- New unlocked Android phone gives you the flexibility to change carriers and choose your own data plan; works with Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint, AT&T, Google Fi, and other major carriers.Form_factor : Smartphone
- Capture great photos using your cell phone on the 12 MP dual pixel rear camera with features like Live HDRplus Night Sight, and Portrait Mode; share photos directly from the viewfinder of your Pixel camera to Google and popular third party apps
- The Adaptive Battery lasts up to 24 hours [1] as it learns your favorite apps and reduces power to the ones you rarely use
- HDRplus makes your photos look better by automatically adjusting for color and lighting; Night Sight lets you capture rich detail and color even in the dark; Portrait Mode helps you take beautiful portraits with a DSLR quality look
- The custom made Titan M security chip helps secure the operating system and protect sensitive data like passwords; automatically receive the latest OS and security updates on your cell phone for at least 3 years. [2]
- With Google’s Personal Safety app if your mobile phone senses that you’ve been in a car accident, car crash detection can help reach 911 for you. [3]
- Beautiful bezel-less design with an 5.8 inch Full HDplus OLED display that goes from edge to edge so you can immerse yourself in your videos and apps
- With Call Screen Google Assistant helps you automatically filter out robocalls on your cell phone before it ever rings. [4]
- Please refer to the product description section below for all applicable legal disclaimers denoted by the bracketed numbers in the preceding bullet points (e.g., [1], [2], etc.)
- Google Pixel 4a Phone (Just Black) packaged with a Google Seal for Online Marketplace
Google Pixel 4a – Unlocked Android Smartphone – 128 GB of Storage – Up to 24 Hour Battery – Just Black
$169.98
Last updated on 05:53 Details
Product Dimensions | 5.7 x 2.7 x 0.3 inches |
---|---|
Item Weight | 5 ounces |
Item model number | G025J |
Batteries | 1 Lithium Polymer batteries required. (included) |
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
OS | Android |
RAM | 6 GB |
Wireless communication technologies | Cellular, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, NFC |
Connectivity technologies | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, USB, NFC |
GPS | True |
Special features | Custom Titan M Security Chip, Call Screen with Google Assistant, Night Sight |
Display technology | OLED |
Other display features | Wireless |
Human Interface Input | Touchscreen |
Other camera features | Front, Rear, Video |
Audio Jack | 3.5 mm |
Form Factor | Smartphone |
Color | Just Black |
Battery Power Rating | 3140 |
Whats in the box | 18W USB-C power adapter 1 m USB-C to USB-C cable (USB 2.0) Quick Start Guide Quick Switch Adapter SIM tool |
Manufacturer | |
Date First Available | August 3, 2020 |
Memory Storage Capacity | 128 GB |
Standing screen display size | 5.8 Inches |
Ram Memory Installed Size | 6 GB |
Battery Capacity | 3140 Milliamp Hours |
Weight | 143 Grams |
Charging Time | 2 Hours |
Nicolò –
Fa tutto quel che dice, è velocissimo, bello…peccato solo per la batteria che a seconda dei giorni non arriva neanche a fine giornata 🤷🏽
Lee –
I procure and customize Android devices, specifically Google, as a little side source of income for myself. Needless to say I am surrounded by a ton of phones and about 95% of them I do not like.
I gravitate toward pure Google phones because one can tweak them and make them function and operate and perform to the specific individuals needs.
I have had every Google phone from the original Pixel right through the 5. This review is about the 4a so I won’t elaborate on why I dislike models past the 5. I will only say that they’re just too darn BIG.
I found this phone on Amazon being sold as “used, like new” from Amazon stock and I already knew that if it’s coming directly from Amazon stock that it’s not going to be some discarded vendor phone with a attachment of a service provider or bloatware, etc. (because Amazon is careful the screen what they sell from their own stock because they stand behind it 100% 😁).
Even though I have a whole bunch of phones from which to choose, I use a Pixel 4a5g as my primary phone but it started to feel a little bit too large for me and holding it just hurt my hand for lack of better description. I don’t like large phones. I always keep two primary phones and my secondary phone, that I had for almost 6 years, finally gave up so I was in the market to replace it.
I wanted something smaller than the 4a5g, which I do continue to use. Google’s phones just keep getting bigger so I sought out what might still be available with Android updates, has a decent battery life, and is small and appealing and I found the 4a. I ADORE IT!
I could probably write a book about all the reasons that you should buy this phone but it would take a zillion years to do so and certainly blow up Amazon’s servers SO I will synopsize.
