Google skipped releasing the Pixel 4 in India last year, and this Pixel 4a -- which is a shadow of the Pixel 4 -- is a successor to the Pixel 3a of May 2019, but delayed to launch closer to Diwali in India because of COVID-19.
In a year where Google officially confirmed it won¡¯t be launching Pixel 5 in India, the Pixel 4a comes across as an extremely late consolation. On this evidence alone, it¡¯s clear Google¡¯s quest to compete with Apple¡¯s iPhone is limited to the US market for now, as the Indian Pixel efforts are squarely aimed at cracking the Rs 30k smartphone market.
Out of the box, the Pixel 4a surprises you with its slim profile and just how light it feels in the hand. It sits nicely in your palm and the matte black plastic surface on the back of the phone almost has a rubberized feel when gripped. This is definitely one of the highlights of the Pixel 4a, and its thin screen-bezel means the phone¡¯s a lot more accessible for single-hand use than phones with bigger, chunkier form factors.
You¡¯d be hard-pressed to call the all-black exterior of the Pixel 4a attractive or enough to make heads turn, as the drab monotone is punctuated only by a speck of contrast on the phone¡¯s screen lock button. But unlike glossy, shiny rears of most smartphones dotted with fingerprint smudges, the Pixel 4a expertly camouflages them all with aplomb. You shouldn¡¯t be buying a Pixel for its looks to begin with, not at least the ¡®Just Black¡¯ version anyway -- unfortunately, the Pixel 4a only comes in black.
Over the years, the Pixel series of phones has redefined and reimagined the possibilities of a phone¡¯s camera capabilities, standing alone in defiance of the smartphone industry at large -- where every smartphone maker¡¯s bending over backwards to pack as many camera lenses as possible in the never-ending quest to capture photo-realistic imagery, the Pixel 4a still only sports a single camera lens on the back that¡¯s capable of cranking out some of the best still imagery alongside all of 2020¡¯s latest and greatest premium smartphones. This is probably the best thing that Pixel 4a does -- Google¡¯s Pixel range of devices do as a whole -- which is remarkable to see.
Whether it¡¯s quick point and shoot or more carefully framed portrait shots or Night Shift¡¯s ability to illuminate near pitch-dark scenes, the single-lens rear camera on the Pixel 4a delights more than it disappoints. It takes adequately exposed, sharp, highly-detailed pictures in a whole host of scenarios that are a testimony to Google¡¯s ongoing advances in AI-driven computational photography. Some of the Pixel 4a pictures even give the superior iPhone 11 Pro¡¯s triple-camera shots a run for their money, which is quite something. The punch hole selfie camera up front also benefits from Google's software-driven camera wizardry.
The only areas the Pixel 4a camera falters is in its dynamic range, its affinity to shoot slightly cooler tones and of course the video shooting muscle isn¡¯t flexing as well -- all areas where the Pixel 4a needs more work to be able to match up to the camera prowess of any iPhone released within the last one year.
But all things considered, the Pixel 4a is one of the best phones for shooting still images in the market right now, because it has a way of elevating mundane details of ordinary everyday moments you don¡¯t see in most smartphones.
Beyond smartphone photography, the second-best reason to consider a Pixel 4a is to experience Google¡¯s flavour of Android in all its unadulterated glory -- similar to what Apple does on the iPhone every year. Google controls the Android ecosystem and the Pixel 4a is Google¡¯s representation of what¡¯s possible when software and hardware try to achieve harmony in a unique package.
Whether it¡¯s Google Assistant and voice controls to Lens under the Camera app or Android 11¡¯s infusion of AI-driven smart features, the Pixel 4a continues the story of manifesting Google¡¯s Android vision as best as possible. Having said that, it¡¯s definitely not an ideal fusion of software on hardware, as Pixel 4a isn¡¯t as smooth and stutters every now and then while scrolling through apps or switching between apps, when compared to the holy grail iOS experience on any iPhone. Whether or not the Pixel 4a¡¯s underlying hardware is to blame for the tiny UX-related blemishes is immaterial -- regardless of its price point, the fact that they exist is what should give the Pixel team pause, as they try to chase down Apple¡¯s iPhone supremacy.
Powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G and 6GB of RAM, the Pixel 4a feels very fast in its boot up times between updates, when you unlock the screen with its fingerprint sensor, or launch or close apps, switching from one to the other, multitasking between different activities through the day. The 5.81-inch screen OLED screen is sharp and bright, reproduces text, pictures and video quite well, but the screen does seem a smidge on the cooler side of the spectrum. Watching YouTube or Netflix is fun and casual gaming for short bursts is fine as well, but high-intensity games like Call Of Duty Mobile or Fortnite for too long is just asking too much.
The Pixel 4a¡¯s onboard speakers are loud for the most part, but the phone still supports a 3.5mm audio jack -- which means plug in those old headphones -- or TWS Bluetooth earphones. Its 3140 mAh Li-Polymer battery supports 18W fast charging (adapter included in the box) and easily lasts till the end of the day when you plug it in for the night.
All things considered, the Pixel 4a is a great phone to buy, if you are a Google fan. It¡¯s Rs 30k price tag is more expensive than some very good phones from its competitors, without a doubt. But what can't be argued is the Pixel 4a's camera prowess to punch above its weight and give premium, high-end phones a serious run for their money with respect to imaging. Additionally, if you want to experience pure vanilla Android in probably the best single-lens still image shooter out there, the Pixel 4a is made just for you.