Google Pixel phones have never been top of the heap when it came to specs. What you got instead was the Pixel Experience, the very best in Android. The Pixel 3a itself was a great phone but still have average specs — hence its mid-range pricing. This year Google are bumping some of the specs of their mid-range phone.
XDA Developers have seen bootloader information of the Pixel 4a which indicates that the storage int he Pixel 4a will be UFS 2.1 storage. Not the usual UFS 3.0 or 3.1 that you see in premium smartphones but still it is definitely an upgrade over the eMMC in last year’s Pixel 3a.
Using certain information from the bootloader screen XDA were able to determine that the storage chip in the Pixel 4a is the 64GB UFS 2.1 H9HQ53AECMMDAR-KEM from SK Hynix. Cross referencing this with the SKHYNIX webpage gives the information that it supports LPDDR4X RAM, and up to 6GB at a speed of 4266Mbps.
Theoretically the read/write speeds of the memory should be faster than the eMMC in last year’s model. Google did a great job of optimising the eMMC memory in last year’s model so we expect the to do much of the same with this year’s UFS2.1 model. While the UFS2.1 chip supports 64GB of memory that does not mean that there is not a higher specced version running the 128GB version of the UFS2.1 chipset (see screenshot above). With pricing beginning the same as last year it would not surprise us if there was a 128GB model.
The rumoured specs of the Pixel 4a, which is still likely two months from launch, are an improvement on last year as you can see below:
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 730
- RAM: 6GB
- Internal storage: 64GB UFS 2.1
- Display: Single hole-punch 5.81-inch display, 2,340 x 1,080 resolution, 443 dpi, 60Hz refresh rate
- Rear camera : 12 MP sensor + LED flash + 4K video recording
- Front camera: 8 MP with video stabilisation
- Connectivity: 4G, Dual SIM, WiFi 5, Bluetooth
- Ports: USB Type-C, 3.5mm headphone jack
- Rear fingerprint sensor
- Battery : 3,080 mAh
You can bet there will be a lot more leaks in the lead up to its expected release in mid-May and we look forward to sharing them with you, although it is unclear just what is left to reveal. What do you still want to find out before setting your heart and mind on Google’s next value-added handset?
Fast charging?
Some water resistance rating would be nice.
Having had waterproof phones since my Z1 compact for me it’s hardly a deal breaker and not something I’d expect in a mid range device. Having decent UFS storage is a bigger deal for me.