Tired of waiting for the Pixel 6? Google’s Pixel 3, 4, 5 or 5A might be a good choice for you

Recently I was faced with a dilemma: my Google Pixel 3 XL was out of breath. Her drums were no more than a pale shadow of themselves. Its USB-C port failed to carry a charge half the time. Both sides of the phone, the screen and the glass back, were a spider web mess of cracks and chips. And according to Google, the phone no longer guaranteed Android updates after this month of October. I needed a new phone, pronto.

i know the new one Pixel 6 should arrive this fall (here is all the rumors we’ve heard about Google’s next Pixel). However, it would be way too long for me to wait. At first glance, my options seemed straightforward. Long ago, I had cast my spell with Google’s pure Android platform back in the days of the Nexus 5. I have since switched to the original Pixel XL and the Pixel 3XL. So the thought of switch to an iPhone or while waiting for next iPhone 13 was ridiculous. And the idea of ​​using a Samsung Galaxy Phone was just as foreign.

Read more: 6 tempting reasons to buy a Google Pixel now

My plan was to go with a new Pixel – the problem was choosing which one. Mark a refurbish the Pixel 3 XL is a way forward. But there is also the Pixel 4A and Pixel 5. The Pixel 4A and Pixel 5A with 5G are also interesting options. Are you still confused? I don’t blame you. In the end, I picked the right Pixel for me. If you’re like me and need a Google phone right now, read on. The phone I chose and (and why I chose it) will probably make sense to you, too.

Android straight, no hunter

After switching to pure Android, as Google intended, I could never go back. Duplicate apps and tons of non-removable bloatware are only a distant memory. Pixel phones are also the first to benefit from the Android operating system and security updates. This is generally not the case with Samsung or OnePlus devices. And my Google Fi cellular subscription often reduces my phone replacement options. All of this makes getting a Pixel, any Pixel, my chosen path.

Choice 1: Pixel 3, 3 XL

Google no longer officially sells the Pixel 3 or Pixel 3 XL. That said, you can find both models on Amazon. To replace my current Pixel 3 XL (128GB), I would have to shell out $ 470. It’s too expensive to pay for an older processor (Snapdragon 845) and a meager 4GB of RAM. More importantly, Google will end guaranteed software updates in just a few months. This is why this phone is not worth it no matter how much the price may drop.

Choice 2: Pixel 4A

The Pixel 4A comes with the Snapdragon 730G, a better processor than the 3 XL. You also get 6GB of RAM, 128GB of internal memory, and software updates Google promised through August 2023. It’s not a bad deal for $ 349 – it’s a compelling option. Still, I could do better.

Choice 3: Pixel 5

The Pixel 5 represents the ultimate Google-branded Android phone (at least for now). It’s powered by a respectable Snapdragon 765G processor, along with 8GB of rugged RAM and 128GB of internal storage. Google will also keep the device’s software up to date until October 2023. Other welcome features include wireless and reverse wireless charging, as well as IP68 water and dust protection. The Pixel 5 also connects to 5G cellular networks.

But even at $ 699 ($ ​​100 off its original price), this phone is pricey. The The Pixel 6 will be here soon Also: Paying top dollar now for last year’s model isn’t a smart move. But I think it’s better to be frugal and maybe splurge once Google releases all the details of the Pixel 6. Depending on how much it costs and what it can do, you may decide to either pass it on or buy one.

Choice 4: Pixel 4A 5G

This is the phone I finally chose because it is a perfect compromise between price, performance and potential. At least that’s what I thought when I ordered my Pixel 4A 5G in June. With the recent launch of $ 549 Pixel 5A, all bets are raised. My advice now is to get this handset instead (more details below).

Still, at the time, I was able to snatch one for $ 500 through Google Fi. At present, Amazon has it in white for $ 499. It’s out of stock at the moment but could come back soon.

With the same Snapdragon 765G processor as the Pixel 5, 128GB of storage and 6GB of RAM, the Pixel 4A 5G also packs a punch. It supports 5G wireless and also has a bigger battery than the regular Pixel 4A.

Google plans to deliver software updates for the Pixel 4A 5G until November 2023 (strangely, a month longer than the Pixel 5). All of this made this phone an obvious choice for me – until the start of this week. If I had to choose today, I would have the Pixel 5A 5G without hesitation. Of course, I’ll probably experience sour grapes once the Pixel 6 launches.

Choice 5: Pixel 5A

What a difference a few months make. Now that Google has unveiled the Pixel 5A, my calculation has changed, high time. Priced at $ 449, this new phone is essentially $ 50 less than the Pixel 4A 5G. Even so, like the Pixel 5 and Pixel 4A 5G, the 5A comes with a powerful Snapdragon 765G processor. Likewise, it comes with 128 GB of storage and 6 GB of RAM. You also get 5G cellular comparability with the Pixel 5A.

What really sets the Pixel 5A apart, at least for now, is its 4,680mAh battery and 6.34-inch display (2,400 x 1,080-pixel resolution). Both are bigger than what the Pixel 5 and Pixel 4A 5G offer. Better yet, Google plans to provide the phone with software updates until August 2024. All of this currently makes the Pixel 5A the best Pixel offering.