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Here’s how the new Pixel 5 compares with the Pixel 4A 5G and Pixel 4A

Here’s how the new Pixel 5 compares with the Pixel 4A 5G and Pixel 4A

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Google’s smartphone lineup is refreshingly simple

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Google’s fall hardware event ended this afternoon after a breezy 30 minutes of rapid-fire product announcements, with the stars of the show being the new Pixel 5 and Pixel 4A with 5G. Google now has three primary smartphones; two midrange ones (one with 5G and one without) and one flagship. That’s a refreshingly simple lineup, compared with some of the messier, more bloated offerings from competitors.

But that doesn’t mean choosing between the devices is necessarily clear-cut. The 4A 5G is not just a 4A with a different modem; the two phones have some key hardware differences, making the Pixel 4A 5G more of a Pixel 5 alternative than a budget phone. The three devices, grouped together, hit price points of $349, $499, and $699, so choosing which one is the right fit for you is best done by comparing all the specs.

Conveniently, Google has made a handy chart for doing so, with much of the information, plus some other key specs we feel are important, more neatly organized below:

Google Pixel 5 vs. Pixel 4A with 5G vs. Pixel 4

CategoryPixel 5Pixel 4A with 5GPixel 4A
Network5G5G4G
Screen6-inch flexible OLED display at 432 ppi6.2-inch OLED display at 413 ppi5.8-inch OLED display at 443 ppi
Refresh Rate90 Hz60 Hz60 Hz
Resolution1080 x 23401080 x 23401080 x 2340
Battery4080 mAh3885 mAh3140 mAh
Front Camera8 megapixels8 megapixels8 megapixels
Rear Camera12.2-megapixel dual-pixel (16-megapixel ultrawide)12.2-megapixel dual-pixel (16-megapixel ultrawide)12.2-megapixel dual-pixel
Camera FeaturesNight Sight, Portrait Light, Cinematic Pan, Live HDR+Night Sight, Portrait Light, Cinematic Pan, Live HDR+Night Sight, Live HDR+
RAM8GB 6GB6GB
ProcessorQualcomm Snapdragon 765GQualcomm Snapdragon 765GQualcomm Snapdragon 730G
Storage128GB128GB128GB
AudioStereo speakers, USB-C audioStereo speakers, USB-C audio, 3.5mm headphone jackUSB-C audio, 3.5mm headphone jack
Price$699$499$349
Wireless ChargingYesNoNo
Water ResistantYesNoNo
ColorsGreen, BlackWhite, BlackBlack
Operating SystemPre-loaded with Android 11Pre-loaded with Android 11Pre-loaded with Android 10
AvailabilityOctober 15th (outside US), October 29th (US)October 15th (Japan), November (outside Japan)Available now

So, you can see that there are some key compromises made for the Pixel 4A 5G, like a lack of wireless charging, a smaller battery compared with the Pixel 5 (but larger than the standard Pixel 4A), no water resistance, and a lower refresh rate for the display.

But it’s nice to know you’re not just paying $150 more for the ability to access 5G networks — you’re getting all the same camera features and an identical processor to the pricier Pixel 5, too.