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