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Google announces Pixel 5, Pixel 4A 5G, and Pixel 4A

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71–80 of 601 posts

Re: Google announces Pixel 5, Pixel 4A 5G, and Pixel 4A

#71

Finally! A small phone with decent specs and a headphone jack is really all I want these days (and is almost extinct as far as phone design goes). The Pixel 4a seems like a possible alternative to the S10e, which up until now was the only game in town for high quality small-form-factor smartphones.

I think it's still way too big. I'd really like a decent phone with a height under 5 inches. At 4.8 inches tall, the Incredible 4G LTE from 2012 remains my favorite phone. The 4A is at least smaller than the 3A (my current phone), so at least they've moved a tiny bit in the right direction.

Re: Google announces Pixel 5, Pixel 4A 5G, and Pixel 4A

#72
post #30

I can only hope they will revisit face unlock in the era of face masks. I greatly prefered fingerprint unlock. I treat either of these as tamper resistance rather than actual security, but I find fingerprint unlock to be a much better experience.

This model looks to have a fingerprint reader, which may be good news to you. You can see the outline in the main photo, and it is also listed in the tech specs: https://store.google.com/product/pixel_4a_specs

Re: Google announces Pixel 5, Pixel 4A 5G, and Pixel 4A

#73

Bit confused as to why mtgx's comment has been voted into oblivion, as it's a legitimate complaint with the Pixel line. My girlfriend has a 3a and it has taken about 3 months for the battery life to start being a minor issue; i.e. she makes sure to charge it during the day if she has somewhere to be in the evening. It's really the only complaint I have about an otherwise good phone, and it doesn't look like the 4a re…

The Pixel 4a battery is bigger than that of the Pixel 4, and it has a much less energy intensive screen. I think it would be enough for most regular phone users that the Pixel 4a targets.

Re: Google announces Pixel 5, Pixel 4A 5G, and Pixel 4A

#74

Bit confused as to why mtgx's comment has been voted into oblivion, as it's a legitimate complaint with the Pixel line. My girlfriend has a 3a and it has taken about 3 months for the battery life to start being a minor issue; i.e. she makes sure to charge it during the day if she has somewhere to be in the evening. It's really the only complaint I have about an otherwise good phone, and it doesn't look like the 4a re…

Maybe it's anecdotal? I've had my 3a for a year and the battery feels just as good as when it was new, I only have to charge it every other day.

I suspect it does vary quite a lot based on usage. We live in a fairly cold place (Wales) and my girlfriend's phones tend to suffer more than mine do, as she spends a few hours in an exposed place most days. Towards the end of its life her iPhone SE was suffering from some truly impressive battery woes when she ventured outside. My current phone (an S8 Edge) is doing relatively fine by comparison, but my last Nexus device really struggled here too and I ended up with poor battery life within a few months.

The problem I have with the software approach to battery optimisation is that it doesn't accomodate for environmental issues like that, whereas a bigger battery does.

Re: Google announces Pixel 5, Pixel 4A 5G, and Pixel 4A

#75

Can vouch for the Pixel line. I've had a Pixel 3a XL for a little over a year and it's been great. Stock Android, good display, great battery life, great camera, great security, reasonably fast and 3 years of updates. That's all I need from a phone. The Pixel 4a seems like a logical upgrade from the previous generation, sticking to the same principles.

Only 3 years of updates? I've had some version of an iPhone since the 3 and have considered giving Android a go, but that's a big downside if true.

Coming from iOS, I can imagine that being a disappointment. 3 years of updates is a relatively new trend in the Android world. I used to complain about this as well, but now that it's 3 years, that's about when I usually buy a new phone anyway.

See: https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/4457705.

Re: Google announces Pixel 5, Pixel 4A 5G, and Pixel 4A

#76

Can vouch for the Pixel line. I've had a Pixel 3a XL for a little over a year and it's been great. Stock Android, good display, great battery life, great camera, great security, reasonably fast and 3 years of updates. That's all I need from a phone. The Pixel 4a seems like a logical upgrade from the previous generation, sticking to the same principles.

Only 3 years of updates? I've had some version of an iPhone since the 3 and have considered giving Android a go, but that's a big downside if true.

Sadly, 3 years of updates is really above and beyond in the Android world. Many get 2 years but most are abandoned even earlier.

Re: Google announces Pixel 5, Pixel 4A 5G, and Pixel 4A

#78
post #27

Has Audio Jack! (Comparison with other Pixel 4's) - https://store.google.com/magazine/compare_pixel?toggler0=Pix...

Yes! I have a 3a and it has kept me using pixels mainly for this reason. #2 reason is the Polycarbonate unibody.

Happy to see they are keeping it in future iterations of the 'a' series.

Re: Google announces Pixel 5, Pixel 4A 5G, and Pixel 4A

#80
post #30

I can only hope they will revisit face unlock in the era of face masks. I greatly prefered fingerprint unlock. I treat either of these as tamper resistance rather than actual security, but I find fingerprint unlock to be a much better experience.

I also am not a fan of facial unlock, I would much rather have a finger print reader like previous models. Though I will say if my hands are sweaty it doesn't work, which is a bit annoying.

This is why I have both the fingerprint AND face unlock on on my phone :) The combo of the two covers 99% of cases IME.
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