Introduction
If you’re in the market for a new Google Pixel, I know what you’re thinking... "Which one should I choose?" The Google Pixel 4a with 5G for a better price, or the Google Pixel 5 with the latest updates?
Let’s be honest, both the Google Pixel 4a with 5G and 5 have a lot in common, even their extremely close release dates. But let’s take a look at what makes them different from one another to see which one is the better deal.
Pixel 4a with 5G vs. Pixel 5
Here are the most significant differences between the Google Pixel 4a and the Google Pixel 5:
- Display
- Design
- Storage
- Camera
- Battery
- Display
The Google Pixel 4a with 5G has a larger screen display of 6.2 inches 158 mm, than the Google Pixel 5 with a smaller screen display of 6.0 inches 151 mm display.
However, size isn’t everything. The smaller display of the Pixel 5 presents a better viewing opportunity, with:
- Flexible OLED at 432 ppi
- HDR +
- Smooth Display up to 90 Hz
- Corning Gorilla Glass 6 Cover Glass
The Flexible OLED stands for Organic Light-Emitting Diode. Basically, this means that the display can bend and twist and continue to operate. HDR + enhances the color and light of your photos in every inch of your screen.
Design
The Google Pixel 5 comes in black and “sorta sage,” which is just dark green, and is made of 100% recycled aluminum encasing. Also, Google claims that this model is water and dust resistant, although this feature may be compromised due to everyday damage. The Google Pixel 4a with 5G comes in classic black and white colors with a soft-touch polycarbonate unibody.
The main difference here is whether or not you want to be environmentally conscious. But of course, that comes with a cost.
Storage
Since everything is on the cloud nowadays, phone storage is much less important. Both Pixel models reflect that with their low gigabytes and ample free cloud storage.
- Google Pixel 5 = 8Gb
- Google Pixel 4a with 5G = 6Gb
However, the advantage of more gigabytes could be more space on your phone to download apps, music, and messages.
Audio
Both the Google Pixel 5 and the Pixel 4a with 5G are Bluetooth compatible, but only the 4a with 5G has the 3.5 mm audio jack to connect headphones or extra auxiliary speakers.
Battery
Both pixel models are designed to hold an all-day charge, but the Pixel 5 is also designed to do a bit more.
The battery is a Typical 4080 mAh. This is the most powerful battery of all Pixel phones and is designed for fast wireless charging. The other awesome feature of this battery is that you are able to share battery charge with your Bluetooth headphones or other devices.
Price
- Pixel 5: $699
- Pixel 4a with 5G: $499
If all of those reasons don’t sway you one way or another, take a look at the similarities below that are expanded upon throughout the rest of the article.
Similarities with Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a with 5G
Network
Both Pixel models are compatible with the fastest 5G network. The 5G network uses millimeter wave technology, otherwise known as radio waves, at a very high frequency. This ensures faster download speeds than ever before.
The only problem with 5G, is that many cities are nowhere near building enough infrastructure to support a full 5G network across a whole entire city. This means that the only way to truly experience a 5G network is from your at-home wifi network.
Away from your home 5G wifi network, your 5G Pixel phone will function like a regular 4G LTE network. Therefore, the question is, is 5G really worth it?
Display
The aspect ratio is the same for both of the Pixel models. This means that the images on the screen will appear to be the same size, even though the Pixel 4a with 5G technically has a larger display screen by .2 inches.
They both have full-24 bit depth for 16 million colors, HDR support, and Always-On display. HDR support simply stands for high-dynamic range for brighter colors and more detail in each image. The Always-On Display is a feature specific to Android devices that allows the user to see a summarized list of notifications while the phone is sleeping.
Battery
The two phones also have similar batteries that include all-day battery and fast charging. However, as discussed above, the Pixel 5 has the feature that allows it to charge fast wirelessly, while the Pixel 4a with 5G is not able to.
Storage
Both Pixel models have 128 GB of cloud storage, plus unlimited storage at high quality with Google Photos. This differs from the amount of gigabytes the actual phones have as mentioned above.
