So, in a world of quad-camera Galaxies and iPhones, is there a place for yet another budget offering from Google? Yes – you may be surprised to learn that the Google Pixel 4a with 5G has a camera more in line with a flagship phone than a budget one.
In this Google Pixel 4a with 5G camera review we’ll go over the specs of the phone’s camera, show you how they perform, and compare them to the other Google Pixels available on the market.
GOOGLE PIXEL 4A WITH 5G CAMERA REVIEW
Released in August 2020, Pixel 4a with 5G is Google’s latest budget offering and is best compared to the iPhone SE (the 5G offering does have an additional utrawide camera not available on the regular 4a or iPhone SE). I had the Pixel 3a for 18 months before the battery died and was pleasantly impressed with the phone and camera – specifically when it came to mobile photography (more specifically, mobile astrophotography)
Let’s dive into the 4a with 5G camera though and see how it improved on its predecessors.
GOOGLE PIXEL 3A CAMERAS
The Pixel 3a was Google’s first foray into the budget smartphone industry. While there were minor issues with the phone, like my battery dying after 18 months, as a whole the camera shines – particularly for mobile photography.
It’s worth noting that frame rates were lacking in terms of video and the inability to lock focus and exposure in the native camera app was a massive buzzkill, especially for mobile filmmaking. The Pixel 4a with 5G, though, solves all these issues in a seemingly perfect way.
If you’re looking for a cost-effective option with a powerful, albeit single, camera, then the Google Pixel 3a may be for you.
Rear Camera Specs
- 12.2MP
- f/1.8
- 1.4 μm sensor size
Front Camera Specs
- 8MP
- f/2.0
- 84° Field of View
Video Specs
- 4k @ 30 fps
- 1080p @ 30/60/120 fps
- 720p @ 30/60/120/240 fps
GOOGLE PIXEL 4A CAMERAS
Is the Pixel 4a’s camera impressive? Yes. Is it as impressive as the 5G option? No.
Google decided to put the Pixel 5 camera in the Pixel 4a with 5G and as a result the 4a and the 4a with 5G don’t compare. While the real benefit in upgrading to the 5G option is the .6x Ultrawide Lens and Cinematic Pan Video Stabilization setting, there are other less obvious ones as well. The difference in cost between the two is over $100 though, so it’s up to you whether the benefits of the 4a with 5G over the regular 4a warrant the purchase.
Rear Camera Specs
- 12.2MP
- f/1.7
- 1.4 μm sensor size
Front Camera Specs
- 8MP
- f/2.0
- 84° Field of View
Video Specs
- 4k @ 30 fps
- 1080p @ 30/60/120 fps
- 720p @ 30/60/120/240 fps
GOOGLE PIXEL 4A WITH 5G CAMERAS
So, let’s talk 5G – it’s fast. That being said, in a week with my first 5G smartphone I can’t recall a single instance in which I was impressed with the 5G download speeds. Now, I don’t play video games on my mobile device or download massive data files, but one would expect that at some point something would’ve stood out.
The Pixel 4a with 5G does make significant enough camera improvements over the base 4a – in that it has the Pixel 5 camera – but are those improvements worth $100+? I would lean towards yes as the 4a with 5G improves lightyears on the 3a without increasing the price of the device that much. It’s closer in price to the 3a than the Pixel 5.
At the time of writing, the Pixel 4a with 5G is over $200 less expensive than the Pixel 5. If you’re someone looking for a flagship camera in a budget smartphone, then the Pixel 4a with 5G is the perfect device for you. It’s worth noting that in terms of display, battery, and processor the Pixel 4a with 5G is inferior to the Pixel 5 (though, not enough to dissuade one from the 4a with 5G).
Rear Camera Specs
Wide Lens
- 12.2MP
- f/1.8
- 1.4 μm sensor size
Ultrawide Lens
- 16MP
- f/2.2
- 1.0 μm Sensor Size
- 107° Field of View
Front Camera Specs
- 8MP
- f/2.0
- 84° Field of View
Video Specs
- 4k @ 30/60 fps
- 1080p @ 30/60/120/240 fps
- 720p @ 30/60/120/240 fps
GOOGLE PIXEL 5 CAMERAS
Is the Pixel 5 comparable to the iPhone 12 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S21? No, but it’s not trying to be. Google has, seemingly, foregone the full flagship phone, instead opting for a flagship budget hybrid at an intriguing $700 price point. This, when compared to the $1,000+ phones from Apple and Samsung, has the potential to create a nice market share for the tech giant, but only if they pull it off.
It’s fair to say that Google has failed to fully pull off their line of higher end Pixel phones. The Pixel 5 boasts the same camera as the Pixel 4a with 5G which doesn’t come close to comparing to the camera set-ups and software technologies of Apple and Samsung (which in turn don’t come close to comparing to the camera set-ups and software technologies of Huawei and Xiaomi, but I digress.).
If it were me, I’d save $200 and get the Pixel 4a with 5G instead of the Pixel 5 as it come standard with the same camera at 2/3 of the cost.
Rear Camera Specs
Wide Lens
- 12.2MP
- f/1.8
- 1.4 μm sensor size
Ultrawide Lens
- 16MP
- f/2.2
- 1.0 μm Sensor Size
- 107° Field of View
Front Camera Specs
- 8MP
- f/2.0
- 84° Field of View
Video Specs
- 4k @ 30/60 fps
- 1080p @ 30/60/120/240 fps
- 720p @ 30/60/120/240 fps