✓ It is a nice, pleasant to hold size and is very suitable and comfortable to hold for extended periods of time while texting or viewing websites or videos;
✓ right out of the box you will be able to update to Android 13 and receive updates, I believe for the next 3 years;
✓ it does not come with a bunch of bloatware which people usually try to get rid of by rooting their phones and therefore destroying warranty and usually screwing up their phones. Right out of the box you can customize it to perform to your personal satisfaction;
✓ battery life is absolutely fantastic! On paper the battery doesn’t look like it would be so great but, au contraire, I’ve been texting and looking at YouTube videos and shopping online since 8:30 this morning (it’s 3:19 right now so that’s almost 8 hours) and my battery is still at 86% 😮! EXCELLENT!;
✓ it does not come with wireless charging built in but you can purchase a wireless adapter (get “short” if you don’t want the finger print unlock covered up) for about $15 and the charging world is beautiful;
✓ unlike most of the newer phones, this one came with the charger, c cord, as well as the adapter so you can zap the contents of your existing phone right smack over to your new 4a before you get done deciding on what to make for dinner;
✓ phone is very responsive and does not start lagging even with multiple websites, facebook, and Amazon shopping open and active;
✓ screen resolution is exceptional and does NOT force dark mode as many of the current models do;
✓ easily accessible full developer mode allows you to tweak the settings so that the phone performs and looks the way YOU want it to;
✓ has fingerprint unlock as well as custom bezel configuration;
✓ cutout can be easily hidden for those that find it annoying as I do (on other brands of phones you’re stuck with the thing 😡);
✓ camera quality is absolutely excellent for both stills and videos as well as wide and landscape modes. For those desiring a camera camera camera type of mode, I usually install “open camera” for my clients. It allows you to tweak the heck out of everything and make the phone perform as a camera… There is absolutely no need to spend ridiculous amounts of money to get one of those phones that boasts about their camera… just install that app and I can’t imagine anything else you could possibly need;
I quite literally could go on for pages about what I love about this phone but it would take forever. I cannot find any flaws about it at all. I’m absolutely thrilled to have a phone that is a comfortable size and performs as I want it to.
The only drawback that might even be something to be thought of is if you keep your phone for 10 or 12 years is that you are capped at 4G. BUT if you live in the United States that shouldn’t be an issue at all for the next decade. I told you that my phone of 7 years finally died. It was working beautifully at 3G. It just got worn out. I do know a bit about customizing and programming phones and that might be why my lasted so long but with a little bit of care yours should be able to last just as long and don’t be scared off by the 4G. It will last WELL into the future.
I am absolutely thrilled with my purchase! If you are in the market for an unlocked fully customizable phone, and you want one that isn’t as big as a freaking cereal box sitting in front of you, this is the way to go!
VLSI –
The IMEI and EID numbers on the box and device differ. Came to know when approached the service provider for e-sim. I was advised to report this matter as it could be potential security issue.
daniel Gautheret –
Appareil neuf dans sa boite d’origine, mais la batterie est visiblement HS. Elle perd 30% en 30min de Spotify.
Screcko –
best in class phone as the name itself is enough. this phone is a dream, every touch feels premium and dreamy, it has everything. super good, infact too good to be on the market and google did excellent with this product. security in this phone is proper and no bullshit, totally pure and what you expect in a phone and how it’s supposed to work. in love with it. bought it for my moms and she is living it to the fullest with this amazing device. so far so good. this will last long i hope, ofcourse the build material is super durable and premium. hats off
i wanted this device but maybe someday before it runs out like generation gap!!
dj –
[May 7, 2021 thoughts on Pixel 4a, ordered November 8, 2020 and used daily ever since]
PROS:
Form factor and weight-
This is the best marriage I have found. Fantastic screen real estate, sensible (ideal?) resolution, and just terrific dimensions for me. This thing is light weight for its size, and I love that more than I can possibly express. Hand fatigue has been all but completely eliminated. Give me plastics, baby! I have no desire for metals that don’t add to functionality (and apparently, from something I saw on YouTube, this phone is insanely rugged, even with a plastic shell). Glass is always heavier and less durable than other materials choices, and it’s just altogether not well suited for the backside of a mobile handset, IMO. I think Apple charges $550 to replace the back glass on most modern iPhones. This Pixel 4a is the total package and stickers for $200 less than the price of Apple’s back glass repair.
Price:Performance-
While I can’t compare this phone to another of its kind with a higher performing Qualcomm, I am never wanting for speed. This phone has been wonderfully fluid and performant for my day-to-day needs. The lean Android experience on the Pixel line really lets its mid-range Qualcomm shine. I most recently carried both an iPhone 7 Plus and 2020 SE, and both proved plenty fast for anything I do; this 4a is no exception.
Background app refreshes seem to be on par with what I had using 3GB iPhones. No real surprises. My day-to-day habits seem mostly unaffected by any background app refreshes I’ve noticed. I think the 6GB of memory strikes a good balance for the 4a.
I don’t game. Well, I play some chess now and again, including occasional analysis using very demanding engines (Stockfish, etc), but in general I can’t comment on gaming performance.
