OCTOBER 2020 PCWorld 37little cheap, even if it is incredibly
light at 143 grams (versus the SE’s
148-gram body).
That plasticky feel extends to the
buttons, which have a stickiness like a
case that hasn’t been broken in. But
the mint green-colored power button
looks great, especially against the
all-black enclosure, and the trademark
curved sides fit perfectly in your hand.
It’s the first Android phone I’ve used in
a long while that’s truly comfortable
using with one hand, and anyone
who’s looked longingly at the iPhone
SE’s stature will be very pleased with
the Pixel 4a.
The Pixel 4a joins the iPhone SE as
one of the few remaining phones that
have a circular fingerprint sensor, and also like
Apple’s Touch ID, it’s surprisingly great.
Unlocking is quicker than any phone I’ve usedThe Pixel 4a’s 5.8-inch screen takes up nearly the
whole front of the phone.hole-punch camera on the 4a, a first for a Pixel
phone. It’s left-aligned rather than centered,
so the status bar will be pushed out of place,
but it’s a giant step forward for Google’s
phone design and blows away Apple’s
four-year-old iPhone SE.
However, there’s no mistaking the Pixel
4a for a premium Android phone. It’s made
of plastic and only comes in black, so there’s
no must-have color or shimmery effects to
catch your eye. In the top left corner, you’ll
find a replica of the square camera array on
the Pixel 4, but the smaller size and black
color set against the matte black body of the
phone helps it blend in. Compared to the
iPhone SE’s glass back, the Pixel 4a feels a
Compared to the iPhone SE, the Pixel 4a has a more modern
design and much bigger screen.