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Our Opinion

The Google Pixel 4a is a significantly better phone than the Apple iPhone XR 64GB, and is also significantly better value for money. What should you buy? Go for the Google Pixel 4a!

Apple iPhone XR 64GB  Google Pixel 4a 
Apple iPhone XR Google Pixel 4a
Buy Now Buy Buy
Excellence Score
57.4
69.2
Value for Money Score
52.1
70.4
Price ₹ 40,999 onwards ₹ 29,999 onwards
Launch Date (India) Oct, 2018 Oct, 2020
Expected Launch Date N/A N/A
Smartphone OS Apple iOS 12, Upgradeable to 14Expected update to next Apple iOS version Android 10, Upgradeable to Android 11Expected update to next Android version
Touchscreen Yes (Capacitive) Yes (Capacitive)
Screen Size 6.1 inches 5.81 inches
Screen Resolution 828x1792 pixels (~ 324 pixels per inch) 1080x2340 pixels (~ 444 pixels per inch)
Tall Aspect Ratio / Minimal Bezels Yes Yes
Scratch Resistant Display Yes Yes, Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Display Type IPS LCD AMOLED
Screen Refresh Rate 60 HzStandard 60 HzStandard
Display Features LCD, Liquid Retina HD Display, True Tone Display, Wide Colour Display (P3), Fingerprint-resistant Oleophobic Coating, Support for Display of Multiple Languages and Characters Simultaneously, 120Hz touch-sensing OLED, Always-on display, HDR
Full Physical QWERTY Keypad
Processor 2.49 GHz 2.2 GHz
Processor Type Hexa Core Octa Core
Processor Name Apple A12 BionicRanked #5 in Mobile Processor Benchmarks Qualcomm Snapdragon 730GRanked #19 in Mobile Processor Benchmarks
GPU Apple GPU (4-core graphics) Adreno 618
RAM 3 GB 6 GB
3G Yes Yes
4G Yes Yes
5G
VoLTE Yes Yes
WiFi Yes Yes
VoWiFi/WiFi-Calling Yes Yes
GPS Yes Yes
Bluetooth Yes Yes
Connecting Port Lightning USB-C
Primary Camera 12.0MP 12.2MP
Camera Auto-Focus Yes Yes
Camera Flash Yes Yes
HD Video Recording Yes (4K) Yes (4K)
Other Camera Features F/1.8 Aperture, Digital Zoom up to 5x, Portrait mode with bokeh and Depth Control, Portrait Lighting, Optical Image Stabilisation, 6P lens, Quad-LED True Tone flash with Slow Sync, Panorama (up to 63MP), Sapphire Crystal lens cover, Backside illumination sensor, Hybrid IR filter, Autofocus with Focus Pixels, Tap to focus with Focus Pixels, HDR, Live Photos, Local tone mapping, Red-eye Correction, Exposure control, Auto Image Stabilisation, Burst mode, Timer mode, Geo-tagging, 4K video recording at 24 fps; 30 fps; or 60 fps, Full HD Video recording at 30 fps or 60 fps, HD Video recording at 30 fps, Slo-mo Video for 1080p at 120 fps or 240 fps, Time-lapse video, Continuous Autofocus video, Take 8MP still photos while recording 4K video, Playback zoom, Video geotagging, Stereo recording F/1.7 Aperture, 27mm Focal Length (Wide), 1/2.55" Sensor Size, 1.4um Pixel Size, OIS, Dual Pixel PDAF, Auto-HDR, Panorama
Secondary Camera 7.0MP 8MP
Secondary Camera Features F/2.2 Aperture, Portrait mode with bokeh and Depth Control, Portrait Lighting, Animoji and Memoji, Full HD video recording at 30 fps or 60 fps, HDR, Cinematic video stabilisation (1080p and 720p), Live Photos, Retina Flash, Backside illumination sensor, Auto image stabilisation, Burst mode, Exposure control, Timer mode F/2.0 Aperture, 24mm Focal Length (Wide), 1.12um Pixel Size, Auto-HDR
Internal Memory 64 GB 128 GB
Expandable Memory Slot
Contacts Storage Unlimited Unlimited
SMS Storage Unlimited Unlimited
Music Player Yes Yes
FM Radio
Dual SIM GSM+GSM GSM + GSM
Thickness 8.3 mmMedium 8.2 mmMedium
Weight 194 gmHeavy 143 gmLight
Width 75.7 mmOk for one-handed use 69.4 mmComfortable for one-handed use
Audio Output Lightning 3.5mm jack
