We face-off two of the latest smartphones and see which one will emerge victorious. Here is our Google Pixel 4a 5G vs iPhone 12 Mini.
The Google Pixel 4a 5G – A Fantastic Deal
The Google Pixel 4a 5G is a unit somewhere between the Pixel 4a and the Pixel 5. The chipset, Snapdragon 765G is definitely capable, it has great battery longevity and as you would expect, the camera delivers brilliant results. At the low price of $499, there’s no denying you are getting great value for your money.
Pros:
- The Snapdragon 765G chipset provides excellent performance for your money
- The camera is fantastic, as seen in the Pixel 4a and the Pixel 5
- Good battery life
- 3.5mm headphone jack
- Affordable price
Cons:
- No wireless charging
- Not water resistant
The iPhone 12 Mini – A Veritable Powerhouse
The iPhone 12 Mini is the more affordable smaller brother of the new iPhone 12. Although it is a fair bit pricier than the Google Pixel 4a 5G, it is not without good reason. The new iPhone 12 Mini is small, sleek, and incredibly powerful.
Pros:
- The size (very small!)
- Uses an A14 bionic chip, immense power in such a small device
- The camera delivers fantastic results
- Resistant to both dust and water (IP68)
- MagSafe and Qi charging
Cons:
- Proprietary Lightning charging
- More expensive
Both the Google Pixel 4a 5G and the iPhone 12 Mini offer incredible value for money in their respective classes. If you’re already an Android fan, then the new Google Pixel 4a 5G is a bargain. On the other hand, the iPhone 12 is the more affordable of the latest range of iPhones but still manages to retain many of the features that make the iPhone 12 so great. The most impressive of these features is of course the A14 bionic chip.
Google Pixel 4a 5G vs. iPhone 12 Mini Price
At the time of writing, both the 4a 5G or the iPhone 12 Mini are fresh out of the factory and available for purchase. The main difference between the two smartphones in the price category is that the Google Pixel 4a 5G is only available in one model, for the price of $499. This will net you 128GB storage and will come in just black.
The iPhone 12 Mini, on the other hand, has several available models, which are available in white, black, green, red, and blue. As mentioned previously, the base model, which comes with 64GB storage, will set you back $699. There is also a 128GB variant, which costs $749, and a 256GB variant, which costs $849.
Google Pixel 4a 5G vs. iPhone 12 Mini Overall Value
Although the iPhone 12 Mini is the cheapest new iPhone on the market, when it is put up against the Google Pixel 4a 5G, there is a clear winner in the terms of value for money. There is a difference of $200 between the two smartphones (which increases to $250 if you compare it like-for-like to the 128GB variant of the iPhone 12 Mini).
To make it easy to see the differences between what you are getting from each of the smartphones, here is a breakdown of their specs.
Google Pixel 4a 5G
Operating System: Android 11
Display: 6.2” OLED 2340x 1080
Processor: Snapdragon 765G
RAM: 6GB
Storage: 128GB
Rear cameras: 12.2MP/16MP
Front camera: 8MP
Battery: 3885 mAh
Security: Rear fingerprint sensor
Dimensions: 74 x 153.9 x 8.2mm
Weight: 168g
iPhone 12 Mini
Operating System: iOS 14
Display: 5.4 OLED 2340 x 1080
Processor: Apple A14 Bionic
RAM: 4GB
Storage: 64GB/128GB/256GB
Rear Cameras: 12MP/12MP
Front Camera: 12MP
Battery: 15 hrs video playback
Security: Face ID
Dimensions: 64.2 x 131.5 x 7.4mm
Weight: 135g
One of the things that put the Google Pixel 4a 5G in front is perhaps the camera, which offers the same 12.2MP primary sensor as the version we saw released back in 2019. The cameras on the Google Pixel range have always been one of the clearest and consistent on the market, so if photography is your thing, it may well be worth looking into. It also comes with Android 11 and will be first in line for any future updates that may arise (including monthly security patches).
Hopefully, by laying it all out in this manner, you will be able to see why the Google Pixel 4a 5G is such incredible value for money. That’s not to say that the iPhone 12 Mini is not, though. Far from it, in fact.
The iPhone 12 Mini – A Fantastic Piece Of Technology
It may seem as if we have already seen who the clear victor is when these two behemoths are put head-to-head. But before you make up your mind, consider this: The Apple A14 Bionic chipset obliterates the Android’s Snapdragon 765G in terms of both performance and battery usage. If what you’re looking for is the most advanced smartphone possible, then look no further than the iPhone 12 Mini (or its bigger brother).
As far as the camera goes, it is actually able to stand up to the impressive offering of the Pixel 4a 5G. It offers both 12MP primary, and 12MP ultra-wide sensors. This means you are getting 27 percent better light sensitivity than the iPhone 11. Another huge factor (if you’re into video) is that the iPhone 12 Mini supports Dolby Vision recording. This is the first smartphone to be able to boast that.
Google Pixel 4a 5G vs iPhone 12 Mini – Overview
Also read: Google Pixel 5 vs iPhone 12 Mini
When all is said and done, both the Google Pixel 4a 5G and the iPhone 12 Mini are fantastic devices that can confidently claim to be the best in their class. You will likely already have a preference for the operating system of your smartphone, so will likely pick that one. Either way, you will not be disappointed. If you have the budget for the iPhone 12 Mini, then we’d suggest going for it, as it truly is one of the most powerful smartphones to date. If not, you can rest easy in knowing that the Google Pixel 4a 5G will be giving you more than your value for money.
