The Google Pixel 4a was supposed to be the hotly anticipated follow-up to the Pixel 3a, an affordable Pixel phone that offered the Google camera experience we love with great software and an affordable price. But as this global pandemic shows no signs of slowing (at least in the US), we are still tracking and waiting for the 4a, which we all thought would have been here by now.
Because this story has gone on long enough, this Pixel 4a hub should give you a good feel for what we can expect once it does arrive. Wait, will it arrive?
What is the Pixel 4a and Google’s “a” line of phones?
First kicking off with 2019’s Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL, Google decided it needed to not only play in the top-tier flagship phone space, it also wanted to offer a more affordable phone that still gave you the best of Google. The Pixel 3a provided a similar high-end camera experience to Google’s best phones and would receive the same level of software support, only it would cost about half the price. We reviewed the Pixel 3a and loved what it had to offer with a starting price of $399.
Since the Pixel 3a was thought to be an early success story in Google’s struggling Pixel business, a follow-up dubbed Pixel 4a only made sense. At the end of 2019, rumors about a Pixel 4a began surfacing, with most in the industry targeting Google I/O 2020 for its arrival.
Throughout 2020, we have learned a lot about the Pixel 4a, should Google decide to one day sell us one.
Is there a Pixel 4a and a Pixel 4a XL or not?
We believe there may be only a single Pixel 4a phone this year, which means the Pixel 4a XL has been cut. There is evidence to suggest that Google was working on both a Pixel 4a and 4a XL, but as this story has evolved, only a single, smaller device keeps surfacing.
The Pixel 4a has been spotted a number of times now and is expected to be available in Just Black and Barely Blue. We know at least a couple of the model numbers are GA02101-FR (Barely Blue) and GA02099-FR (Just Black), that the phone stopped through the FCC by itself as G025J, G025N, and G025M, and that retailers were recently suggesting 128GB as the base storage.
We also believe the Pixel 4a carries the codename “sunfish” internally at Google. The name has popped up in code and in the Google Camera app alongside other codenames “redfin” and “bramble.” Those last two devices both run the Snapdragon 765, a 5G chip that could very well power the Pixel 5. On the other hand, “sunfish” is a single device running the Snapdragon 730, the same chip confirmed to be in the Pixel 4a.
- UPDATE JULY 10: A new semi-leak has introduced the idea that there may be both a Pixel 4a and Pixel 4a (5G). The Pixel 4a (5G) might run the Snapdragon 765G, have 5G, and launch alongside the Pixel 5. There’s a chance that the Pixel 4a (5G) will be a bigger phone along the lines of a Pixel 4a XL.
Again, we know all of that about the regular Pixel 4a, but nothing has presented itself in the way of a Pixel 4a XL on this level. Even when the phone was fully reviewed in prototype form, we saw no 4a XL, only the regular 4a.
Of course, since nothing is official yet and we are simply tracking leaks and early bits of info, this could change and Google could surprise us with a Pixel 4a XL. If they do, it should look like the device above, which has been confirmed through eBay listings of parts for the phone’s backside. We’ll talk specs in a second, but as you can see here, the Pixel 4a XL would have given us a dual camera instead of just the single shooter on the 4a. The added display size might have been nice to have too.
Google Pixel 4a Specs
The specs for the Pixel 4a won’t blow your mind, but that’s exactly the point of this phone line. This phone should pack enough to give you quick performance, take great still photos, and last all-day without breaking the bank. A Snapdragon 730 processor with 6GB RAM, 128GB storage, and Google’s still-impressive 12MP camera (samples) should provide just that.
Unlike last year’s Pixel 3a, we aren’t expecting the Active Edge or squeezy sides to return, but there should still be a fingerprint reader on the rear and other improvements. The front design has certainly been upgraded with less bezel and a hole punch camera.
For a price of around $350 or $400, these are a solid set of specs that Google will continue to utilize through feature add-ons in things like Pixel Feature Drops.
| Pixel 4a | |
|---|---|
| Display | 5.8" FHD AMOLED 60Hz, 2340x1080 |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 730 Adreno 618 GPU |
| Memory | Storage: 128GB RAM: 6GB |
| Battery | 3080mAh 18W fast charging |
| Camera | Rear: 12MP (OIS, EIS) Front: 8MP |
| Connectivity | 4G LTE 802.11ac WiFi Bluetooth 5 |
| Other | 3.5mm headphone jack USB-C |
| Colors | Just Black, Barely Blue |
| Size | 144 x 69.4 x 8.2mm 143g |
Pricing
Speaking of price, we really are under the impression that the Pixel 4a could drop in as low as $349. I know that the mock billboard above says “starting at $399,” but that was a leak from early March. Since that leak, rumors and a Google Survey have both suggested a starting price point of $349 and with a base storage of 128GB. As that is the current bit of info, I tend to lean towards that being the number we should focus on if Google ever sells this phone.