Water Resistant Yes, IP67 Rated
Battery Capacity 2942 mAh 3140 mAh
Battery Standby N/A N/A
Battery Standby (3G) N/A N/A
Battery Talktime 25.00 hrs N/A
Battery Talktime (3G) N/A N/A
Fast Charging Support Yes, 15W Fast Charging (50% in 30 min) Yes, 18W Fast Charging
Included Fast Charger Yes, 18.0W Fast Charger
Other Battery Parameters Internet Usage Time: upto 15 hrs, Video Playback Time (wireless): upto 16 hrs, Audio Playback Time (wireless): upto 65 hrs N/A
Fingerprint sensor Yes
Other Features Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified); Wireless Charging (works with Qi chargers); Siri; Fast Battery Charging: Upto 50% Charge in 30 mins, IP67 Rated; NFC; TV Out; Lightning Connector; Stereo Speakers; Noise Filtration; Supports Dolby Vision and HDR10 Content; AirPlay Mirroring; Photos and Video out to Apple TV (2nd generation or later); Video Mirroring and Video Out Support; AirDrop; AirPlay; AirPrint; Control Centre; Handoff; HomeKit; iCloud; iCloud Keychain; Multitasking; Night Shift; Notification Centre; Siri; Spotlight Search; iMovie; Pages; Keynote; Numbers; iTunes U; GarageBand; Apple TV Remote; iTunes Remote; Music Memos, Siri Shortcuts, Measure UFS 2.1 Storage; DLNA; NFC; Google Cast; Stereo Speakers; Noise Filtration
2-minute Review [Positives]
  • Continues the gorgeous, premium design language of last year's iPhone X - the only change here from the XS models, is that the frame is 7000-series aluminium and not stainless steel - but the build quality is still absolutely top-notch
  • Ditching the home button and moving to a face-based login was a bold move from Apple last year - and its mostly ended up working (with just a bit of a learning curve for previous iPhone users), and thus allowed modern iPhones to go nearly all-screen - the new iPhones this year continue the trend
  • Comfortable body - the XR isn't iPhone XS size, or XS Max size - it's right in the middle, and that looks likes a sweet spot - it feels much more comfortable to hold than the wider XS Max, and easier to use with one hand
  • Water and dust resistance
  • The XR also comes in a wider array of fun color options - lighter blue, coral, red and bright yellow - all look cheerful and well done - and for many iPhones users, it might be a refreshing break from silver, black and gold, if they want something new (these colors options are not available on the iPhone XS/Max)
  • Face ID is now faster than before
  • The LCD display is fantastic - large, vibrant, and bright - arguably the best LCD display on any phone - though it's a (small) step behind the OLED one on the XS models in terms of contrast (it's also lower resolution on paper, but you are unlikely to notice that in regular use)
  • Uses a durable, scratch-resistant glass (as per Apple's claims, the front display glass is as strong as the XS, while the rear glass is "better than the iPhone X, " but not as strong as what the XS)
  • Larger screen than the iPhone XS
  • The new iOS 12 brings a number of new features like group notifications and most importantly makes deep performance improvements - Apple is known for regularly tuning its software to perform optimally with the hardware - overall, this as refined and polished a software experience on a smartphone as you can hope for
  • One of the best things about iPhones of course is that you are pretty much guaranteed updates for many years to come (even the best Android phones top out at about 3 years), so as long as you take care of your phone physically, the longevity factor here is really high!
