Google Pixel 4a

At Rs. 29,999, the Google Pixel 4a offers one of the best still cameras you can get for the money, in a compact body with clean software and a 3.5mm headphone jack. An 18W charger comes in the box.

The compromises are real:

• The Snapdragon 730G feels slow in everyday use, and that will show more as apps get heavier.
• It no longer receives Android or security updates from Google.
• There is no ultrawide camera, no wireless charging and no water-resistance rating.

Verdict: good value for a buyer who wants great photos on a budget and can live with modest speed. Buyers who want 5G, an ultrawide or more speed should look at the Google Pixel 4a 5G at Rs. 47,999. Check the PTA status before buying.

The Pixel 4a has a flat 5.81-inch OLED display with 1080 x 2340 resolution (about 443 ppi), HDR support and Gorilla Glass 3 protection. The selfie camera sits in a small hole-punch cut-out.

• Real-world use: text and images look sharp, the brightness range is decent and viewing angles are good.
• Refresh rate: it runs at 60Hz, so scrolling lacks the snappy feel of higher-refresh screens. At this price that is not a deal breaker, but it adds to the phone feeling slower than it is.
• The small size makes it easy to use with one hand, though games and videos get less room than on larger phones.

The Pixel 4a uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage, with no memory card slot.

• Everyday use: the phone does not feel fast. Animations and app switching are not very smooth, and the chip is a bigger reason than the 60Hz screen.
• Compared with rivals: the Snapdragon 765G used in phones such as the Pixel 4a 5G is about 20% faster.
• Longevity: modest speed today raises concerns about how well it will cope in a few years.

No reliable gaming or heat tests were found, so buyers who play demanding games should treat this as a camera phone first.

There is a single 12.2 MP main camera (f/1.7, with OIS) on the back and an 8 MP selfie camera.

• Daylight: photos have the familiar Pixel look, with high dynamic range, strong contrast and natural colour. Skies are well exposed and colours look true to life.
• Low light: Night Sight is very clean, and with a tripod the phone can take astrophotography shots of the night sky.
• Portraits: portrait mode works well on people, pets and objects despite the single camera, and it can even be applied to older photos.
• Zoom: there is no telephoto lens, but multi-frame processing keeps zoomed shots clearer than expected.
• Limits: there is no ultrawide camera, and the low-resolution sensor captures less fine detail than higher-megapixel phones. Photos can look slightly soft.
• Video: 4K at 30fps and 1080p at up to 120fps. Video is good, but the iPhone SE records better video.

Inside is a 3140 mAh battery that charges at up to 18W over USB-C, and a charger of that rating is included in the box.

• Real-world use: expect roughly 5 hours with the screen on, with about 10-20% still in reserve by bedtime.
• Battery life is better than on the Pixel 3a, helped by the larger capacity and a more efficient chip.
• There is no wireless charging.

The capacity is small on paper, but the 1080p 60Hz screen helps it last a full day of normal use.

The Pixel 4a launched with Android 10 and was updated up to Android 13, using Google's own Pixel software.

• Clean experience: there is no bloatware and no ads, with good haptics and a clear interface.
• Useful features: Live Caption subtitles any video and even calls, and it works offline on the device. Call Screening handles unknown callers, and Now Playing names songs playing nearby. Google says Now Playing identifies songs on the phone and does not send raw audio or conversations to Google.
• Assistant: there is no squeeze gesture, but a diagonal swipe from a bottom corner opens Google Assistant just as fast.
• Updates: Google's support page lists the Pixel 4a among phones that no longer receive Android or security updates, so the software will not change from here.