Release Date
When will they sell the Pixel 4a? We have absolutely no idea. The Pixel 3a launched last year in May during Google I/O. We sort of assumed that Google would release the Pixel 4a around the same time at this year’s Google I/O, but a global pandemic has potentially changed Google’s thinking about the release of the 4a.
- UPDATE JULY 13: We still don’t have a release date, but Google did post an official Pixel 4a image to the Google Store that shows a date of “May 12,” essentially confirming that this phone should have launched during Google I/O.
- UPDATE JULY 30: August 3 should be the day. Googled opened up a tease page that says to expect the next Google Phone on that day.
Google has discontinued the Pixel 3a (as of July 1) , bringing an end to its retail life. Once retailers sell through remaining inventory, the Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL won’t come back. I guess now might be a good time for Google to replace it.
We have seen the Pixel 4a in retail packaging, spotted Googlers using the phone, watched as Verizon suggested it should already be available and receiving updates, and yet rumored dates of a Pixel 4a release have come and gone. Your guess for when the Pixel 4a should launch is as good as anyone’s who doesn’t work on the Pixel team at Google.
Look, this phone first surfaced in CAD renders in December of 2019 and we still can’t buy it. Maybe Google will release it with the Pixel 5. Maybe they won’t ever. It’s all a guessing game.
Updated July 13 with Google’s official image of the Pixel 4a.
3080mAh battery. ????????????????????
Google is never going to learn.
Hmm…
Pixel 4a – Early Fall 2020 (Originally May 2020)
Pixel 4a (5G) – Early Fall 2020
Pixel 5 – Early Fall 2020
Pixel 5a – Spring 2021??? (Possibly Cannibalizing sales from all three)
Pixel 4a – July-August
Pixel 4a XL 5G- may not even exist.
Pixel 5/5XL – usual Sept-Oct bit possibly a delay to November.
Pixel 5a – next year late spring/early summer.
That’s if Google doesn’t take the opportunity to really shake up their device launch windows going forward as a result of Covid disruptions . They’re supposed to be making their first in house designed SoC built on Samsungs new 5nm EUV node ready for next year so perhaps we see a Pixel “Pro” launch alongside their mid-range “A” series phones in the spring, leaving the fall for the new premium mid-range phones that the Pixel 5/5XL are supposed to represent this year.
Any chance they release the 4A, and they slightly upgrade the specs a little on the 4A XlL and release that as the Pixel 5? So instead of two variants of each you have a mid tier smaller phone in the 4A, and a high middle tier phone that is larger in the Pixel 5. And no real flagship phone at all?
There wasn’t going to be a true flagship level Pixel this year with reports of the P5/5XL getting a premium mid-range chip and premium mid-range designation. It’s supposed to be cheaper than flagship phones as well with both a cheaper chip and features deleted that are found on the 4/4XL such as face unlock and Soli tech helping to reduce costs.
Reports have Google making their first in house designed SoC built on Samsungs new 5nm EUV node and having it ready for next year. That would be a high end chip and make Google the only other OEM that controls both the hardware and software so perhaps a Pixel “Pro” or Pixel “Ultra” flagship is in the works. A phone that would definitely return the Pixels to flagship status.
I know that I’m hanging onto my current phones until I see what Google comes up with.
I am still doggedly holding onto my Pixel 2 XL, but it still doesnt seem that Google has a compelling replacement for it. I certainly do nt want to go down in size. They just seem poorly managed at this point
I’m thinking that a shake up of Google’s line up was coming even without Covid. It looks like they’re going with 3 tiers of phones now, a mid-range, premium mid-range and flagship if reports of their first in house designed SoC are true. What should be interesting to see is if Google puts that chip in lower end phones and/or offers it to other Android OEMs.
Even the team overseeing the Pixels are getting a shake up this year. I think we’ll have a better idea the direction Google has in mind for the Pixels next year as a result, this year is just is what it is.
Release the damn thing already. I’m tired of waiting and was going to give up on it and buy the Oneplus Nord, but now that plan just got shot down. Does ANYONE want my money?
“with a base storage of 128GB”
So their budget / mid range (whatever) version of their flagship phone is going to top their flagship phone…way to go Google.
I don’t think it would be the fastest storage and this could signal 128 GB going forward for Pixels now, including the 5/5XL, although they’re likely to get the faster and more expensive UFS storage solution.
