Pixel 4a Review: This is a Must-Have

Hi guys! It feels awesome to be back and when I asked on Instagram what you all wanted to start with, I had an overwhelming response asking for the Pixel 4a! So, I’m ready for it and let’s dive in because this phone has blown me away. 

When I say that a phone blows me away, you are thinking of features, build quality, speed, camera, etc. While those things are all true, the most shocking part about it is that this phone is $350. The majority of phones released now keep jumping up in price due to features that the typical consumer is actually not using. And when you are paying over $1000, you better be using allllll the features! I feel confident saying that I’m not sure Google could have made a better smartphone. And it’s not only because of the price -- let’s dive into this! 

Starting with the size, this was a welcomed change for me. My daily driver before this one was the Pixel 4XL and then I’ve also been testing out the Samsung Note 20 Ultra. When you go from 6.3 inch screen or a 6.9 inch with the Note 20, this feels very different. But the more I was using it, I loved it! This phone could easily fit in my hands, be used with only one hand, slip into pockets, and even into some of my small purses! 

Many of you have been asking about the speed and even though it isn’t the top-of-the-line processor, the Snapdragon 730G, 6GB of memory and 128 GB of storage, I’ve had zero issues with performance. And I definitely put the phone through it’s paces. 

Another welcomed change from my Pixel 4XL was the return of the fingerprint sensor. Love having Face Unlock, but when wearing a mask, I’m tired of having to enter a pin each time. The fingerprint sensor on the back has felt like a god-send. It’s fast and honestly I love this placement over the in-screen version from other phones. 

And how about that camera?! I’ve been a huge fan of the Pixel cameras for a LONG time and this one isn’t any different. The colors are on-point, sharp and crisp. You have the same front and back cameras compared to the 4XL. Now, it doesn’t have a telephoto lens on the 4a and do I miss it? NOPE. That’s never been a must-have for me. 

Next up is battery life. While I do wish that it had a bigger battery, that’s really not the issue for me. I’m used to having to charge my phone at least once during the day. I can go longer without having to charge it compared to my other phones, but still not my problem. When I do charge my phone, I just want to set it on a wireless charger and go. Well, that’s where I feel the phone falls short. If there is ONE thing I would change about the phone, that’s it. Just the wireless charging! 

All in all, Google rocked it with the 4a when you look at everything you are getting for $350 -- especially when it can hold it’s own in comparison to many high-priced phones available now. It earned it’s spot as my daily driver, so that should also tell you something! 

Thanks again for watching! It feels awesome to be back! Let me know what other content you want to see in the comments -- anyone feeling like some Android setup videos?? Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram and Twitter and I’ll catch ya in the next one!