About upgrading: 9to5Google often gives specific product recommendations. Pertains to Google Pixel devices or #madebygoogle. The polycarbonate unibody has a fully matte finish, which should age much better than the glossy two-tone Pixel 3a. Best Buy is offering the Pixel 4a for just $299 unlocked with activation. Conversely, the Pixel 3a and 3a XL can be picked up for less than £200 refurbished from sites like Amazon although given the lifespan, it might not be wise if you plan on holding on for a really long time. Daily longevity has never been an area where the Pixel a-series has suffered so far in its short lifespan. Report major, reoccuring bugs by messaging the Mod Team. If you're having trouble getting a problem solved with Google Support, consider u/dmziggy's Reddit Request before making a post. If you are wanting to upgrade to what amounts to the best Pixel phone to date, you can get the Pixel 4a from a number of places but can be bought with an official case (of your choice) for just $389. The forehead and chin aren’t totally eradicated on the Pixel 4a, but the upper-left punch hole notch and reduced bezels on all sides mean that you get a larger display in a smaller form factor. https://www.argos.co.uk/product/8348214?clickSR=slp:term:google%20pixel:3:16:1. Also, a reminder to users visiting links to the Issue Tracker: star the issue. Google Pixel smartphone was launched in October 2016. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); At the bottom end of the smartphone spectrum, the lower you go, the more features you tend to lose — something even more pronounced in the US market where solid, affordable smartphones are harder to come by without many of the big Chinese brands to contend with. You can see that the Pixel 4a leaves behind the design language first introduced with the Pixel 2 — and continued with the 3 and 3a. The Pixel 4a will be updated at least as far as Android 13, but it’s unclear if it will get updated to Android 14 due to the later-than-expected release cycle. Pixel 3, Pixel 3 XL, Pixel 3a, Pixel 3a XL, Pixel 4, Pixel 4 XL, Pixel 4a: always use dark theme for boot chain firmware; Pixel 3a, Pixel 3a XL: disable unused dynamic kernel module support to match other devices; Updater: disconnect keepalive connection when service is done; 2020.12.12.03. While we don’t suggest upgrading after such a short space of time due to increased E-waste, a lot can change in 15 or so months. Pixel 1. Android news, reviews, tips, and discussions about rooting, tutorials, and apps. Sometimes, we may suggest not upgrading, due to various reasons including, but not limited to: increased device cost, negligible performance gains, or environmental impact. Unlike the flagship lines, the difference between the “a” series in 2019 and 2020 is a reasonable step forward rather than a modest step backwards. Pixel 2 XL. With the Pixel 4a coming much later in the year than expected, the actual time between its release and that of the Pixel 3a makes things a little more complicated. In the interest of fairness, the Pixel 4a 5G might technically be part of the Pixel 4a series, but it straddles the fence with both the Pixel 4a and the Pixel 5 – we’ll likely compare them directly at a later date. Increasing the available storage from 64 to 128GB is something that will likely make a lot more difference than you might think. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. The Pixel 4a has a 5.8-inch, 2,340-by-1,080-pixel OLED display, while the iPhone SEâs 4.7-inch LCD clocks in 1,334 by 750 pixels. You’ll likely see some performance boosts in most areas, which will be especially useful long term. Instead, you’ll have to make do with the also awesome 3D Animals in Search instead. Email damien@9to5mac.com, Android Nougat revisit: Birth of the 'Pixel Experience', Samsung phones still have obnoxious, hard to avoid ads, Chrome OS may soon be able to mirror your Pixel, You’re reading 9to5Google — experts who break news about Google and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Find him on Twitter @iamdamienwilde. Known Issues. The Pixel 3a and Pixel 4a camera systems are practically identical — save some minor visual changes. The Pixel 3a XL specifically has the longest-lasting daily lifespan of just about any Pixel to date. Having more RAM means that holding apps in