As phone prices have increased dramatically in recent years, lowering expectations some to find a phone that still ticks enough boxes, yet does so at a more appetizing price has become more common. It’s not that the $1,000+ phones aren’t any good or are overpriced, it’s that there are more...

The Pixel 4a came a little late this year. Now that we spent a few weeks with it, here are 4 things you need to know about the Pixel 4a.

Great camera, Under $400, Clean Android OS Experience, Headphone jack

No water resistance, No wireless charging, No expandable storage

The Pixel 3a debuted at Google I/O 2019, and it was closer to budget smartphone nirvana than any phone in the US that came before it. That was, until Apple responded with the iPhone SE .

Price In America, this is a lot of phone for $350. In fact, I see no reason to buy any currently on sale Android smartphone that doesn't cost as least twice as much as the 4a., Camera This phone uses the same sensor and optics as the Pixel 4 (which were the same as the Pixel 3, etc.). You can tell.

Soft touch plastic It greases up almost instantly, just like the Nexus 5 (one throwback that hasn't aged well, IMO)., Auto-brightness Google thinks my issues are relatively isolated, but I've had consistent issues with the autobrightness freaking out.

The Pixel 4a is an amazing device. But every time a device like this comes along and I sing its praises, someone asks me if I'd really be willing to make it my daily driver, and the answer is no, only because there's no wireless charging.

Pixel camera, Unique design, Solid performance, Value

No wireless charging, 60Hz screen, No 5G

The Pixel 3a was a game changer. When it came out last year, it was the only Android phone in its price range with guaranteed software updates and camera performance on par with significantly more expensive flagship handsets. But a year makes a big difference, especially this year, and while the new $349 Pixel 4a once again manages to be a strong offering for the price—particularly for shutterbugs—it isn't the same clear-cut winner as its predecessor. With fierce competition from the $399 Apple iPhone SE, the $599 Samsung Galaxy A71 5G, and even the $249 Motorola Moto G Power, the Pixel 4a is definitely the right midrange phone for many users, but not all of them.Design and Durability In terms of design, the Pixel 4a looks like a much more sophisticated version of its predecessor. The bezels have been trimmed down significantly thanks to a camera sensor located right in the top of the display, rather than above it. The phone measures 5.7 by 2.7 by 0.3 inches (HWD) and weighs jus...

The Google Pixel 4a is one of the better midrange Android phones on the market, particularly for photo buffs.

Solid camera performance; Guaranteed software updates for three years; Refined design

Underwhelming display; Lacks wireless charging; Questionable durability

Google Pixel 4a Software And User Experience Google’s take on Android has always been very clean and streamlined. Pixel phones run an almost stock build of Android 10 with a few minor (and welcome) tweaks -- much like handsets from OnePlus and Moto.

Fantastic camera, Good display, Solid battery life, Great audio, Stock Android, Incredible value

Low-grade materials, Only comes in black, No wireless charging, No water resistance

Spending four figures on a new smartphone never feels exactly sensible, but in 2020 it seems positively profligate. Enter, then, the Pixel 4a, long overdue by all rights and intents, but still turning heads by virtue of Google’s camera chops and a $349 price tag.

Aggressively priced, Camera rivals flagships, Solid performance and battery, 3.5mm headphone jack

No wireless charging, Not waterproof or dustproof, Bland design

Streamlined Android experience with guaranteed updates; Camera quality competes with flagship rivals; All-day battery life;

Few standout features on the hardware front; Plastic build gives away budget nature; Expandable storage still a no-go;

The Pixel 4a is Google’s best smartphone in years. It is small, light and feels great. It has an OLED screen that is colourful, crisp and big enough for most things. Performance is good, the battery lasts a solid 31 hours between charges and the camera is leagues better than the price may suggest.

Pros: great camera, good screen, good software and update support, good battery life, headphone socket, relatively small, fairly inexpensive

Cons: no 5G, only single camera, no wireless charging, no water resistance, no expandable storage

The Pixel range has long been our top choice for anyone wanting the purest form of Android, even when rivals offer more cutting edge hardware. That's still true here: the Pixel 4a is everything you could need from an affordable phone - but nothing more. That's a problem when the OnePlus Nord offers superior specs for hardly any more cash. 5G support and a high refresh rate screen are both tasty additions, even if camera quality isn't quite on par with Google's algorithmic excellence. There's real appeal to the Pixel 4a's pocket-friendly dimensions, though, and it's comfortably among the best phones for photography - at any price. If you don't mind making a few spec sheet sacrifices, it leaves very little not to like.

Streamlined Android experience with guaranteed updates; Camera quality competes with flagship rivals; All-day battery life;

Few standout features on the hardware front; Plastic build gives away budget nature; Expandable storage still a no-go;