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Episode summary
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\nPricing
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\nA radical $349 base price with no other models even available
\nA phone you might remember also was this price… the Nexus 5… let\u2019s get back on that topic later
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\nThis is allegedly the new budget tier, but I agree, it does seem to be less than ideal – this is the higher end of budget
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\nI think the Moto G line is still budget tier and there are $200 Moto Gs out there, but there are so models and trade offs between models that it\u2019s increasingly difficult to keep track
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\nDisplay
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\nSize
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\nBeyond its numerical size… wow it\u2019s tiny
\nThe iPhone 7 (which is SE2 size) is likely the most comparable
\nSpecial features
\nA notable aspect is the lack of a notch or anything weirdness
\nIt has a simple hole punch front-facing camera
\nIt still has the usual ambient display which is a killer feature
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\nPhysicals
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\nLook and feel, build quality
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\nFootprint
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\nIt\u2019s incredibly thin and tiny
\nIt\u2019s even more compact than the 3a
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\nIn comparison, the 3a looks ancient, for how much bulkier (brow and chin) it looks and feels
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\niphone 7: 138.3 x 67.1 x 7.1 mm (5.44 x 2.64 x 0.28 in)
\npixel 4a: 144 x 69.4 x 8.2 mm (5.67 x 2.73 x 0.32 in)
\nPixel 3: 145.6 mm x 68.2 mm x 7.9 mm (5.73 in x 2.69 in x 0.31 in)
\nnote 20 ultra: 164.8 x 77.2 x 8.1 mm (6.49 x 3.04 x 0.32 in)
\nThe iPhone is thinner, less wide and shorter, but the iPhone has a brow and chin that looks ancient compared to the the full-screen of the 4a
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\nWeight
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\nSince it\u2019s so small, it\u2019s weight is minimal (144g)
\niPhone 7: 138g
\nPixel 3: 148g
\nNote 20 Ultra: 208g
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\nBattery
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\nTBD
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\nCharging
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\nType-C
\nNothing special in this category
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\nPorts
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\nI had to reach over and pick it up to recall if it did have a headphone jack — it does — and I even said while writing this \u201coh wow, it does\u201d
\nIsn\u2019t it amusing that the $349-phone has the thing that allegedly the courageous couldn\u2019t include and the $999-aires mock?
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\nSpeakers
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\nIt might be a feature of stock android, but in my experience, unusually, the 4a offers many more volume ticks than other phones I have tried in the past
\nIt sounds fine, it might be a bit tin-y
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\nButtons
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\nMy usual button setup has been power-button in the mid-body and volume rockers on the opposing side or directly above the power-button
\nThe power button on the 4a is a nice turquoise blue… for some reason?
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\nImagine a Moto maker-esque feature where you can pick your button color
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\nSensors
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\nFingerprint
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\nIt\u2019s easy to forget how usable a good back-mounted fingerprint sensor is, it\u2019s just so accurate and response all the time
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\nCamera
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\nHow is it
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\nIt\u2019s fine!
\nIt takes reliable shots in bright and dark conditions
\nIt does do quite a bit of \u201cHDR+\u201d processing after each photo is taken, not sure if all Pixels do this or if it\u2019s an internal setting for this specific chip
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\nSpecial modes
\nNotable features
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\nSpecs
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\nCPU
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\nSnapdragon 730G
\nOk, it\u2019s not a powerhouse and you can tell
\nIt\u2019s not getting smooth 120hz screen refresh either…
\nReally, to be honest, I had such high hopes for the quality of the 700 series but after using this for two weeks, it\u2019s laggy enough for me to notice and that\u2019s disappointing – maybe the 765 is better?
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\nRAM
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\n6GB – can you believe this?
\nThe Nexus 5,