  • The iPhone XR is a performance monster - there is no other way of putting it - it still blows the best Android phones away - and the new A12 Bionic processor sets a new standard for performance, and for chip design - with the same internals, you get the same top-end performance as the XS series
  • The most important gains from the crazy fast A12 Bionic are in AI, AR and graphics - AR apps for instance show better, smoother video and higher-resolution backgrounds (Apple says that's due to a greatly improved Neural Engine chip for machine learning and computer vision)
  • The rear and front cameras will blow you away, and are just a slight step behind the best camera smartphones - the iPhone XS/Max and the Pixel 3
  • The rear camera delivers great photos in both dark and high-contrast environments (Apple calls this "Smart HDR") thanks to a new sensor and the new image processor on the A12 Bionic chip - in practice, this means photos look better whether shot on a nighttime street, in a dark bar or in bright sunlight - focus is faster, too
  • There is also a new adjustable background depth feature in portrait mode, that allows you to tweak the bokeh level, giving you even more power over your photos
  • The iPhone XR' video recording quality might benefit even more from the phone's camera improvements than still photos - the added HDR (better auto contrast, as with the still photos) and extra stabilization will make even your more casual videos look more vibrant, even at 1080p and 30fps - and the microphones now record in stereo, too
  • As with the iPhone XS series, the iPhone XR pumps out some solid stereo sound in landscape mode - it sounds crisp and loud - movies and games sound great, almost like listening on an iPad Pro
  • Good battery life - in fact the best battery life of this year's iPhones - it will last you the full day even with heavy use
  • Better wireless charging than before - Apple says the phone's wireless charging coil has improved so there'll be fewer misses when you place it on a charge pad
  • Finally, the iPhones this year also add dual SIM support - this is done with a physical nano-SIM + eSIM combination (eSIMs are currently supported in India only on Airtel and Jio)
  • All said and done, the iPhone XR most of iPhone XS/Max features and advantages, and does it at a much lower price - it's in fact, arguably, the best iPhone value in years - for most people this is going to the iPhone to get this year
  • Cute, minimalist design - the matte textured polycarbonate back makes it feel much nicer and less slippery
  • One of the more compact Android smartphones - the result is a handset which is extremely easy to handle, and one-handed use is almost effortless
  • Extremely light-weight, tipping the scales at just 143g
  • The signature coloured lock button is still present and adds a little flair to the overall esthetics
  • The fingerprint sensor is placed at the back, and recognition is fast
  • The screen is a 5.81-inch, Full HD+ OLED panel, and it looks fantastic - the screen provides bright, clear and colourful visuals, watching the HDR content is a pleasing experience, with excellent detail and colour reproduction
  • The Google Pixel 4a also features an always-on display, which will permanently display some useful things like the time, date, battery level, weather and notifications
  • Of course, one of the key selling points of the Pixel series, is the clean, stock version of Android directly from Google, along with three years of promised updates (which are generally delivered almost as soon as they are launched)
  • Then there are some interesting Pixel-only features like the search giant's Recorder app, which can live-transcribe meetings and conversations, help you make notes and some other useful stuff
  • Good performance from the reliable Snapdragon 730G - it can handle any app or game that you run with ease - the heavy games like COD: Mobile also runs well with medium graphics
  • Excellent 12.2MP camera at the back - the camera shines in bright daylight photography: details are well resolved without oversharpening and there's barely any noise - images have great colour and dynamic range, and maintained more contrast than other devices currently on the market
  • Low-light photos are quite good, dynamic range and details are great - adding the Google's Night Sight to the mix and the photos are generally more exposed in the shadows and offer a white balance that's more true to life - it improves the detail and reduces the noise
  • The Pixel 4a supports Astrophotography - it is meant for capturing the starry night skies or moonlit landscapes, depending on the scene, the camera can take anywhere from 1 to more than 3 minutes to capture a shot
  • Portrait mode is impressive with good subject separation and natural background blur
  • The front-facing 8MP camera on the Google Pixel 4a is a solid snapper and produces selfies with good colour and detail
  • There's the obligatory selfie portrait mode, which can apply background blur for artsy self-portraits, and Night Sight is also available on the front camera - this worked well when you try to snap a selfie in lighting that is less than ideal
  • Overall, the images are nearly indistinguishable from the much pricier Pixel 4, that never launched in India - which makes the Pixel 4a arguably the best camera at this price
  • Decent battery life from the 3140 mAh battery - it can last a full day of regular use
  • Decent fast charging from the 18W fast charger in the box, it can fill the phone up in about 90 mins (though, at this price there are better fast charging options available from competition)
  • The Pixel 4a is a simple, no-nonsense phone, it isn't trying to do anything flashy, and if you’re tired of big, expensive phones and just want something compact that works, and works well, it is a good choice to consider
2-minute Review [Negatives]
