5 additions and tweaks we’d like to see from Google Pixel 4a
The Google Pixel 3a is in the running for one of the best budget phones of 2019, packing the flagship Pixel camera experience, a stock take on Android, and quick access to updates.
It seems like a no-brainer for Google to launch a Pixel 4a series, and we can definitely see a few areas for improvement. So with that in mind, here’s what we’d like to see on 2020’s budget Pixel line.
Don’t miss: Google Pixel 3a review | Google Pixel 3a XL review
More power
The Google Pixel 3a offers a Snapdragon 670 chipset and 4GB of RAM, which makes for a pretty standard, capable mid-range pairing in 2019. Our own David Imel noticed RAM management issues though, as well as photos taking a few seconds longer to process.
Hopefully the Google Pixel 4a is optimized for 4GB of RAM if it’s sticking with this figure, or Google introduces 6GB of RAM instead. We’re also crossing fingers for a chipset upgrade, as the Snapdragon 670 mostly lags behind the Snapdragon 700 series, such as the Snapdragon 710, 712, and 730 family.
More power can also help future-proof a phone to an extent, ensuring compatibility with new apps and games, and allowing Google to port new features to the device.
Splash resistance
The one major budget Pixel compromise compared to the flagship Pixels is in regards to water resistance, as the Pixel 3a series doesn’t have a significant IP rating.
Now, we’re not expecting new budget Pixels to be water resistant like high-end phones, but we’ve seen the likes of Xiaomi and Motorola offer P2i coatings for splash resistance on its low-end devices. There’s no reason why a mid-range phone like a Google Pixel 4a couldn’t have this coating either.
A bigger battery
We live in a world where the standard Pixel 3a actually has a bigger battery than the standard Pixel 4. But the budget phone’s battery is still rather average at best at 3,000mAh.
It’s not uncommon for Xiaomi and Realme‘s budget phones to pack 4,000mAh batteries or higher. So hopefully Google gives the Pixel 4a a capacity bump too, even if it’s only a few hundred mAh. In fact, I’m sure there are loads of people out there that wouldn’t mind a slightly thicker phone if it meant more juice.
A second rear camera
Google insisted for years that a single rear camera was fine, but the company finally relented with the Pixel 4, bringing a 16MP 2x telephoto camera alongside the 12MP primary sensor.
A second rear camera would help the Pixel 4a series stay competitive with other mid-range devices, as rival brands now offer quad rear cameras on budget phones. We don’t usually see telephoto rear cameras on mid-range phones though, so don’t be surprised to see an ultra-wide camera if Google indeed opts for a dual sensor setup next year.
More storage options
The Google Pixel 3a offers 64GB of storage, which is certainly in line with mid-range smartphones today. But what if you need more space? Unfortunately the company doesn’t offer a 128GB variant, so this is definitely one option it should investigate for the Pixel 4a.
Read: Phone storage showdown 2019 — Who is price-gouging you the most?
Another possibility is expandable storage, but Google hasn’t implemented a microSD slot in a Pixel/Nexus phone since the Nexus One back in 2010. Still, the company resurrected the 3.5mm option for the Pixel 3a, after its two previous flagships shipped without the port. It would also be a great move if Google decides to sell the Pixel 4a in more emerging markets.
What Google Pixel 4a features and tweaks would you like to see compared to the Pixel 3a? Let us know below!
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