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Google this week launched its newest smartphone, the $349 Pixel 4a, a low-cost device that's designed to compete with other affordable devices like Apple's iPhone SE.

We picked up one of the new Pixel 4a smartphones and thought we'd check it out to see how it measures up to the iPhone SE, given that the two devices have such similar price points.


Both the Pixel 4a and the iPhone SE are "budget" phones that lack some of the features available in more expensive smartphones available from the two companies, but both are capable devices that offer similar performance.

The Pixel 4a feature a 5.81-inch OLED panel, which is larger than the iPhone's 4.7-inch LCD display. It has a pinhole camera cutout but is otherwise all screen, which gives it a more modern look and more viewable display area. The iPhone SE continues to feature thick top and bottom bezels that cut down on screen viewing area.

pixel4a1.jpg

When it comes to a straight display quality comparison, you might think the Pixel 4a would be leagues better with the OLED panel, but both are close in quality (see video for comparison). The 4a wins out with OLED, but the iPhone SE's LCD panel still looks good.

The iPhone SE has a Touch ID Home Button in the bottom bezel, and the Pixel 4a also uses a fingerprint sensor, but it's located at the rear of the device. Touch ID beats out most other fingerprint sensors when it comes to accuracy and phone unlocking time, and there's no exception here. Google's fingerprint sensor is fine, but Touch ID is more accurate and less prone to failure.

pixel4a4.jpg

To keep costs low, Google built the Pixel 4a out of plastic, so when it comes quality, the iPhone SE's glass and aluminum design wins out. It looks and feels like a more premium smartphone than the Pixel 4a, but the glass has more potential to break.

pixel4a2.jpg

The iPhone SE is equipped with Apple's latest A13 chip, which is blazing fast. It puts the iPhone SE on par with Apple's flagship iPhones when it comes to performance, a factor that makes the iPhone SE's $399 price a good deal for those who are more focused on performance.

The Pixel 4a has an Octa-Core Qualcomm Snapdragon 730 processor, but it doesn't perform at the level of the A13. You may not notice a significant difference in every day usage, but there are some tasks where the iPhone SE will outshine the 4a, which is just a bit laggier and less smooth.

pixel4a3.jpg

When it comes to battery life, the Pixel 4a has a 3,140mAh battery while the iPhone SE has a 1,821mAh battery, and MacRumors videographer Dan felt that the Pixel 4a had noticeably better battery life in his testing. The Pixel 4a also sports 6GB RAM and 128GB base storage, while the iPhone SE has 3GB RAM and 64GB base storage, so you're getting more storage for a lower price point with the Pixel.

While the iPhone SE offers a Lightning port and wireless charging, the Pixel 4a has no wireless charging and a USB-C port, which is a consideration for those who prefer wireless charging or USB-C port access.

The iPhone SE has an older camera that was first used in the iPhone 8, and it's a 12-megapixel single-lens setup. The Pixel 4a also has a single-lens 12.2-megapixel camera, but it has some of Google's computational photography and image processing features, so photos on the 4a look better.

pixel4aphoto1.jpg

iPhone SE photos feature a more natural color palette while the Pixel 4a's photos are cooler in tone, but the Pixel 4a images are sharper and crisper, even when lighting is poor. Google gave the Pixel 4a Night Sight, but Apple's iPhone SE doesn't support the Night Mode feature available in more expensive iPhones.

pixel4aphoto2.jpg

Apple does win out when it comes to video quality, though, because the iPhone SE supports 4K 60fps video and it has much better image stabilization than the Pixel 4a.

The iPhone SE runs iOS and the Pixel 4a runs Android, and since most of us are locked in to one ecosystem or another, operating system is one of the biggest factors when it comes to choosing a smartphone. Someone who has always used iPhones is likely going to opt for the iPhone SE, and the same goes for Android and the Pixel 4a.

Both of these phones offer solid value for the price point, so it really comes down to ecosystem. Apple guarantees iOS updates for years to come, so the iPhone SE should be supported until at least 2024. Android smartphones don't often get as many updates, but Google is better about providing new software for Pixel phones and has pledged to provide updates for the Pixel 4a for at least three years.

pixel4a5.jpg

In the future, we may actually see an Apple-designed lower-cost smartphone that more closely mirrors the design of the Pixel 4a because Apple's rumored to be working on a new version of the iPhone SE called the iPhone SE Plus. It allegedly features an all-display design with a fingerprint sensor built into the power button, but it's not coming out until 2021.

Article Link: Google's $349 Pixel 4a vs. Apple's $399 iPhone SE
 
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Please don’t take this the wrong way, but this is a sloppy review.

