If you’re confused by Google’s new Pixel lineup, you’re not alone. After releasing the $349 Pixel 4a earlier this year, the tech giant is back with the $499 Pixel 4a 5G and the $699 Pixel 5. Confusingly, the Pixel 4a 5G has more in common with the Pixel 5 than its less expensive sibling, and then there’s the $599 Pixel 4a 5G UW, which is the model you need for 5G on Verizon. Confusion aside, the Pixel 4a 5G is a solid midrange phone with excellent cameras, fantastic software, and 5G access for as low as $499. That said, it doesn’t offer the same all-day battery life, wireless charging, and water protection as the Pixel 5, and if you want the $600 Verizon model, the value proposition lessens. Design and Durability  The Pixel 4a 5G sports a boxy and utilitarian design that feels uniquely Google. Measuring 6.1 by 2.9 by 0.3 inches (HWD) and weighing 5.9 ounces, the Pixel 4a 5G is the company's largest phone this year, though it's still relatively light when compared with other 5G pho...

The Pixel 4a 5G offers excellent camera performance, a top-notch Android experience, and 5G connectivity for under $500, but Google's Pixel 5 ultimately delivers better value in the long run.

Excellent cameras; Solid performance; Guaranteed OS upgrades and security updates for three years; Headphone jack

Questionable durability; No wireless charging; Adding Verizon mmWave connectivity costs $100

Better than the flagship? The Google Pixel 4a 5G makes life harder for the Pixel 5. It features the same SoC and the same camera system. However, it has a bigger 6.2-inch screen and is much cheaper.

The Pixel 4a 5G is a budget version of the Pixel 5. It offers an impressive price-to-performance rat...

compact and light housing; 5G & NFC; Android 11 & extended software support; fast fingerprint sensor; very good camera; bright OLED screen; very good battery life;

no IP certification; non-expandable memory; no WiFi 6; thin stereo sound; no wireless charging;

It’s hard to get too excited about the Pixel 5’s cheaper sibling – or the Pixel 4a’s gangly cousin, depending on how you look at it. The Pixel 4a 5G has as many weaknesses as it does strengths: the phone’s slow performance detracts from the clean Android build, and the admirable battery life doesn’t...

Clean Android experience, 3.5mm headphone jack, Good battery for a Pixel phone

Slow performance, Hit-and-miss camera experience, Cheap-feeling

The Pixel 4a 5G is the best mix of battery life, price and capability of this year’s Google smartphones. It isn’t as nice to hold as the £599 Pixel 5, but the rest of the experience is essentially the same, just with a slightly bigger screen and longer battery life of more than two days.

Pros: great camera, good screen, great software and update support, great battery life, relatively inexpensive, headphone socket, 5G.

Cons: no expandable storage, no water resistance, plastic body is a bit plain.

The Google Pixel 4a 5G is difficult to place as it's not a premium smartphone but it's too expensive to be considered a true mid-range or budget smartphone. However, if we did have to pigeon hole it, it would certainly be a good mid-range option or as it shares several of the Pixel 5's features, you...

Price, Great display that's bigger than the Pixel 5 screen, Easy to use camera, Headphone socket, Brilliant camera AI

No telephoto lens/optical zoom, Not waterproof

Google Pixel 4a 5G: If you’re comfortable with spending a bit more, then the Pixel 4a 5G is worth the extra cash

Excellent value, Similar hardware to Pixel 5, Long-lasting battery life

Cheaper design, No wireless charging, No face unlock

The Pixel 4a 5G is a very good phone, boosted significantly by its highly impressive camera performance and Google’s signature streamlined software. However, take a look at your top priorities and your available budget before buying this one over the Pixel 4a or the Pixel 5.

I have been a Samsung person for a long time. I am starting to like the phone. Google needs to come up with a better notes app that you can lock. Only downside is Samsung notes is the best compared to this.

There’s a thing magicians do called misdirection, where they catch your eye with one thing while something more important happens elsewhere. Whether modern smartphones count as magic is probably a little too philosophical for here, but I certainly got the misdirection feeling from the Pixel 4a 5G.

Affordably priced, Excellent camera performance, Android has some truly useful features, Great battery life

You pay more for faster 5G, No waterproofing or wireless charging, Plastic design is unremarkable

One of the allures of the Google Pixel series of devices is its clean OS. The Google Pixel 4a 5G (and Pixel 5) run Android 11 right out of the box, with no funky skins or stylized customization to speak of – it’s just Android as Google intended.

Great Battery Life, Clean Android OS, Excellent Camera Quality, Reliable Fingerprint Sensor, Good Display, Solid Build, Good Speaker Quality / Output, Headphone Jack!

Trails In The Benchmarks, Only 60Hz Display, Non-Expandable Storage, No Wireless Charging, No Dust / Water Resistance