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Google's Pixel 4a 5G specs may be nearly as powerful as the Pixel 5

You'd make only a few sacrifices over the higher-end phone.
By
September 23, 2020
TL;DR
  • A leak suggests the Pixel 4a 5G may use the same Snapdragon 765G as the Pixel 5.
  • You’d mainly lose the 90Hz display, metal body, wireless charging, and some RAM.
  • With a larger screen and a lower price, it could be the best value.

You might not have to spring for the Pixel 5 to get a speedy reference Android phone in 2020. WinFuture (via XDA Developers) claims to have detailed specs for Google’s Pixel 4a 5G, and you’ll reportedly get a processor just as quick as in the handset’s higher-end counterpart.

Google is believed to be equipping the Pixel 4a 5G with a Snapdragon 765G chip like that expected in the Pixel 5. You’d get 6GB of RAM instead of 8GB, but that would still give the 4a 5G a significant performance advantage over the LTE Pixel 4a.

Some other specs for the Pixel 4a 5G would also be relatively close, including the cameras (12.2MP standard, 16MP wide-angle, and 8MP selfie), 18W fast charging, 128GB of storage, and 4K video recording at 60 frames per second. You’d have a slightly larger 6.2-inch, 1080p OLED screen versus the 6-inch panel supposedly headed for the Pixel 5.

See also: The best phones with wide-angle rear cameras

Most of the differences would be relatively subtle. The most notable absence would be the smooth 90Hz display, but you’d also have to make do with a polycarbonate (read: plastic) body that lacks wireless charging, water resistance, and the more resilient Gorilla Glass 6. You would also have to live with a smaller 3,885mAh battery, although the 60Hz screen might offset the lower-capacity power pack.

The differences still give you an incentive to choose the Pixel 5 over the 4a 5G, particularly if the processor isn’t the only factor in your purchasing decision. However, the 4a 5G is also known to cost $499 where the Pixel 5 will likely cost substantially more. If you don’t insist on the best possible hardware, the lower-cost device may represent a considerably better value.