This cloud storage is in the Google drive, and actually is available to everyone if you have a Google account. For example, if you have a Gmail account, you have 128 GB of storage on google docs.
Camera
Literally, nothing has changed with the Pixel camera from the 4a with 5G to the 5. Both models have the following camera features:
- 12.2 MP dual Pixel
- Autofocus with dual pixel detection
- Optical + electronic image stabilization
- 77-degree field of view
- 16 MP ultrawide
- 107-degree field of view
- Spectacle and flicker sensor
All this means is that both Pixels have wide-angle cameras, with automatic focus and image stabilization. In other words, it is very very easy to take a very good picture.
Camera features
In addition to the physical aspects of the camera, the features are also the same:
- Top Shot
- Portrait Mode
- Super Res Zoom
- Motion Auto Focus
- Live HDR +
- Frequent Faces
- Dual Exposure Controls
- Cinematic Pan
- Ultrawide lens
- Portrait Light
- Operating System
- Android 11 is the operating system for both Pixel models. This new version of Android includes the following new updates:
- Content capture
- Conversations
- Predictive tools
- Accessibility
- Device controls
- Privacy and security
The conversation update allows you to message people across multiple different apps. You can also select your favorites and your most common messages and access only those from your lock screen. Once your phone is unlocked, you can see your favorite conversations at the top of your screen even when you open apps.
Content capture refers to the built-in screen recording engineered with Android 11. This update also allows you to copy and save images and text from your apps! It also helps your apps communicate which is helpful because it can suggest apps for you too! For example, if you put in your calendar that you have coffee at 3 with Diana, it might suggest that you open maps to see how to get there!
Predictive tools offer suggestions for conversation responses. To be more specific, the predictive tools pay attention to your conversation and come up with suggested responses for you to say. Therefore, the perfect words and emojis are always right at your fingertips, Google claims.
The Accessibility update with Android 11 makes it much easier to use voice commands. Online, you can use Voice Access to control and navigate your phone. Offline, Voice Access is still available for certain tasks.
Device controls help you control your in-home devices. For example, you can adjust your thermostat, turn your lights on and off, all from one place on your phone.
An add on with device controls, is that it is easier than ever before to switch back and forth between Bluetooth devices.
Finally, the Privacy and Security updates allow you to give apps one-time permission to access your camera, microphone, and photos. If you stop using an app, Android 11 will notice and reset your permissions so that they can’t access your information anymore.
As for your security, Google Play sends you security and privacy fixes as well as app updates.
However, the most important thing to note about a new operating system is the fact that with every update, comes new design guidelines. Design guidelines are the criteria that you have to meet for your app to be welcomed and sold in the operating system’s app store.
Therefore, it’s possible that your app was compatible with the previous version of Android and no longer is.
How do you update your app?
Mindcracker can help. Mindcracker is the authority in custom software development and is ready to help you ensure your app is Android 11 compatible. www.mindcracker.us
It’s clear that both Pixel models are fairly similar, give or take a few aspects. So let’s take a look at the pros and cons of each model.
Google Pixel 5 Pros
- Unique sorta sage color
- A smaller, more manageable size
- 5G network
- Flexible OLED
- Wireless Charging
- Battery Share
- Made from recyclable materials
- 8 Gb
Google Pixel 5 Cons
- $200 more expensive than the Pixel 4a with 5G for basically the same features
- No 3.5mm headphone jack
- Google Pixel 4a with 5G Pros:
- Lower price
- Larger display screen
- 5G
- Fast Charging
- 3.5 mm audio jack for headphones
Google Pixel 4a with 5G Cons
- Less convenient size
- Only 6 Gb of space
- No wireless charging
- No battery share
- No flexible OLED
Both Pixel models are extremely similar except for price, so deciding which one you want comes down to the following factors.
How big do you want your phone to be? Do you need your phone to be wireless? Do you care about the environment and if the materials you use are sustainably sourced?
And finally, do you like to literally plug your headphones into your phone?