stasis is also slightly better on the Pixel 4a over the Pixel 3a. Tags: No URL shorteners, referral/promotion links/codes, or spam. The Google Pixel 3a is a more affordable version of the Pixel 3 that keeps the same camera and makes some compromises to be a high-value phone. Whether to upgrade is always your call, but our aim is to help you make as informed a decision as possible. The phone comes with a 5.00-inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 1080x1920 pixels at a pixel density of 441 pixels per inch (ppi). As for the Pixel 3a, it has received two full OS upgrades. While there are some new additions, there are some disappointing removals. require mod approval. Share on Facebook Tweet Snapchat Share Reddit Email Comment. This might be a bit of an unfair comparison from the outset, as the lack of Pixel 4a XL means that fans of large, affordable Pixel devices will have to bump up their budget and grab the Pixel 4a 5G instead. Superfast charging speeds aren’t a fixture of the “a” series. resetting was either a bug, or intentional because of worries about performance on the 5; u never know with google but it's fixed now. Despite maybe being a little overdue, we’re here to examine whether this might be something to consider for those shopping for a new smartphone on a budget. Google Pixel 4a 5G gets a fix for speaker noise. AmAs, Q&As, giveaways, etc. Gaming is one area where the newer, gaming-focused Snapdragon 730G may provide a few extra frames in 3D titles in conjunction with the faster UFS storage. Alongside the December security patch, Made by Google is closing 2020 with a Pixel Feature Drop.Coming three months after the last release that coincided with Android 11, the Pixel 5 ⦠UK pixel buds 2 are on sale at Google Store & Argos, currently £159. It’s also worth noting that with an extra 64GB of storage, you can hold so much more on the 4a. Get support, learn new information, and hang out in the subreddit dedicated to Pixel, Nest, Chromecast, the Assistant, and a few more things from Google. While you're here, also subscribe to the subreddit calendar. Check out 9to5Google on YouTube for more news: Damien is a UK-based video producer for 9to5Google. Reddit; Much like the potential upgrade path from the Pixel 4 series to the Pixel 5, suggesting that someone shoul09d âupgradeâ from the Pixel 3a to the Pixel ⦠You might be looking at the $350 Pixel and wondering if it’s a solid follow-on for a slightly battered and bruised Pixel 3a. Pixel 3a. However, the late release cycle means that if Google adheres to the mid-2021 refresh for the Pixel 5a, holding out a little bit longer might be a wise decision. Neither device comes with wireless charging, but include 18W fast charging as standard. As with almost all Pixel devices, you might get some extra features drip-fed down with upcoming Pixel Feature Drops, though. You’ll also notice the Pixel 4a camera bump is now larger and has taken some design cues from the Pixel 4 — albeit without the extra lens. Full Review Tom's Guide Rating, 4 out of 5 4.0 Adam Ismail Mark Spoonauer on August 10, 2020 Subscribe to 9to5Google on YouTube for more videos. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. Pixel 3a & Pixel 3a XL Problems While theyâre technically completely different devices, the Pixel 3a and 3a XL are very similar to the original models. The site may not work properly if you don't, If you do not update your browser, we suggest you visit, Press J to jump to the feed. Upping the RAM from 4 to 6GB will really help with longevity, while the faster storage is a real tangible bonus for performance levels. We all know by now that the Pixel camera magic isn’t provided by the now three-year-old Sony IMX 363 sensor. You won’t be able to port Iron Man or interactive 3D characters into your photos and videos on the Pixel 4a. However, the Pixel 4a comes with the more compact “new” Google Assistant that includes better controls, with all processing taking place on-device. It’s a series of modest hardware improvements but only if you’re willing to give up the larger form factor option. After seeing somebody post about the £20 off on the Pixel Buds in Argos, I decided to go and have a look and noticed the Pixel 4a 5G has been reduced by 20% down to £399.00. With no Pixel 4a XL model this year, you’ll need to contend with