Does the battery on the Pixel actually last longer, or is the author only comparing their mAh ratings? Because the way this review is written, the author is only comparing mAh ratings.

You missed that the Pixel doesn’t have wireless charging, but does have USB-C instead of a lightning port.

You missed the the iPhone SE costs $399 for 64GB storage, while the Pixel 4a costs $349 for 128GB storage

I wish you could pull down the iOS notifications menu using a gesture on the TouchID sensor, as you can with the luxe (swiping down on the fingerprint sensor)
 
Agreed - this review is sloppy.

"You might think the Pixel 4a would be leagues better with the OLED panel, but both are close in quality. The 4a wins out, but the iPhone SE is not too far off."​
"Touch ID beats out most other fingerprint sensors when it comes to accuracy and phone unlocking time, and there's no exception here. Google's fingerprint sensor is fine, but Touch ID is better."​

These are almost meaningless statements. How is it better? Give us some examples to qualify these statements.
 
I would choose SE, because I prioritize performance, longevity and security. I also find fingerprint sensor on the front more convenient than on the back. But if I would for some reason switch to Android, this Pixel would probably be my choice. It seems to be really good phone and a lot of bang for the buck. I also like the design with pinhole camera - much better looking than SE bezels or notch.
 
Please don’t take this the wrong way, but this is a sloppy review.

Does the battery on the Pixel actually last longer, or is the author only comparing their mAh ratings? Because the way this review is written, the author is only comparing mAh ratings.

You missed that the Pixel doesn’t have wireless charging, but does have USB-C instead of a lightning port.

You missed the the iPhone SE costs $399 for 64GB storage, while the Pixel 4a costs $349 for 128GB storage

I wish you could pull down the iOS notifications menu using a gesture on the TouchID sensor, as you can with the luxe (swiping down on the fingerprint sensor)

If you're the budget conscious shopper than you'd go with Apple, because you're the type of person that keeps your phone for longer periods between upgrades.

  • They support devices longer with software updates
  • iPhones are less prone to have hardware issues
  • If you buy Apple Care you can get you phone replace same day in under an hour at the Apple Store if you can show that the damage isn't cosmetic caused by you... i.e. you dropped you phone. True story... I was in Hong Kong one year my iPhone battery died my phone was from North America they replaced it an the Hong Kong Apple Store. Can Google match that?
 
Are you really saying that the pictures on the 2020 SE are better than the pixel?
LOL

One runs iOS and the other runs Android.
One will have software updates/upgrades for years to come. The other will be found on the island of misfit toys within 2 years.
The chip on the Pixel 4a is comparable in performance to the 2016 iPhone 7 A10... I don't think you would be getting more than 2 years of updates on that phone... now, design wise, the SE feels outdated AF.

Pixels have at least 3 years of Software updates. So both of you are wrong... and yes, we know that the SE probably will get 5.
 
Agreed - this review is sloppy.

"You might think the Pixel 4a would be leagues better with the OLED panel, but both are close in quality. The 4a wins out, but the iPhone SE is not too far off."​
"Touch ID beats out most other fingerprint sensors when it comes to accuracy and phone unlocking time, and there's no exception here. Google's fingerprint sensor is fine, but Touch ID is better."​

These are almost meaningless statements. How is it better? Give us some examples to qualify these statements.

You came to the wrong place if you're after quality journalism.
 
Price and features might be similar. But this review misses what most do... the value in having a vertically integrated product in which the same manufacturer designs the hardware and software. And above all, one of these products is made by a company that prioritizes privacy and security versus the other which commoditizes pretty much everything you do with the device. So the winner is very clear.
 
If you're the budget conscious shopper than you'd go with Apple, because you're the type of person that keeps your phone for longer periods between upgrades.

  • They support devices longer with software updates
  • iPhones are less prone to have hardware issues
  • If you buy Apple Care you can get you phone replace same day in under an hour at the Apple Store if you can show that the damage isn't cosmetic caused by you... i.e. you dropped you phone. True story... I was in Hong Kong one year my iPhone battery died my phone was from North America they replaced it an the Hong Kong Apple Store. Can Google match that?

A budget shopper will choose Pixel 4a for the simple fact that it costs $100 less than a comparable iPhone SE with 128GB storage. Hardly any budget shopper will be buying AppleCare+.
 
You can save $50 by selecting the device that sells your data, oh boy!

again and again and again. Google does not sell „your data“. They put you in a bucket of interests etc that companies can target. For example you may look up fish tanks a lot so you get ads for fish food but it’s not like google is handing „your data“ to companies. It’s not gonna be like „Mr XY Living in Street XY. Do you want to buy his data?

literally any postal service is worse cuz they actually do sell your data
 
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