Over the last few years, it seems like there was a trend in the smartphone industry to offer flagship devices at a very high price tag. In 2020, it seems that companies like Google, Apple, and OnePlus have decided to apply their years of growth and experience to a brand new line of affordable smartphones.
Google, Apple, and OnePlus are now trying to capture the mid-range budget smartphone market. Apple announced their budget smartphone, the iPhone SE, which features outdated design/hardware but offers a more accessible and smooth iOS experience. Android has many more devices that are mid-range but none of them seem to match the offerings of iPhone SE. All of that changed when OnePlus decided to go back to its roots by offering the OnePlus Nord with high power and low price. Google with their Pixel 4a device is trying to do the same to compete directly with Apple and OnePlus.
There is a common theme with these affordable smartphones as they offer many key features and experiences of the flagship smartphones for at least half the price. However, there are many key differences between the Google Pixel 4a, iPhone SE, and OnePlus Nord. The first obvious difference between the iPhone and Android phones is the size. The iPhone SE is basically an iPhone 8 from 2017 with a 4.7-inch (diagonal) widescreen LCD. The Android phones on the other hand offer OLED screens that are almost 6 inches. The screen resolution of the Pixel 4a and Nord are also higher at 1080p compared to 750p resolution of the iPhone SE. In terms of the CPU performance, the iPhone SE has the latest A13 chipset and OnePlus Nord has Snapdragon 765G. The Google Pixel 4a has the lowest CPU performance with Snapdragon 730G processor. Looking at battery capacity, the OnePlus Nord has the highest 4115 mAh battery compared to the 3140 mAh battery on Pixel 4a and tiny 1821 mAh battery on iPhone SE. A higher capacity doesn’t always translate to a better performance as we have seen longer battery life with the iPhones and Pixel devices.
In terms of camera specs, OnePlus Nord once again has a quad camera setup on the rear compared to the single camera setup on Pixel 4a and iPhone SE. Once again, this doesn’t guarantee better photos as the Pixel 4a outperforms both the iPhone SE and Nord in the camera department. It is important to note that Pixel 4a can only shoot 4K videos at 30fps whereas iPhone SE and OnePlus Nord can shoot 4K at 60fps. All three devices feature physical fingerprint sensors and NFC chips. The iPhone SE is the only device that has wireless charging and IP67 water/dust resistance. On the other hand, the Pixel 4a is the only device to offer a 3.5mm headphone jack. Let’s check out a comparison of their detailed technical specification.
Google Pixel 4a vs OnePlus Nord vs Apple iPhone SE
| Features | Google Pixel 4a | iPhone SE | OnePlus Nord |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screen Size | 5.81" OLED | 4.7" LCD | 6.44" AMOLED |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 px (444 ppi) | 750 x 1334 px (326 ppi) | 1080 x 2400 px (408 ppi) - 90Hz |
| CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G | Apple A13 Bionic | Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G |
| GPU | Adreno 618 | Apple GPU | Adreno 620 |
| Memory | 128 GB, 6 GB RAM | 64/128/256GB, 3GB RAM | 64/128/256GB, 6/8/12GB RAM |
| Storage Option | No | No | No |
| Battery | Non-removable Li-Po 3140 mAh battery | Non-removable Li-Ion 1821 mAh battery | Non-removable Li-Po 4115 mAh battery |
| Rear Camera | 12.2 MP (Wide, PDAF, OIS) | 12 MP (f/1.8, wide, PDAF, OIS) | 48 MP (f/1.8, wide, PDAF, OIS) 8 MP (f/2.3, ultrawide) 5 MP (f/2.4, depth) 2 MP (f/2.4, macro) |
| Video Recording | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps | 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
| Front Camera | 8 MP (f/2.0) | 7 MP (f/2.2) | 32 MP (f/2.5, wide) 8 MP (f/2.5, ultrawide) |
| Dimentions | 144 x 69.4 x 8.2mm | 138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm | 158.3 x 73.3 x 8.2 mm |
| Weight | 143 g | 148 g | 184 g |
| Security | Fingerprint (rear) | Fingerprint (front) | Fingerprint (under display, optical) |
| Wireless Charging | No | Yes | No |
| Waterproof | No | IP67 | No |
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No | No |
| NFC | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| USB | Type-C 1.0 | 2.0 Lightening | Type-C 1.0 |
| Cost | $349 (USD) | $400 (USD) | $449 (USD) |
Final Verdict
Finally, when it comes to the price tag, Google Pixel 4a has an advantage as it is priced lower than both of the other devices. Google was very smart about pricing the Pixel 4a at $349 because the price plays a very important role for budget smartphone buyer. The OnePlus Nord does offer higher specs at $450 but it is possible that the user experience might be better on an Apple or Google device. If you are tied to the Apple ecosystem, then the iPhone SE is your only option. If you care more about the display performance, then the 90Hz display on OnePlus Nord will be the right choice. If you want a great camera performance and timely software updates then you have to go with Pixel 4a. All in all, if you are just looking for a smartphone that is good enough, any of these device will be just right for you.
I am officially a tech addict and enjoy providing my views on matters related to this industry. I am always interested in trying out new tech gadgets and I have owned multiple smartphones including the legendary HTC One, SGS2, Nexus 4, iPhone 4, 5S, 6S, XR, Note 9. You can ask me any tech related questions in the comment section or on twitter @hookedNav