comparable battery life to that of the smaller 3a. One big notable exclusion though is that of the Playground AR features from the Pixel 3a. At $499, the Pixel 4a 5G fits a slightly different niche, and with a faster chipset means it’s not quite in the same league and would be an obvious winner in almost every regard. In isolation, it’s the best-value Pixel smartphone to date. [Video]. The upgrades have been made in just the right areas. I can’t imagine that will be immediately noticeable. Gaming is an area in which the Pixel 4a should provide a decent bump over the Pixel 3a and 3a XL. Report major, reoccuring bugs by messaging the Mod Team. A new year is here and so is the first big Android update of 2021. It’s the display where the most prominent changes are apparent, as the Pixel 3a and 3a XL include substantial bezels on all sides. Much like the potential upgrade path from the Pixel 4 series to the Pixel 5, suggesting that someone shoul09d “upgrade” from the Pixel 3a to the Pixel 4a is a bit silly. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G provides around a 40% bump in performance over the Snapdragon 670. There’s a bump from the Dragontrail Glass used on the Pixel 3a to Gorilla Glass 3 on the Pixel 4a. Pixel 2. Looks like you're using new Reddit on an old browser. More. Moving from the Pixel 3a to the Pixel 4a is a much easier decision than for those looking to switch from the Pixel 4 to the Pixel 5. The (un)official home of #teampixel and the #madebygoogle lineup on Reddit. The removal of bezels, increased storage, and “mini Pixel 5” feel are great considering you’re getting more than half of the late-2020 flagship for half the price. Although the Pixel 4a does have access to the Astrophotography mode that came to the Pixel 4 series in late 2019, plus has some other improvements here and there that make very marginal differences — especially with regard to processing speed. DO NOT COMMENT unless you have evidence to share. The Pixel 3a series still includes the ability to squeeze the sides of your device to activate the Google Assistant. Be sure to check out, Pixel 3a vs. Pixel 4a: Worth the upgrade? ... Pixel 3a XL, Pixel 4, Pixel 4 XL, Pixel 4a, Pixel 4a 5G, and Pixel ⦠At $349 the Pixel 4a does everything you expect of a Made by Google device but without the associated price tag. NOTE: You must be signed into your Google account to view bugs on the Google Issue Tracker. Generic discussion about phones/tablets is allowed, but technical-support, upgrade related questions or buy/sell posts, app recommendations and carrier-related issues should be asked in their respective subreddits! Join us on your favourite platform for a more casual environment. While the Pixel 3a led the way, it’s still technically a “first-generation” device, and with that comes more compromise. Performance is very similar between each device, but the extra RAM and marginally better chipset do heavily favor the Pixel 4a in longevity terms. The Pixel 3a released at I/O in May 2019, and it wasn’t until August 2020 that its successor was quietly unveiled with little to no fanfare. The end results are practically identical with the rear- and front-facing cameras on the Pixel 3a and 4a. It’s all in the software processing. However, the FHD+ resolution returns, as does the 60Hz refresh rate. Alternatively, it’s available directly from the Google Store, Walmart, B&HPhoto, plus more for $349. Let’s go over the specifics and help you decide. [GCam] Camera PX for Google Pixel 1 / 2 / 3 / 3a / 4, App for all devices (see above for details) Contributors cstark27, back.rider555, johngalt1 Version Information Status: Beta Created 2018-12-05 Last Updated 2020-09-03 Thanks to the Android 11 update, the Pixel 3a and Pixel 4a daily experience is typically “Pixel.” There are a few other software tweaks that are exclusive to the newer device. In summary, the Pixel 3a and 4a don’t differ quite as much as you might have thought. It’s the improved UFS 2.1 storage and increased RAM that will make the most difference, but it might not necessarily be immediately noticeable in general day-to-day apps and basic texting, calling, browsing, and whatnot. Pixel 1 XL. The Pixel 3a, therefore, charges the fastest of the three models while the Pixel 4a is not too far behind. 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