Google has finally officially unveiled the Pixel 4a 5G and the Pixel 5.
These two smartphones are the latest the company has to offer, but they differ a lot compared to what Google has launched in the past.
Here’s how the Pixel 4a 5G compares to the Pixel 5 and Pixel 4 series.
Below are some notable differences, followed by a spec sheet comparison:
- The Pixel 5 lacks an XL size variant.
- The Pixel 5 and 4a 5G have smaller bezels than any other Pixel smartphone in the past (other than the Pixel 4a).
- The Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a 5G lack ‘Active Edge.’ Every Pixel smartphone since the Pixel 2 series has included this feature.
- The Pixel 5 and 4a 5G both have a Snapdragon 765G processor compared to the flagship chipsets available in the Pixel 4 series.
- The Pixel 5 only comes in two colour variants, ‘Subtle Sage’ and ‘Just Black,’ compared to previous Pixel smartphones (except for the Pixel 4a) that typically are available in three different colour variants.
- The Pixel 5 and 4a 5G don’t have different colour power buttons. Previous Pixel handsets have featured an accented power button.
- Google ditched the Soli radar sensor in its new Pixel smartphones, which means they don’t feature face unlock and the Pixel 5 and 4a 5G only use a rear-facing fingerprint scanner.
- The Pixel 5 and 4a 5G only come in one storage variant, 128GB.
- The Pixel 5 and 4a 5G now have a wide-angle camera, compared to the Pixel 4 series that featured a telephoto shooter.
- The Pixel 5 now has reverse-wireless charging.
When the Pixel 4 launched in 2019, it cost $999 and the larger 128GB model cost $1,129. Google priced the 64GB 4 XL at $1,129 and the 128GB Pixel 4 XL cost $1,259. Whereas the new Pixel 5 costs $799 and the Pixel 4a 5G is available for $679. This year’s Pixel smartphone is a lot more affordable, likely due to its 5G-capable Snapdragon 765G processor.
Pixel 5
Pixel 4a 5G
Google Pixel 4 XL
Google Pixel 4
Display
6.0-inch FHD+ (1080 x 2340) OLED display, 432 ppi, 19.5:9 aspect ratio
6.24-inch FHD+ (1080 x 2340) OLED display, 413 ppi, 19.5:9 aspect ratio
6.3-inch, OLED display, 1440 x 3040 pixels, 90Hz refresh rate, 19:9 aspect ratio
5.7-inch, OLED display, 1080 x 2160 pixels, 90Hz refresh rate, 19:9 aspect ratio
Processor
Snapdragon 765G
Snapdragon 765G
Snapdragon 855
Snapdragon 855
RAM
8GB of RAM
6GB of RAM
6GB of RAM
6GB of RAM
Storage
128GB
128GB
64GB, 128GB
64GB, 128GB
Dimensions (in.)
144.7 x 70.4 x 8.0mm
153.9 x 74 x 8.2mm (Sub-6 only), 153.9 x 74 x 8.5mm (mmWave + Sub-6)
160.4 x 75.1 x 8..2mm
147.1 x 68.8 x 8.2mm
Weight
151g
168g (Sub-6 only), 171g (mmWave + Sub-6)
193g
162g
Rear Facing Camera
12.2-megapixel (f/1.7) + 16-megapixel (f/2.2, ultrawide)
12.2-megapixel (f/1.7) + 16-megapixel (f/2.2) ultra-wide
16-megapixel (f/2.4, OIS, wide angle) + 12.2-megapixel (f/1.7, OIS, telephoto)
16-megapixel (f/2.4, OIS, wide angle) + 12.2-megapixel (f/1.7, OIS, telephoto)
Front Facing Camera
8-megapixel (f//2.0)
8-megapixel (f/2.0)
8-megapixel (f/2.0, ultra-wide)
8-megapixel (f/2.0, ultra-wide)
OS
Android 11
Android 11
Android 10
Android 10
Battery
4,000mAh
3,800mAh
3700mAh
2,800mAh
Network Connectivity
GSM/HSPA/LTE/5G
GSM/HSPA/LTE/5G
GSM/HSPA/LTE
GSM/HSPA/LTE
Sensors
Fingerprint (rear), accelerometor, gyro, proximity, compass`
Fingerprint (rear), accelerometor, gyro, proximity, compass
face unlock, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