As I mentioned elsewhere, Google’s delays and almost zero acknowledgement that this phone is even coming has killed my prospects for it. I mean, at this point it’ll either be released at some point this month or next. Heck, even those rumblings that it may be nixed entirely or released in October look entirely possible now, and if that’s the case I’ll have zero inclinations five sure.
I also can’t help but feel like this really shows how little Google cares about
Gobtheir phones if they’re more than willingly to let Motorola (with their excellent and cheap G Power Series), Samsung (A51), and now Apple (SE) chip away at the success they had in the budget-but-great category with the 3a. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure it’ll still be an excellent device once (or if) it’s released, it just sucks to see potential squandered.Like, if they would have released it by now, I would have more than likely purchased it and probably loved it enough to make the switch back from iPhone. But now that the rumor mill for Apple is pointing towards a 5.4-inch (4G only) iPhone 12 with a starting price of $549? I can most definitely wait to see how that turns out. September isn’t that far away anyway.
I love my Apple SE 2020: blazing fast, smooth, decent camera and decent size ( though not as small as the original SE) and with the upcoming iOS 14 and it’s bounty of GUI changes, this phone will rock it. Google lost its mojo.
Your changes in iOS 14 are a collection of things Android phones have had for years, just not as good.
That and the 4a will beat SE in its modern design, display quality and size, bigger battery, better multitasking with double the RAM, 128 GB storage, better quality camera and included features that cost extra on the SE…and it’s supposed to be $50 cheaper!
Lost their mojo? Lol, please, it’s no contest, the 4a is the much better quality phone overall if you’re honest.
Already know that. And Apple does a better job in refining and improving those GUI elements and it’s not a plastic “quality phone”. Google/Snapdragon can’t match Apple’s processor power which doesn’t need tons of ram.
Google needs to stop making half ass phones: I’m sorry I ever bought the Pixel 4 even at $237.
And the Pixel 5 won’t have a top tier processor and build quality.
Both actually optimize software now and the new widgets can’t be sized or set up the way they can on Android so refining a lesser experience won’t help.
You know nothing about RAM if you think it’s dependant on processing power . RAM is about keeping apps open (and running in Androids case) in the background and for multitasking which is going to suck on the SE when compared to both newer iPhones and the Pixel 4a.
My Pixel 4 XL is awesome. $200 cheaper than the iPhone promax and it has it’s own advantages over that phone.
The Pixel 5 ($699) is a premium mid-range phone, hence the premium mid-range chip in the 765G or 768G. Reports have a Google first in house designed SoC built on Samsungs new 5nm EUV node ready for next year when the Pixels may enter the flagship level segment again.
Anything else I can help you with?
Yeah, can you take Google’s ???? out of your mouth? Clearly you’ve swallowed all of it.
Honestly 4a will be a good phone and SE 2020 is also a great one. They both will be supported for long but the SE will be supported for far longer because it has a processor that bests even the best flagship phones, and Apple will support the phone for almost twice as long so the $50 cheaper price of the 4a will be negated. The 4a has a better display, better battery but not necessarily better camera because a camera is made of photos and videos if the photos are a little better and the video is way behind as always(not even in the top 10) then overall it won’t have a better camera. Let’s reserve that judgment when it comes out.
The longer support is the SE’s main advantage but you’re talking about support on a lesser phone that already can’t take full advantage of it’s chip. What good is support on a bad phone? It’s still a bad phone and that won’t change. Personally I’d rather have the better phone overall supported for 4 years than the worst phone for 6.
The camera will indeed be a Pixel advantage as they get Google’s camera from the more expensive Pixels. The SE camera scored in 36 place by Dxomark and video was it’s lowest score. It was beat by even low end Chinese phones. It will not compete well with any Pixel phone in cameras.
You definitely have a valid point but the fact that they included the best choosey right now has its advantages: faster, smoother phone, 4k video editing is crazy on it, and the one thing I’d like pixel phones to be serious about is HDMI out cause even the SE offers it for these times when you need a bigger screen. For the video camera quality I’ll check out dxo later but from just my normal tests the SE video was easily way better than my 4XL that’s why I’m concerned about the 4a from the start.
In the budget segment Google maximizes in the photo department translating to best pictures in that segment, Moto in the battery department which translates to only to the best battery life around in that segment, Apple in the processor department which translates in the fastest, smoothest interactions, power to handle some real heavy video editing, support for longer than anyone else in the budget segment.
Meh, the 3a was considered a great performer and the 4a should be even better. We’re at the point of diminishing returns on chips these days as even mid-range phones offer a”faster, smoother” experience. You’ll notice the chip on only the most demanding tasks, like 4K video editing but you’re stuck doing it on a small antiquated display.
There’s a dongle for HDMI out on the Google Store and Chromecast is another option for users to stream content to their TV’s.
