These 7 phones are the best Google Pixel 4a alternatives

The Google Pixel 4a was announced in August 2020, coming almost three months after we first expected to see it unveiled. The Pixel 3a successor doesn’t deliver a ton of upgrades on paper, but as we noted in our review, it’s far more than the sum of its parts and is a steal for $349 (or £349 in the UK and €349-€389 across Europe).

But what if you don’t like the look of the new Google phone? Maybe you want more bang for your buck or more impressive specs? We’ve got you covered with a breakdown of the best Google Pixel 4a alternatives on the global market.

Also: Here’s a list of the absolute best Android phones around

The best Google Pixel 4a alternatives:

1. OnePlus Nord

The first mid-range OnePlus phone in roughly five years looks like one of the best Android devices, ticking loads of boxes. 90Hz OLED screen? Yep. Powerful Snapdragon 765G processor with 5G? Indeed. A decently sized 4,115mAh battery with 30W wired charging? Of course.

Read more: Google Pixel 4a vs OnePlus Nord: Which is better?

OnePlus also delivered a grand total of six cameras, featuring two up-front (32MP+8MP ultra-wide) and four on the rear. These cameras include a 48MP main shooter, 8MP ultra-wide camera, 5MP depth sensor, and 2MP macro lens.

The biggest downside to the OnePlus Nord is that it isn’t available in North America, which is a massive blow for budget phone fans in the West. There’s also the lower-end OnePlus Nord N100 and Nord N10, though. These are more readily available to the western market, and still offer great value.

OnePlus Nord specs:

2. Google Pixel 3 XL

If you’re looking to get another Google handset for about the same price, there’s no doubt the Pixel 3 XL is your best bet in terms of Google Pixel 4a alternatives. There’s also the Pixel 3a, but the Pixel 3 XL offers an overall better experience for an extremely similar price point.

This phone sports pretty powerful specs, including a Snapdragon 845 processor, 4GB of RAM, a large P-OLED display with a 1,440 x 2,960 resolution, and a large 3,430mAh battery. Not to mention the camera system, which is nearly as good as modern Pixel phones.

Google Pixel 3 XL specs:

3. Samsung Galaxy A71 5G

While launched at a higher price point, the Samsung Galaxy A71 5G can now be found for less money. This makes it one of the best Google Pixel 4a alternatives around. It might even be an upgrade in some aspects!

More: The best affordable Samsung phones

The phone offers a near-flagship experience for half the cost of devices such as the Galaxy Note 20 or S20 Plus. Samsung did a bang-up job crafting an appealing piece of hardware that covers the basics and then some.

Samsung Galaxy A71 5G specs:

4. Apple iPhone SE

We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the $400 iPhone SE. It’s won’t give you all that Android goodness, but it does offer plenty of features for just $50 more than the latest Pixel. More specifically, you’re getting more raw power than just about every Android phone on the market. Then there’s the addition of IP67 water resistance and wireless charging, both of which are missing from the Pixel 4a.

Read more: Google Pixel 4a vs iPhone SE: Which is better?

The smaller iPhone is no slouch in other areas, packing a 12MP single rear camera and 7MP front-facing shooter. The majority of readers thought these cameras delivered better photos than the Nord’s cameras. However, the iPhone SE lacks a night mode, while the 4a indeed features this handy option.

Google’s phone also offers double the storage, an FHD+ OLED screen versus the iPhone SE’s LCD panel, and a headphone port. In any event, the iPhone SE is still worth a look if you’re curious about the Apple ecosystem.

Apple iPhone SE specs:

5. Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite

The Xiaomi Mi Note 10 was a total hit for photographers. Our very own David Imel called it “a photographer’s Swiss Army knife,” as it was a very versatile camera phone with awesome image quality. That’s not all the phone had to offer, though. This is why the Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite is one of the best Google Pixel 4a alternatives.

Here: These are the best Xiaomi phones you can buy right now

The Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite comes with all the specs and features we loved about the Mi Note 10, as well as a very similar design. Its only difference is that the camera system is significantly specced down. There are four cameras in the rear, but all have lower resolution sensors. Everything else is pretty much the same.

Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite specs:

6. Moto G Stylus (2021)

Motorola is no stranger to the premium budget market. Their Moto G line-up has been offering optimum bang for buck since 2013, and their latest devices are no exception. The Moto G Stylus’ MSRP sits comfortably at around $300, making it one of the best Google Pixel 4a alternatives around.

Like the Samsung Galaxy Note series, this phone features a stylus pen that lives inside the phone itself. From the bottom right of the device, you can pop out the stylus whenever you need it or tuck it away whenever you don’t. Specs are nothing to write home about, but they’ll keep most casual users happy.

Moto G Stylus specs:

7. POCO X2 Pro

The POCO F2 Pro is the most expensive device on this list of the best Google Pixel 4a alternatives, but it’s worth every penny. This is because the phone is technically not a mid-range device anymore. It’s a high-end handset with a very low price.

Next: The best budget phones you can buy

Specs include a Snapdragon 865 processor, up to 8GB of RAM, a 6.67-inch Full HD Plus Super AMOLED screen, and a really nice 4,700mAh battery. Those are specs that look like they come from a flagship phone!

POCO F2 Pro specs:

That’s it for our look at the best Google Pixel 4a alternatives! Are there any other similarly priced phones you can recommend? Let us know in the comments and check out other Pixel 4a content below:

• Google Pixel 4a specs: Is it enough of a Pixel 3a upgrade?
• Google Pixel 4a price and release date: What you need to know