Battery-
Battery life and charging time have been lovely. I seldom charge to 100-percent, instead I prefer to just give little 5- to 15-minute charges periodically during the day, while keeping the battery in the 30- to 70-percent range where possible. This thing charges way, way faster than my older 7 Plus and 2020 SE iPhones and overall battery life is likely comparable or better from what I can gather (very unscientifically). I leave it to the readers to determine how important battery life is and do some research of their own.
Camera-
It’s so good it doesn’t even make sense. Shooting stills, the 4a smashes my old iPhone 7 Plus my a wide margin and the 2020 SE couldn’t hold a candle either. I think that’s being objective. I’ve had quite a bit of low-level, professional photography training at University level and time behind the lens of DSLRs, and I’m quite astonishing that I can get such quality images from the 4a. The software image processing is pure magic.
I have kids, and they’re the important subjects for me. I’d guessed the 4a might struggle with motion, particularly in lower light, which would have been a deal-breaker for me, but this thing takes “keepers” practically every single time. Glorious. Most already know how well Pixel phones shoot non-moving subjects, so I won’t carry on about that. It’s an exciting camera experience. Concerning video, the 1080p 30- and 60-frame shooting has not disappointed either, and the image stabilization is truly excellent. I don’t mess with 4k on phones (yet), so no comment there. I don’t take selfies, so I won’t comment on the front-facing camera either.
Android-
The gesture navigation is fantastic, particularly the ability to go back by swiping in from either the left- or right-hand side of the display. Massively convenient and easy on the hands.
Updates/security patches are crucial for me, and with a Pixel, scorching fast updates are what you get, and support duration bests most Android-based OEMs.
Fingerprint recognition-
Works as well and as fast as any I’ve experienced. Thought the rear placement would bug me. It absolutely does not. Rear placement is probably my preference now. Well executed. I like.
CONS:
Audio volume/intensity-
The 4a just doesn’t get as loud as some other modern handsets. It’s tricky to listen to a podcast or whatever when I’m doing dishes, for example. That said, the audio quality is perfectly satisfactory, to me.
Google Search-
There’s a Google search bar installed by default on the home screen. I leave mine there and find it useful. When tapped, you’re presented with the ability to “search apps, web, and more…” (much like the search on iOS when you pull down from the top). Google/Android learns over time, so that eventually it can quickly present you with what you’re most likely to want. Works great, more often than not. But the problem for me is that it’s inconsistent with regards to displaying apps. It must be that about 20-percent of the time it doesn’t display apps, so I’m forced to swipe up from the bottom of the display to close the interface, then tap the Google search bar again before it populates apps in the query. I can’t figure out what causes this for the life of me, and I’ve owned an IT MSP for years, so this ain’t my first rodeo with tech devices! Frustrating, but muscle memory makes this only a half-second affair to correct.
Dependability-
I’ve long used the same MVNO for cell service, which I mention only because there exists a small possibility that it’s of importance here: I’ve found a few occasions where I can’t place phone calls. To fix, for some reason, a reboot was required. I haven’t had any issues in the past few months, but it’s probably because I’ve changed habits; now, whenever there’s an update to something low-level from Android (not just a basic app update), I reboot the phone. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure?? Anyway, I’d have a “need” to reboot an iPhone maybe once every six months, outside of forced reboots from doing an iOS update. To have had to monthly (or maybe even more frequently) reboot this 4a in order to connect phone calls (with no warning as to any trouble, unless I attempted to place a call and “connect the dots”) is unfortunate. I don’t like to have to think about mitigating critically buggy behavior by rebooting my phone from time to time.
OLED-
I’m sensitive to flicker, so I basically hate OLED. My daily driver laptop is a ThinkPad T480s LARGELY because its 1080p IPS is flicker-free (no PWM). This 4a gives me viewing fatigue after a relatively short while. On the 4a, unless you’re at max brightness (exactly 100-percent), you can expect flicker in the ~122 to 255Hz range. That’s too low for me. I would prefer an LCD, like the ones I had in my iPhone 7 Plus or 2020 SE. I could view those endlessly without fatigue- read books on them, you name it. But the industry does trend, and trend it does for the contrast ratio specs and inky blacks the kids rave about these days {rolls eyes}.
Overall:
This is probably the finest overall set of compromises I’ve ever found in a cell phone, and I’ve owned many of them since 1994. I’m highly satisfied with this handset, and I think very little could realistically be done today to improve upon the formula that is the Pixel 4a. Google has made a proper phone for adults.
9/10 DO recommend!
V –
Bought this in 2021 so I can take take better pictures of my cat because Samsung camera wasnt great and blurry. Pixel 4a camera is still good, especially the back camera, very clean and detailed.
This photo made me fall in love with pixel, this is my first pixel. It’s so much faster than my Samsung. So easy to transfer my stuff over to pixel because I’m a Google person.
The battery life is ok. It doesn’t last 24hr unless you use your phone all the time. It’ll drain very quick if you’re on it too long but charging it is very easy and quick. It can be back to 100% in a hour of charging.