, and the same great camera, making it a win in our books.

Affordably priced ; Excellent camera performance ; Android has some truly useful features ; Great battery life

You pay more for faster 5G ; No waterproofing or wireless charging ; Plastic design is unremarkable

– Great camera and superb software

– Unconvincing against the competition

The Pixel 4a 5G is a very good phone, boosted significantly by its highly impressive camera performance and Google’s signature streamlined software. However, take a look at your top priorities and your available budget before buying this one over the...