The Pixel is $50 cheaper, and it comes with the added benefit of having Google looking over your shoulder at everything you do with it.
Wait, did I say "benefit"?
Wait, did I say "benefit"?
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Google's $349 Pixel 4a vs. Apple's $399 iPhone SE
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
"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, though plastic is less likely to break when dropped."
The plastic actually means that the Pixel is more likely to break, than the iPhone aluminum design! And what is more likely is that the Pixel is more likely to land on its screen as now the front (glass) is heavier.
The plastic actually means that the Pixel is more likely to break, than the iPhone aluminum design! And what is more likely is that the Pixel is more likely to land on its screen as now the front (glass) is heavier.
both are great phones. For the budget minded consumer, can’t really go wrong with either tbh. Typical consumer isn’t going to care who has the better camera or CPU. Just comes down to do you want android or iOS? Really interested to see what the pixel 5 winds up becoming.
[automerge]1596664424[/automerge]
[automerge]1596664424[/automerge]
It’s not worth explaining this to anyone here. Nobody takes the time to understand how googles ad system works.
What a sloppy comparison. Several statements with no data to back up the claims.
For Apple to be selling a phone with giant bezels/tiny screen like this in 2020 would be like them trying to peddle a "new" iMac with giant bezels that hasn't changed in nine years, I mean seriously!!! Oh...wait...
p.s. ...but seriously, I'm a huge Apple fan, and if I were buying an entry level phone, the Google display is an absolute difference maker...the iPhone SE looks straight out of 2014.
p.s. ...but seriously, I'm a huge Apple fan, and if I were buying an entry level phone, the Google display is an absolute difference maker...the iPhone SE looks straight out of 2014.
That's…
That's not how this works.
At all.
If testing bears out that the 4a lasts longer, that's fine. It lasts longer. But battery capacity doesn't translate to run time between different models, let alone entirely different manufacturers. A phone with a 2,000 mAh battery could easily outlast one with a 3,000 mAh battery if the phone with the 2,000 mAh battery drew less power!
He did not miss this point at all. In fact he explicitly mentions this point in the video.
I don't understand the "OS lock-in" argument. I do use MBP and iPhone, but there's nothing about either of them that lock me into to sticking with the iPhone. If anything, the need to use iTunes to download apps to the phone is a major pain in the butt. The only thing locked in about that is that it's locked in to the annoying walled garden stupidity. I put up with it because of the predictable quality of an iPhone, rather than the random guess of wondering if anything other than the flagship models will work properly and not slow down horrendously after a short time of use, which is what happened the first and last time I tried to own an Android, and had to return it two weeks later due to taking 5s to load my text messages each time.
I just want a small flagship iPhone, with no compromises for the size. Also I love that rainbow Pixel background, very retro Apple / Pride. Will have to see if I can find that for my iPhone.
Yeah NOTHING AT ALL wrong with Google's privacy policies
Privacy concerns regarding Google - Wikipedia
And the post office does not "sell your data."
For most people it basically comes down to ecosystem. Most who would be interested in the iPhone SE probably don’t know or care about the Pixel 4a. For people who like Android the Pixel 4a is a great inexpensive phone.
Apple and Google made different trade offs when hitting a lower price point here. Apple prioritized performance and premium materials but mostly recycled an older iPhone with older screen tech (i.e. they put an A13 in the iPhone 8 and called it a day). Google has a bigger better screen and a more up to date design that minimizes bezels, but uses a mid range processor and a plastic body (and skips either an ip rating or wireless charging).
The 4a will get at least 3 years of software updates, whereas the SE should get around 5 years, and maybe more.
Apple and Google made different trade offs when hitting a lower price point here. Apple prioritized performance and premium materials but mostly recycled an older iPhone with older screen tech (i.e. they put an A13 in the iPhone 8 and called it a day). Google has a bigger better screen and a more up to date design that minimizes bezels, but uses a mid range processor and a plastic body (and skips either an ip rating or wireless charging).
The 4a will get at least 3 years of software updates, whereas the SE should get around 5 years, and maybe more.
me on the other hand never used wireless charging in my life ?
had you on ignore after your first ridiculously pro-Apple post but you have redeemed yourself here.
Haha, true.
Samsung can sell more phones in two weeks than Google sells all year.
I know Google is trying to create the ultimate Android experience... but it's obviously not that big of a seller. I wonder when the Pixel will end up in the Google Graveyard.
You can’t justify having a phone with huge bezels like iPhone SE in 2020. It is a big win for Google.
This is a false narrative and is simply because of your one time experience. Apple Care extends your coverage and gives you 2 incidents of physical damage. If the device can be repaired, it will be. Liquid damage and rear glass cracks are automatic replacements with incident fees. Simply saying “my phone has a problem I’d like a new one because I have Apple Care” will likely make your technician NOT swap your phone.
Sounds like your phone had a power issue. A power test was ran, and determined the device will not power on, and was swapped for you.
Pixel 4a
+ modern design vs rehash
+ better hardware future proofing with 6GB DRAM and 128GB base storage vs iPhone SE 3GB/64GB
+ 1080p OLED vs iPhone SE 750p LCD
+ Night Mode vs none
+ Built in Titan M 2FA security key
+ better smarts and more advance features like Duplex AI, live transcription, split screen multitasking, etc.
+ longer battery life
+ modern design vs rehash
+ better hardware future proofing with 6GB DRAM and 128GB base storage vs iPhone SE 3GB/64GB
+ 1080p OLED vs iPhone SE 750p LCD
+ Night Mode vs none
+ Built in Titan M 2FA security key
+ better smarts and more advance features like Duplex AI, live transcription, split screen multitasking, etc.
+ longer battery life
Last edited:
Mmm you really think Apple doesn’t do a thing with you information? Ha ha ok
Arrived at a new bank today, with a lineup outside. The process was to scan a QR code that takes you to a website where you enter your information, and then text messages arrive telling you what your position is in line and when you can proceed to the next teller. This was a sweet tech-driven experience!
On my iPhone, the process was smooth and quick. No hoops to jump through, since the camera scans QR codes automatically.
The Android guy behind me fumbled around, and eventually they had to do a "manual" method of entering the guy into the lineup.
Hardware-wise, both of these phones are decent. Software-wise, nothing beats iOS in pure elegance and simplicity. iOS has continued to set the bar that Android reaches for.
On my iPhone, the process was smooth and quick. No hoops to jump through, since the camera scans QR codes automatically.
The Android guy behind me fumbled around, and eventually they had to do a "manual" method of entering the guy into the lineup.
Hardware-wise, both of these phones are decent. Software-wise, nothing beats iOS in pure elegance and simplicity. iOS has continued to set the bar that Android reaches for.
Yes, this is something consumers continue to overlook. I always open private browsing windows, unless the site I'm at needs a cookie that's been stored, such as my banking. But I was still noticing ads following me around, and then it dawned on me.... my VPN IP address is static... so Google has attached that IP address to my browsing profile and can still track me. Smart cookies, them is.
For me, Apple's privacy focus is the major benefit.
They don't. They've stated that publicly.
They may analyze the information internally for their own purposes, but they don't sell the data to other companies. Google does.