For those waiting for the Google Pixel 4a, you’ll be pleased to hear that the wait is finally over! The initial release was set for May but was set back due to the various lockdown issues. Now that we’re in August, the phone is finally hitting the market in the U.S and Japan, with everywhere else having to wait a little bit longer until September 10.

This latest release, dubbed ‘Google’s affordable phone of the year’, has got some key updates and a more modern design than its predecessor; it also costs even less!

Here we outline everything you need to know if you’re thinking about purchasing the Pixel 4a.

Upgrades from the 3a

If you are considering upgrading from your 3a to a 4a, you might be wondering what the differences are. Let’s take a look!

Performance and memory

The 4a has a better processor and memory, for one. The new processor will offer better performance and overall speed while the storage space has been increased to 6GB and 128GB, compared to the 3a’s 4GB and 64GB options.

Screen

While the resolution remains the same, the updated phone has a larger screen at 5.8 inches. The larger and taller screen gives a more modern look than the 3a as it keeps up with other phones on the market.

Features of the Google Pixel 4a

Let’s take a closer look at what the 4a has to offer!

Camera Quality

Nowadays, it’s possible for almost everyone to become a semi-professional photographer with a high-quality camera in their back pocket. An excellent quality phone camera is a basic requirement for many customers.

Like the 3a, the new Pixel has a 12MP camera; the 4a also has a single back camera and one front camera. The single-camera design may limit the photography flexibility that comes with multiple cameras, but the actual quality is brilliant. Early reviewers have already singled out the 4a’s camera as one of its greatest assets.

Other features of the cameras include optical and electronic image stabilisation on the back camera with fixed focus and 84-degree field-of-view on the front.

Performance

If you’re looking for a top-performing phone for mobile games, then this one might not be for you, as there are more powerful devices on the market for similar prices. However, for daily use, the 4a will give you a seamless and lag-free experience fully integrated into the Google ecosystem, including features such as Google Assistant.

Battery Life

From initial testing, it looks like the 4a’s 3,140mAh battery can be expected to last for around 6 or 7 hours of screen-on time. This will probably allow for two days with medium usage. This is a fairly good take away for a battery of this size and is longer lasting than its predecessors.

Everyone’s usage time will be different, and it will be worth considering how much you need to charge your current phone to see if this kind of battery life will suit you.

It is also worth noting that this new release does not support wireless charging.

If battery life is something that concerns you, check out our blog for tips on how to make your phone battery last.

Colours

Unlike its Apple counterparts, the Pixel 4a doesn’t come in a range of colours. This probably won’t be an issue for many as a plethora of customisable cases will no doubt become available on the phone’s release.

5G?

Unfortunately, the initial versions of the 4a won’t have a 5G feature. There are plans for a Pixel 4a (5G) to launch at the same time as the Pixel 5, but not much more than that is known.

If you’re considering getting an upgrade from your current phone, we can help! Here at Second-Hand Phones, we offer a wide range of reconditioned phones with excellent quality and an even better price!