Second opinion Google Pixel 4a review - Buyer’s remorse - Android

I don’t think I’ve been as excited for a phone as I was for the Pixel 4a. For years, I’ve been waiting for a small Google phone that had decent battery life and didn’t cut any major corners. After paying too much for a Pixel 4 XL and living with horrible battery life for the past few months, I decided I would switch to the 4a. So, I ordered one on launch day.

Most of the Pixel 4a’s strengths really made me appreciate Google’s cheap phone; the battery life, the size, the headphone jack are all fantastic. But one thing ended up getting in the way of me keeping the Pixel 4a.

Read my second opinion Google Pixel 4a review to find out why I returned the Pixel 4a after two weeks.

Our full review: Google Pixel 4a review: Google’s best phone in years

What I liked about the Google Pixel 4a

Design and overall size

The Google Pixel 4a is the perfect size if you like small phones. The 5.81-inch display might seem big on a spec sheet, but the small bezels and punch-hole camera help make this a truly one-handed phone. I never once wished I had a larger phone while scrolling through social media or watching YouTube videos.

We also really like plastic phones here at Android Authority. Switching back to plastic from a super-breakable glass phone gave me a sense of freedom I never had with the Pixel 4 XL or Galaxy S20 Plus. I didn’t need to use the Pixel 4a with a case. The phone isn’t nearly as slippery, and it’s likely more durable than a glass-covered phone if I were to drop it from my desk.

Don’t get me wrong. For as refreshing as the Pixel 4a is to use coming from a big, premium phone, I don’t like everything about its design. It’s fine on the front, but the back of the phone is quite boring. There aren’t any visual flairs, and it doesn’t help that the 4a is only offered in one color. Also, it’s quite light at just 143g. It felt like I was holding a toy the entire time I used the phone.

Display

Speaking of the display, it’s good. Google went with a 5.81-inch AMOLED panel that really didn’t make me miss the Quad HD resolution of other flagship phones. The Pixel 4a’s display gets dim enough for nighttime use, and it’s contrasty without appearing unnatural. I do wish it was able to get a little brighter, though.

There’s one omission that kept me from really liking the 4a’s display. More on that later.

Battery life

I’m by no means a power user, but I do a lot on my phone every day. I usually end the day with about four hours of screen-on time with a couple hours of streaming podcasts.

The Pixel 4a was able to handle my usage with ease. I’d typically wrap up my day (from around 6:30AM to 10PM) with about 20% left in the tank. Not the best you can get on a budget phone, but that’s more than acceptable for me.

Fingerprint sensor > face unlock

Everyone has their preference, but this is mine: I prefer fingerprint sensors to face unlock.

I like being able to swipe down the notification shade with a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor. I also like tapping on the sensor to get into my phone instead of swiping up on the lock screen.

Fingerprint sensors have also been around for longer, so third-party apps have had more time to integrate Google’s Pixel Imprint tech for biometric authentication. Many of my most-used apps are compatible with my phone’s fingerprint sensor, but not with the Pixel 4’s face unlock tech. It’s odd, being able to login to LastPass right away on my Pixel 4a, but being required to type out my password on my Pixel 4 XL.

Cameras