I’ve found the video comparisons as “way better” etc to be grossly exaggerated like many things associated with iPhones. 4K/60 has to be the most overrated feature since that “game changer” 3D Touch that Apple fans though was going to be something.
The Pixels advantages will extend well beyond the camera.
That’s where you are wrong my pixel 4XL doesn’t have HDMI out ever, no way to work on a bigger screen should the need arises. So I don’t expect the 4a to have it. That for me is a minus on the productivity side. You are wrong about the SE cause you are not stuck with working on that screen that’s why HDMI out comes into play: you use a mouse and a keyboard on a monitor for that editing. And for the video part except in very low light the SE had better colors, contrast, sharpness and fluidity while recording video and every time I have asked some opinions they always pointed my note 10 video as the best then the SE and then my 4XL, always, so there is no exaggeration here.
The 4a will be a good phone everyone knows but it’s not going to be a better device than the SE for everyone based on it’s weaknesses and strengths, and that because Apple invested in the CPU which translates into better stuff in other parts of the phone that you won’t necessarily see at first.
This is ridiculous. Now you can’t use the 4a with a computer as well? Your argument for the SE’s supposed superiority are minor, obscure, increasingly desperate and nonsensical.
Meanwhile the 4a strengths are much more clear and very noticable in everything you do;
the much better and larger display,
the modern design,
the better multitasking ability with double the RAM,
USB C with faster charging in the box,
more included features,
the much larger battery,
the larger 128 GB storage
the camera overall will also favour the Pixel.
The Pixel also aren’t stuck with iOS and it’s limitations and comes in cheaper, much cheaper when you consider the extra costs associated for the SE’s features and lack of storage.
There’s no contest here, the 4a is easily the best phone all things considered and despite any SE advantage in a single camera feature. You can’t even have something as basic as low light mode for the camera with the SE, that’s just unforgivable. Heck, even a more clear advantage in the longer support is negated by the SE’s old, cheap and outdated hardware. After all, who wants to be stuck using an SE for 6 years when you can have the much better phone overall supported for 4? Those extra 2 years may be worth something with a flagship quality phone still being half decent in 4 years but the SE is already a dog now, let alone 6 years from now!
HDMI out is an underrated feature that has been removed from phones since usbc came out.
HDMI out, and an IPS screen is why I went with an Essential over the Pixel 2 at the time.
At this point, I’m beginning to wonder if they’ll just release the Pixel 5 and the 4a at the same time. If you want flagship level performance at a fair price ($800) grab the Pixel 5. If you’re on a tighter budget, but still want a great phone that can take awesome photos, grab the 4a ($400).
The Pixel 5 is rumored to start at $699 and will be a premium mid-range phone as they’re skipping Qualcomm’s extortion like prices on the SD865 flagship chip and going with the 765G or 768G instead . If true then this pricing leaves the door wide open for a true Pixel flagship “Ultra or Pro” model next year with reports of a Google first in house designed SoC built on Samsungs new 5nm EUV node. I’m thinking;
Pixel a mid-range series $399 ( now rumoured at $349)
Pixel 5 premium mid-range $699 ( possible $649?)
Pixel Ultra flagship $999 ( possible $949?)
Interesting pricing – oneplus 8(SD865) is $550 on AliExpress. I wonder how they do it?
If they’re released the same time, I think they should just call it the 5 and 5a at that point
This is like a Hardy Boys mystery
Wireless charging? No definitive answer
In the mid-range there is no wireless charging ????☝️
*2020 iPhone SE has left the chat*
The iPhone se 2020 is a small high-end, its processor is high-end ☝️
But its $400 price is mid-range.
Regardless, it’s priced to compete in the mid-range category so there is an option there for those wanting that. Also, “small high-end” is $800+ devices like the 11 Pro, Pixel 4, S20, etc. because all their internals (save for the S20) are the same as their larger and more expensive siblings.
Wireless charging and water resistance- both big $400 features! Only better feature the “a” series has is a 3.5mm jack.
Out of those 3 features I’m personally partial to the audio jack. :/
Great little inexpensive powerful phone made even better with iOS 14. I’m loving it!
There’s a rumor that it’s been added but we do know that fast charging is included, unlike the iPhone SE2.
I was so excited for this phone, dating back to last year when it was still just an assumption. But nobody can wait forever. I ended up with a 3a and I’m enjoying it. The lack of monthly payments is freeing, and I can look forward to the 5a should the world still need cell phones in a year.
I NEED this phone to launch already. The wife’s Pixel 2 has been limping along for months now because we’re waiting for this phone to launch. Insta-buy from us when it finally drops.
what is going on w it?