Pixel 3a vs Pixel 4: Is one really that much better than the other?

When looking at the Pixel 3a vs 4 specs comparison, it may seem like the Pixel 3a is totally outclassed by the newer Pixel 4. And although the Pixel 3a has a much slower chip and doesn’t feel nearly as premium as the Pixel 4, it’s a better choice if you really need better battery life, and if you want a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Pixel 3a vs 4: The Pixel 4 has a lot more cool features

As you can probably tell when comparing the Pixel 3a vs 4 on paper, the Pixel 4 has a lot of cool things that the Pixel 3 doesn’t have. For one, the Pixel 4 has a 90hz high refresh rate screen that makes interacting with the device feel so much smoother. You may have noticed that the Pixel 4 comes with a “forehead” at the top of the device, and that’s there to house a radar system that allows you to unlock the device with a scan of your face. Yes, it’s a lot like Apple’s Face ID, but it’s faster, and also comes with additional gesture controls, like waving your hand in front of the phone to skip songs when you’re streaming music. But perhaps my favorite feature that distinguishes the Pixel 4 vs Pixel 3a is the build quality of the 4. Whereas the Pixel 3a feels like a plastic-fantastic device (it’s clearly a budget smartphone), the 4 has a nice weight to it and uses more premium materials that feel good in the hand.

Pixel 3a vs 4: Which one would I choose?

Yes, many reviewers complain about the Pixel 4’s meager battery life. But to be honest, I would still rather spend the extra money to buy the Pixel 4 vs Pixel 3a. It just feels like you’re getting so much more because of the build quality and higher refresh rate screen, and since I spend most of my day around the charger at my desk, I can get over the fact that it has relatively poor battery life. Plus, the Snapdragon 855 in the Pixel 4 gives you a much faster device than the Pixel 3a with its lower-end Snapdragon 670.