Will the Google Pixel 4a flop on its launch?

Google is set to launch the Pixel 4a later today. The Google Pixel 4a is the second iteration of the budget Pixel, and while Google has not provided any details about the phone, its entire spec sheet has been leaked ahead of the launch. The one thing we don’t know about the Google Pixel 4a is its price.

However, the Google Pixel 3a was unveiled in India’s sub-40K segment, so you can expect the Google Pixel 4a’s price to fall anywhere between Rs 35,000 and Rs 40,000 in India for the base model. The Google Pixel 4a is expected to pack a Snapdragon 730G chipset, which is a pretty capable mid-range chip.

But the sub-40K segment in India is home to smartphones with flagship chips like the OnePlus 7T (Snapdragon 855+), iQOO 3 (Snapdragon 865), and Realme X50 Pro (Snapdragon 865), among others. The Poco X2, Moto One Fusion+, and Realme X2 are some devices with the Snapdragon 730G, and all three of them are sub-20K smartphones. This does beg the question, “what is it that you are paying for on the Pixel 4a and is it worth it?”

Flagship Camera vs Flagship Performance 

The Google Pixel 4a is expected to feature a single rear camera, similar to the main camera on the Pixel 4. However, Pixel phones have rarely been able to impress with camera hardware; Google’s impressive computational photography is the Pixel’s biggest ace in the hole. What Google can do with a single camera, most phones at this price won’t be able to replicate with four.

The ‘quad-camera’ moniker has become somewhat of a major selling point among OEMs. However, there are very few phones that can deliver camera consistency across their main and ultrawide camera sensors. So, most users often tend to default to the main camera, especially in surroundings devoid of bright outdoor light. And then there’s “Night Sight”, the holy grail of smartphone night modes.

The ‘flagship killer’ moniker has always prioritized performance, by offering users a slightly above average camera with a flagship chipset. Like its predecessor, the Pixel 4a will flip this equation, offering a premium camera experience and a mid-range chip. However, Google failed to balance this equation with the Pixel 3a, as the Snapdragon 670 SoC was too far off from the flagship Snapdragon 800 series.

However, the new Pixel 4a is expected to feature a new chip. The Snapdragon 730G is a high-performance mid-range chip tailored for gaming. Although a year old, the SD730G can tackle most tasks, including the most demanding games without much of a bother. An average user won’t see much difference in regular day to day use between the Snapdragon 730G and Snapdragon 855.

What this does is create a more balance equation, making the camera over performance trade-off more than worth it. Look at it this way; when it comes to performance, you are comprising on something you may otherwise not notice, but with camera quality on the Pixel 4a, you’ll be gaining something that everyone notices.

General Pixel Pros 

Apart from the camera, the Pixel 4a will also provide the benefits of Stock Android and a 90Hz OLED panel, the latter of which is not uncommon in this price segment. The reason we see ‘Stock Android’ as more of a “Pro” rather than a defining feature is because some users may prefer OnePlus’ Oxygen OS.

Do the Pros outweigh the Cons?

There are a few obvious caveats here like the lack of a telephoto or ultrawide camera. In India, almost every smartphone above Rs 12,000 has an ultrawide camera, although only a handful of them can offer camera consistency in bright outdoor light. In low light, the ultrawide camera on every mid-ranger and flagship killer falls apart.

However, the biggest question of the Pixel 4a will be battery life. The phone is expected to have a 3,140 mAh battery capacity, which may not stand up well to scrutiny. Google is relatively better than other OEMs with battery management, but a more powerful chip and a high refresh rate display can take its toll on battery life. Battery life is often seen as the bane of compact smartphones, so it will be interesting to see how the Pixel 4a fairs in this area.

To recap, with the Pixel 4a, you are getting a flagship camera, top-end mid-range chipset, smooth 90Hz OLED panel, arguably the best software on a smartphone, and questionable battery life. However, the success of the Google Pixel 4a, at least in India, will also hinge on the willingness of consumers to step out of their comfort zones as Google will unlikely use fancy monikers like other OEMs.