face unlock, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
SIM Type
Nano SIM
Nano SIM
Nano SIM, eSIM
Nano SIM, eSIM
Launch Date
September 30, 2020
September 30, 2020
October 15, 2019
October 15, 2019
Misc
Colours: Just Black | Subtle Sage, 90Hz refresh rate
Colours: Just Black
Colours: Just Black, Oh So Orange, Clearly White | Motion Sense, face unlock, New Assistant (coming to Canada), Active Edge
Colours: Just Black, Oh So Orange, Clearly White | Motion Sense, face unlock, New Assistant (coming to Canada), Active Edge
Display
Pixel 5
6.0-inch FHD+ (1080 x 2340) OLED display, 432 ppi, 19.5:9 aspect ratio
Pixel 4a 5G
6.24-inch FHD+ (1080 x 2340) OLED display, 413 ppi, 19.5:9 aspect ratio
Google Pixel 4 XL
6.3-inch, OLED display, 1440 x 3040 pixels, 90Hz refresh rate, 19:9 aspect ratio
Google Pixel 4
5.7-inch, OLED display, 1080 x 2160 pixels, 90Hz refresh rate, 19:9 aspect ratio
Processor
Pixel 5
Snapdragon 765G
Pixel 4a 5G
Snapdragon 765G
Google Pixel 4 XL
Snapdragon 855
Google Pixel 4
Snapdragon 855
RAM
Pixel 5
8GB of RAM
Pixel 4a 5G
6GB of RAM
Google Pixel 4 XL
6GB of RAM
Google Pixel 4
6GB of RAM
Storage
Pixel 5
128GB
Pixel 4a 5G
128GB
Google Pixel 4 XL
64GB, 128GB
Google Pixel 4
64GB, 128GB
Dimensions (in.)
Pixel 5
144.7 x 70.4 x 8.0mm
Pixel 4a 5G
153.9 x 74 x 8.2mm (Sub-6 only), 153.9 x 74 x 8.5mm (mmWave + Sub-6)
Google Pixel 4 XL
160.4 x 75.1 x 8..2mm
Google Pixel 4
147.1 x 68.8 x 8.2mm
Weight
Pixel 5
151g
Pixel 4a 5G
168g (Sub-6 only), 171g (mmWave + Sub-6)
Google Pixel 4 XL
193g
Google Pixel 4
162g
Rear Facing Camera
Pixel 5
12.2-megapixel (f/1.7) + 16-megapixel (f/2.2, ultrawide)
Pixel 4a 5G
12.2-megapixel (f/1.7) + 16-megapixel (f/2.2) ultra-wide
Google Pixel 4 XL
16-megapixel (f/2.4, OIS, wide angle) + 12.2-megapixel (f/1.7, OIS, telephoto)
Google Pixel 4
16-megapixel (f/2.4, OIS, wide angle) + 12.2-megapixel (f/1.7, OIS, telephoto)
Front Facing Camera
Pixel 5
8-megapixel (f//2.0)
Pixel 4a 5G
8-megapixel (f/2.0)
Google Pixel 4 XL
8-megapixel (f/2.0, ultra-wide)
Google Pixel 4
8-megapixel (f/2.0, ultra-wide)
OS
Pixel 5
Android 11
Pixel 4a 5G
Android 11
Google Pixel 4 XL
Android 10
Google Pixel 4
Android 10
Battery
Pixel 5
4,000mAh
Pixel 4a 5G
3,800mAh
Google Pixel 4 XL
3700mAh
Google Pixel 4
2,800mAh
Network Connectivity
Pixel 5
GSM/HSPA/LTE/5G
Pixel 4a 5G
GSM/HSPA/LTE/5G
Google Pixel 4 XL
GSM/HSPA/LTE
Google Pixel 4
GSM/HSPA/LTE
Sensors
Pixel 5
Fingerprint (rear), accelerometor, gyro, proximity, compass`
Pixel 4a 5G
Fingerprint (rear), accelerometor, gyro, proximity, compass
Google Pixel 4 XL
face unlock, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
Google Pixel 4
face unlock, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
SIM Type
Pixel 5
Nano SIM
Pixel 4a 5G
Nano SIM
Google Pixel 4 XL
Nano SIM, eSIM
Google Pixel 4
Nano SIM, eSIM
Launch Date
Pixel 5
September 30, 2020
Pixel 4a 5G
September 30, 2020
Google Pixel 4 XL
October 15, 2019
Google Pixel 4
October 15, 2019
Misc
Pixel 5
Colours: Just Black | Subtle Sage, 90Hz refresh rate
Pixel 4a 5G
Colours: Just Black
Google Pixel 4 XL
Colours: Just Black, Oh So Orange, Clearly White | Motion Sense, face unlock, New Assistant (coming to Canada), Active Edge
Google Pixel 4
Colours: Just Black, Oh So Orange, Clearly White | Motion Sense, face unlock, New Assistant (coming to Canada), Active Edge
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