Life Hacker [Japanese version] Reprinted from the article published on September 5, 2021
"Google Pixel 5a (5g)" is the latest "low -cost version" smartphone of Google (this is an official name, but it is called "5A" in this article).
The price from 51,700 yen is not "cheap", but it is much more affordable compared to other flagship models.
As you know, Apple also has a low -cost model called "iPhone SE" (the Apple Store direct sales price from Japan from 49,280 yen).
However, if you are looking for a 50,000 yen smartphone, there are at least nine reasons why you should choose Google rather than Apple.Let's explain below.
"Pixel 5a" supports 5G
If the communication speed is important, the iPhone SE will not compete with 5A.While 5A is 5G compatible, SE can connect to 4G LTE.
How much performance of 5G actually depends on the area you use, but if the radio wave condition is stable, the 5G connection should exceed 4G LTE.
If your 5G service is not yet so popular in your living area, this may not be a function you can't afford.
However, in the future, 5G services will be improved, and areas that can be used will expand more and more.
If you get a smartphone that can support 5G now, just for functions that cannot be added later, it will be very effective as a guarantee for the future.
Google wins in the beauty of the display
This is also a field that does not compete.The 5A display is overwhelming SE.
5A adopts a 2400 x 1080 pixel organic LED panel.This is equivalent to 413ppi (number of pixels per inch).
On the other hand, the SE display uses 1334 x 750 pixels and 326 ppi LCD panels.
SE's display is not bad, but 5A is sharper.In addition, the 5A organic LED panel has a technical advantage that it can express deeper black compared to the SE liquid crystal panel.
In addition, Pixel 5a has a display without bezel, and the screen size is 6..I am proud of 34 inches.For fairness, some people prefer a smaller screen, in that case 4.SE with a 7 -inch display will be higher.
However, SE has not changed since 2014, and there is a fairly wide bezel on the top and bottom of the screen.There is no doubt that 5A looks more like a modern smartphone.
The camera performance is much better at 5A
The iPhone SE camera can be evaluated considerably, especially as a smartphone in the 40,000 yen range.Nevertheless, Google was 5A, and has adopted a very good camera system, the same as the flagship model "Pixel 5".
If it is metaphor, Apple is like a SE with a "iPhone 12" camera.If you ask so, you can see that this is a big deal.
In addition, 5A has two types of back cameras.One is 12.2 Mega pixels (dual pixels) cameras, this is the main.
The other is a 16 -megapixel ultra wide camera.SE has one 12 -megapixel camera and has no ultra -wide camera.
Equipped with night view mode not found in the low -priced model of Apple
After comparing the performance of the camera, let's verify the night view mode.5A has night view mode, but not in SE.
In fact, this is quite disappointing.
As SE has the same "A13" chip as the "iPhone 11" series, there should be as much performance that can be equipped with some night view mode.
Unfortunately, the photos taken at the night at SE are not of the photos taken at 5A.
Approximately 2 of SE.5 times the battery capacity
Pixel 5a is equipped with a 4680mAh capacity battery.The battery capacity of the iPhone SE is only 1821 mAh.
In other words, the battery capacity of 5A is SE 2..It is more than 5 times.Of course, the number of capacity is not all, but one of the biggest dissatisfaction points related to SE is that there is no battery.
Given this, it can be said that 5A with a large capacity battery exceeds SE in this field.
What a head hong jack
For those who love wired headphones, I am glad that Pixel 5a 3.It has a 5mm headphone jack.
This is a very rare product in 2021.In fact, Pixel 5, a Google flagship model, does not have a headphone jack.
In recent years, headphone jacks have tended to be a function for low -priced models, but the reason is not clear.
However, users who want to connect a wired headphone directly with a smartphone have a difficult choice to choose a more "luxury" model or a model with an inexpensive headphone jack.
In fact, the first iPhone SE released in 2016 is the last model equipped with headphone jack on Apple's smartphone.
In the second -generation model announced in 2020, the headphone jack has been abolished.
All smartphones currently manufactured by Apple, including this model, have no headphone jack.
Since the USB-C port is used, it is much easier to find a charger.
5A adopts USB-C as a port for charging and data transfer, like many other smartphones.
This means that it can be charged using the same cable as a notebook PC with a USB-C port or "Nintendo Switch" and "iPad".
In contrast, the iPhone SE is using the Lightning port, an Apple's unique charging plug.There is no problem if you have a lot of Apple products at hand, but in that case, there is no such thing as preparing only Lightning.
For example, my favorite "MacBook Air" and "iMac" use USB-C.
Therefore, you must prepare Lightning and USB-C conversion cables to charge your iPhone.If the iPhone adopted the USB-C port, the same cable should be shared as all other USB-C compatible products at hand.
5A comes with a power adapter
Speaking of charging, 5A comes with a power adapter (a square accessory connected to the outlet).
It is a powered adapter that seems to be a matter of course, but the situation has recently changed.You may not believe it, but the device of the iPhone SE and Apple's "iPhone 12" series does not have an adapter.
More interestingly, Google seems to be a plan that does not include power adapters in the next flagship model, Pixel 6.If you choose 5A, know that the included power adapter is no longer an endangered species.
SE is not cheap when compared with the same storage capacity
5A has a 128GB built -in storage as standard.This is a pretty advantageous point if you intend to save a lot of photos, videos, apps, and games on this device.
The iPhone SE costs $ 50 in the cheapest model (in Japan, 51,700 yen for 5A and 49,280 yen for SE).
This may be a big factor in judging the purchase.
However, the built -in storage that can be bought at this price is 64GB, just half of 5A.In order to increase the storage to 128GB, it is necessary to pay more than $ 50, and then the price is exactly the same as 5A (128GB SE is 54,780 yen).
On the other hand, if it is SE, it is possible to increase the storage to 256GB.This is something that can not be done with 5A, and if a large -capacity built -in storage is needed, this is also an option to consider.
However, in that case, the price will be $ 100 and $ 549 (66,880 yen in Japan).
Some people say that 5A doesn't fit
Some people say that no matter how many Google's latest models, Pixel 5a, exceed the iPhone SE, it will not be a decisive factor.
First, many people are attracted to software and their own functions and buy iPhone.For those who need to use iOS, it is impossible to choose 5A instead of SE.
And again, there is a size problem.
SE 4.There is certainly a thick bezel on the top and bottom of the 7 -inch screen, but in the overall size, there is no doubt that SE is smaller than 5A.If you are looking for a small low -cost smartphone, SE will be perfect.
No matter which model you choose, it's a pleasure to see that attractive models are appearing one after another in the low -cost smartphone.I hope that this trend will continue and continue to discuss which low -cost smartphone is the best buy.
Source: Google, The Verge
Translate: Mutsu Hase (Galileo)
