Comparison: 2020 iPhone SE vs Pixel 4a

Earlier today, Google took the wraps off its newest Pixel smartphone, the entry-level Pixel 4a. It’s designed to be a less expensive option for folks who want a great camera and built-in Google Assistant, but how does it compare to Apples’ entry-level handset?

We decided to put together a quick comparison of the iPhone SE (2020) and the new Pixel 4a. In a battle of the entry-level smartphones, how do the two newest options stack up against one another? Let’s just get get right into it, shall we?

Compared: 2020 iPhone SE and the Google Pixel 4a

Colors

iPhone SE

  • Black
  • White
  • Product (RED)

Pixel 4a

  • Just Black

Pricing

iPhone SE

  • $399 or $16.62 per month
  • $449 or $18.70 per month
  • $549 or $22.87 per month

Pixel 4a

  • $349 or $14.54 per month

Capacity

iPhone SE

  • 64GB
  • 128GB
  • 256GB

Pixel 4a

  • 128GB

Size and weight

iPhone SE

  • Height: 5.45 inches (138.4mm)
  • Width: 2.65 inches (67.3mm)
  • Depth: 0.29 inches (7.3mm)
  • Weight: 5.22 ounces (148 grams)

Pixel 4a

  • Height: 5.7 inches
  • Width: 2.7 inches
  • Depth: 0.3 inches
  • Weight: 143 grams

Display

iPhone SE

  • 4.7-inch Retina HD display; 1334×750 resolution

Pixel 4a

  • 5.81-inch OLED FHD+ display; 1080×2340 resolution

Chip

iPhone SE

  • A13 Bionic processor
  • Third-generation neural engine

Pixel 4a

  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 730
  • Titan M Security module
  • Adreno 618

Camera (rear)

iPhone SE

  • 12-megapixel Wide camera
  • f/1.8 aperture
  • 5X digital zoom
  • Portrait mode
  • Portrait Lighting (Natural, Studio, Contour, Stage, Stage Mono, High-Key Mono)
  • OIS
  • Six-element lens
  • LED True Tone flash
  • Panorama
  • Sapphire crystal lens
  • Autofocus with Focus Pixels
  • Wide color capture
  • Next-generation Smart HDR
  • Advanced red-eye correction
  • Auto image stabilization
  • Burst mode
  • HEIF and JPEG image formats

Pixel 4a

  • 12.2 MP dual-pixel
  • 1.4 μm pixel width
  • Autofocus with dual pixel phase detection
  • Optical + electronic image stabilization
  • Æ’/1.7 aperture
  • 77° field of view

Camera (front)

iPhone SE

  • 7MP camera
  • f/2.2 aperture
  • Portrait mode
  • Portrait Lighting (Natural, Studio, Contour, Stage, Stage Mono, High-Key Mono)
  • 1080p HD video recording at 30 fps
  • Retina flash
  • QuickTake video
  • Wide color capture
  • Auto HDR
  • Auto image stabilization
  • Burst mode
  • Cinematic videos stabilization (1080p and 720p)

Pixel 4a

  • 8 MP
  • 1.12 μm pixel size
  • Æ’/2.0 aperture
  • Fixed focus
  • 84° field of view

Biometrics

iPhone SE

  • Touch ID

Pixel 4a

  • Pixel Imprint

Mobile payments

iPhone SE

  • Apple Pay

Pixel 4a

  • Google Pay

Networking

iPhone SE

Model A2275:

  • FDD‑LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 29, 30, 66, 71)
  • TD‑LTE (Bands 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48)
  • CDMA EV‑DO Rev. A (800, 1900 MHz)
  • UMTS/HSPA+/DC‑HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz)
  • GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)

All models:

  • Gigabit-class LTE with 2×2 MIMO and LAA
  • 802.11ax Wi‑Fi 6 with 2×2 MIMO
  • Bluetooth 5.0 wireless technology
  • NFC with reader mode
  • Express Cards with power reserve

Pixel 4a

  • Up to 3xCA DL, 2×2 MIMO
  • CAT 12 capable of 600 Mbps download, CAT 5 capable of 75 Mbps upload
  • Model G025J
  • GSM/EDGE: Quad-band (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
  • UMTS/HSPA+/HSDPA: Bands 1/2/4/5/8
  • CDMA EVDO Rev A: BC0/BC1/BC10
  • LTE: Bands B1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/14/17/18/20/25/26/28/29/30/38/39/40/41/66/71
  • eSIM

Battery

iPhone SE

Lasts about the same as iPhone 8

Video playback:

  • Up to 13 hours

Video playback (streamed):

  • Up to 8 hours

Audio playback:

  • Up to 40 hours

Fast‑charge capable:

  • Up to 50% charge in 30 minutes with 18W adapter or higher (sold separately)
  • Built-in rechargeable lithium‑ion battery
  • Wireless charging (works with Qi chargers)
  • Charging via USB to computer system or power adapter

Pixel 4a

  • 3140mAh
  • USB-C 18W adapter with USB-PD 2.0
  • 18W fast charging

Sensors

iPhone SE

  • Touch ID fingerprint sensor
  • Barometer
  • Three‑axis gyro
  • Accelerometer
  • Proximity sensor
  • Ambient light sensor

Pixel 4a

  • Proximity / Ambient light sensor
  • Accelerometer / Gyrometer
  • Magnetometer
  • Pixel Imprintâ„¢ – back-mounted fingerprint sensor for fast unlocking
  • Barometer
  • Android Sensor Hub

OS

iPhone SE

  • iOS 13 (upgradeable to iOS 14)

Pixel 4a

  • Android 10 (upgradeable to Android 11)

The end

Unsurprisingly, a lot of this is going to come down to personal appeal. If you simply don’t like Android, well, it doesn’t matter what the Pixel 4a offers for its lower price tag. And the same can be said for iOS. Or, maybe you want to spend a bit more to get more features, and that’s the case for either handset.

But, what do you think of the Pixel 4a? Think it’s a nice competitor to the iPhone SE? Let us know in the comments.