The newly announced Google Pixel 5a with 5G looks to be both an upgrade from the Pixel 4a 5G and a more affordable alternative to the Pixel 5 or the upcoming Pixel 6. The Pixel 5a’s $449 price tag puts it at $50 less than the Pixel 4a 5G ($499), and about $250 less than the Pixel 5 ($699). Don’t let the nearly identical looks fool you though; the Pixel 5a 5G is a marked improvement over the Pixel 4a 5G, while not quite matching up to the Pixel 5. Both models offer 5G, but the Pixel 5a 5G also has a larger screen (6.3-inches vs. 6.2), noise suppression features, and a larger 4680 mAh battery. According to the Pixel 5a 5G product page, the battery offers up to a two-day mix of talk, text, data, and standby use before needing to charge. The Pixel 5a 5G is much closer (in terms of hardware) to the Pixel 5. One big difference that the Pixel 5a 5G doesn’t have as much RAM as the Pixel 5 (6GB vs. the Pixel 5’s 8GB). The Pixel 5a 5G also doesn’t include features like fast wireless charging or battery share. The Pixel 5a with 5G is only available for preorder in the US and Japan for the moment, via the Google Store for both countries, as well as through SoftBank for Japan. If you’re ordering through the Google Store, trading in your old phone or signing up for a protection plan could affect that $449 price tag.
