16 PCWorld SEPTEMBER 2020NEWS GOOGLE PIXEL 4A: GREAT PHONE AT A GREAT PRICE
setup, as does the upcoming Motorola One
Fusion Plus (go.pcworld.com/1fsp), which
also has a Snapdragon 730 processor and a
5,000mAh battery for $399.
The Pixel 4a will likely be able to beat
these phones in a head-to-head shootout, but
it’s still going to be hard to convince buyers
that a phone with one camera is as capable as
a phone with three or four cameras in the
same price range. Had the Pixel 3a launched
earlier this year, it might have been a different
story, but now it’s up against several big-name
competitors with much more powerful
camera hardware.THE 5G COMPLICATION
The Pixel 4a’s lack of 5G probably won’t be a
huge deal for would-be buyers, but Google’s
announcement that a 5G model
is on the way in just a couple of
months might make a difference.
The 5G Pixel 4a—which will
likely have the faster Snapdragon
765G on board—will cost just
$499 when it arrives later in the
fall, which will make it one of the
most affordable 5G phones you
can buy.
But it might have some stiff
competition. OnePlus has
teased the arrival of a
5G-powered midrange phone
for U.S. buyers. There are
abundant rumors that Apple willbe going all-5G with its iPhone 12 lineup,
which may include a lower-cost 5.4-inch
model. So people who wait to get the better
Pixel 4a might be tempted to pick a different
handset with a more modern design or more
powerful camera array. And Samsung has
announced that the Galaxy A51 5G will be
available in August (go.pcworld.com/515g)
starting at $500.
There’s no denying that the Pixel 4a is one
of the best midrange Android phones to
come along in a while, with premium-level
features, an excellent price, and a top-notch
Android experience. Whether that translates
into sales, however, is another story. Google
has long struggled to get people to notice its
Pixel phones. While the 4a should be its best
shot, it might have arrived a little too late.The OnePlus Nord is a compelling release with 5G for not much
more than the Pixel 4a.