Design and Build

The Google Pixel 4a comes with a plastic unibody and a Gorilla Glass 3 front, which has the potential to keep down costs, but doesn’t feel as premium. The measuring is 5.7 x 2.7 x 0.3 inches (144 x 69.4 x 8.2 mm), and the phone's weight is 5.0 ounces (143g), making it a small and easy-to-use smartphone. With the colors Just Black and Barely Blue (limited edition) as the only choice, users can have the phone secured by a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, which is definitely a valid, tangible solution. The absence of an IP rating accredits the device with the feature of water and dust resistance to which category of a major missing point. The USB-C 3.1 port is adapted to the nano-SIM, and a 3.5mm headphone jack is built-in; however, it is widely regarded that the power button is very weak.

• Polycarbonate unibody, Gorilla Glass 3
• No IP rating (not water/dust resistant)
• Rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, no face unlock
• USB-C 3.1 port, 3.5mm headphone jack
• Physical nano-SIM

Pixel 4a Display

The Pixel 4a is equipped with an OLED display that has a 5.81-inch screen, a resolution of 1080 x 2340 (443 PPI), and it supports HDR. Its 60Hz refresh rate and ~700 nits brightness are not the best choice for the people who use their phones frequently but are functional. Unlike the Pixel 5's 90Hz. Gorilla Glass 3 is capable of resisting scratches and broken glass. The small size of the phone makes it easy to hold with one hand although there are users who claim that some screen protectors cannot guarantee touchscreen sensitivity.

• 5.81-inch OLED
• 1080 x 2340 resolution, 443 PPI
• HDR support
• ~700 nits (peak)
• Gorilla Glass 3 protection
• 60Hz refresh rate

Performance and Software

Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G (8nm) with an 8-core CPU (2x 2.2 GHz Cortex-A76, 6x 1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) and Adreno 618 GPU, the Pixel 4a has 6GB LPDDR4 RAM and 128GB storage ($349), non-expandable. Running Android 10 (upgradable to Android 13), it offered 3 years of updates until August 2023, now expired. It’s smooth for daily tasks but struggles with gaming.

• Snapdragon 730G with 8-core CPU, Adreno 618 GPU
• 6GB LPDDR4 RAM
• Storage: 128GB
• Android 10 (3 years updates, ended August 2023)
• Optimized for photography

The Snapdragon 730G is decent for its price but lags behind the 4a 5G’s 765G. Users praise the clean software and camera performance but criticize the expired updates and battery degradation after updates.

Camera System

The Pixel 4a has a single 12.2MP rear camera (f/1.7, 27mm, OIS) and an 8MP front camera (f/2.0). Google’s software (Night Sight, Astrophotography) delivers flagship-quality photos, though video is limited to 4K 30fps and mediocre compared to the 4a 5G’s 60fps. The lack of an ultra-wide lens limits versatility.

• Rear: 12.2MP Main (f/1.7, OIS)
• Front: 8MP (f/2.0)
• Video: 4K 30 fps (rear), 1080p (front)
• Modes: Night Sight, Astrophotography, Portrait Mode
• LED flash

Battery and Charging

The Pixel 4a’s 3140mAh battery lasts about 10 hours of video playback or 8–10 hours in real-world use, underwhelming for its size. It supports 18W wired charging (50% in 40 minutes) but lacks wireless charging. No charger is included. Users report battery life issues post-Android 13 updates, often requiring custom ROMs to fix.

• 3140mAh battery
• Up to 10 hours video playback, ~8–10 hours real-world
• 18W wired charging (50% in 40 min)
• No wireless charging
• No charger included (USB-C cable only)

Connectivity

The Pixel 4a supports 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), and Bluetooth 5.0. It includes nano-SIM, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and NFC but lacks 5G, UWB, and satellite connectivity. GPS supports GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo. Connectivity is reliable, though the lack of 5G is a drawback compared to the 4a 5G.

• 4G LTE modem
• Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
• Bluetooth 5.0
• 3.5mm headphone jack
• Physical nano-SIM
• No 5G, UWB, or satellite connectivity
• GPS: GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, Galileo

Pricing and Availability

Launched at $349 for 128GB, the Pixel 4a was announced on August 3, 2020, with sales starting August 20, 2020, via Google Store, carriers, and retailers. Discounts often drop it to $199–$249. The Pixel 4a 5G ($499) offers 5G and better performance, making the 4a less compelling in 2025.