  • No HDR support (which is there on the XS series) - which means very high-contrast videos won't look quite as good as on the XS - but this is of course nit picking - you will only really know the difference if you keep the phones side-by-side
  • No 3D touch support, that's present on the XS series - though if you are like most iPhone users, you are unlikely to miss this little-used feature
  • The only (small) difference from the iPhone XS/Max cameras is that there is no second tele-photo lens on the rear - which means no optical zoom shots, and slightly less amazing bokeh shots - also the bokeh shots only work on people - but not on pets, for instance
  • Headphone jack dongles are now no longer included in the retail package - which means you will have to rely on Apple's included lightning port earphones (or purchase wireless earphones)
  • No fast charger included in the retail box - Apple only includes a 5-watt basic Lightning iPhone charger in-box - a fast charger will need to be purchased separately
  • The materials used don't look or feel particularly premium
  • The performance isn't the best for the price - there are plenty of similarly priced handsets offering newer chipsets, more RAM, and a variety of storage options, like the OnePlus Nord
  • However, if you want more from your phone, there are better options available that offer better design, performance, battery and fast charging, like the OnePlus Nord
Expert Reviews
  1. For most people, this is the iPhone to consider this year as you're getting pretty much everything the more expensive phones offer at a much lower price
    gsmarena.com in-depth Read Review »
  2. Just too good to ignore
    phonearena.com in-depth Read Review »
  3. The best iPhone value in years
    cnet.com in-depth Read Review »
  4. It's a great iPhone, period, and, for that matter, it's the iPhone most people should buy
    engadget.com in-depth Read Review »
  5. XR could end up being more disruptive to competitions portfolios than any iPhone since the 6/6 Plus launch
    techcrunch.com in-depth Read Review »
  6. If one thing is clear about the iPhone XR, it’s that Apple is going to sell tons of these
    theverge.com in-depth Read Review »
  7. Finally, an iPhone with a decent battery
    techradar.com in-depth Read Review »
  8. The iPhone XR isn't exactly a bargain, but it's better value for money than the iPhone XS
    gadgets.ndtv.com in-depth Read Review »
  9. The iPhone XR sports Apple's fastest processor yet, and comes with a near-bezel-less design...however minor things like the lack of an HD display, no dual camera and a terribly limited portrait mode makes the smartphone feel like an unnecessarily overpric
    digit.in in-depth Read Review »
  10. The right iPhone for just about anyone who wants a new iPhone
    mashable.com in-depth Read Review »
  11. wired.com in-depth Read Review »
  12. forbes.com in-depth Read Review »
  13. theguardian.com in-depth Read Review »
  14. independent.co.uk in-depth Read Review »
  15. digitaltrends.com in-depth Read Review »
  16. alphr.com in-depth Read Review »
  17. ibtimes.co.in in-depth Read Review »
  18. news18.com in-depth Read Review »
  19. expertreviews.co.uk in-depth Read Review »
  20. tomsguide.com in-depth Read Review »
  21. slashgear.com in-depth Read Review »
  22. arstechnica.com in-depth Read Review »
  23. nytimes.com in-depth Read Review »
  24. cnbc.com in-depth Read Review »
  25. indiatoday.in in-depth Read Review »
  26. gizmodo.com in-depth Read Review »
  27. techadvisor.co.uk in-depth Read Review »
  1. The Google Pixel 4a offers a fully rounded Pixel experience in a compact size and at a budget-friendly price point
    gsmarena.com in-depth Read Review »
  2. Google's impressive single-camera smartphone photography arrives in an affordable, one-hand-friendly design
    techradar.com in-depth Read Review »
  3. A compact phone that's easy to use, a beautiful screen, and one of the best cameras in this price range, the Pixel 4a is hard to beat
    androidauthority.com in-depth Read Review »
  4. If you’ve always wanted the better camera system but prefer a smaller and compact sized Android smartphone, the Pixel 4a is your best option
    indianexpress.com in-depth Read Review »
  5. Equal Parts Impressive & Discouraging, Depending On What You Need From It
    news18.com in-depth Read Review »
  6. The perfect phone for 2020
    androidcentral.com in-depth Read Review »
  7. Pixel 4a is the photography relief the budget segment needed
    stuff.tv in-depth Read Review »
  8. phonearena.com in-depth Read Review »
  9. cnet.com in-depth Read Review »
  10. engadget.com in-depth Read Review »
  11. wired.com in-depth Read Review »
  12. theverge.com in-depth Read Review »
  13. theguardian.com in-depth Read Review »
  14. digit.in in-depth Read Review »
  15. mashable.com in-depth Read Review »
  16. digitaltrends.com in-depth Read Review »
  17. trustedreviews.com in-depth Read Review »
  18. expertreviews.co.uk in-depth Read Review »
  19. tomsguide.com in-depth Read Review »
  20. zdnet.com in-depth Read Review »
  21. in.pcmag.com in-depth Read Review »
  22. firstpost.com in-depth Read Review »
  23. zeebiz.com in-depth Read Review »
  24. techpp.com in-depth Read Review »
  25. in.mashable.com in-depth Read Review »
  26. indiatoday.in in-depth Read Review »
  27. neowin.net in-depth Read Review »
  28. pcmag.com in-depth Read Review »
  29. techadvisor.co.uk in-depth Read Review »
  30. pocket-lint.com in-depth Read Review »
  31. t3.com in-depth Read Review »
  32. 9to5google.com in-depth Read Review »
  33. androidpolice.com in-depth Read Review »
  34. arstechnica.com in-depth Read Review »
  35. fonearena.com hands-on Read Review »
User Reviews
  1. Flipkart4.6 2,772+ reviews »
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Official Website Official Website » Official Website »
Unofficial specs? N/A N/A
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