Which Google phone is right for you?

Take your pick from the following list to find the right Pixel phone for you:

• The Pixel 3 range
• The Pixel 4 range
• The Pixel 5

The Pixel 3 Range

The Pixel 3 and 3XL were announced in October 2018, but are no longer available to buy from the Google store. Instead, they have been superseded by the 2019 release of the Pixel 3a and 3a XL. Find out how they stack up below.

	Pixel 3a	Pixel 3a XL
Cost	From £329	From £399
Display	5.6 inches OLED display 2220 x 1080 resolution	6 inches OLED display 2160 x 1080 resolution
Size	H = 151.3mm W = 70.1mm	H = 160.1mm W = 76.1mm
Camera	Rear = 12.2MP dual-pixel Front = 8MP 4K video	Rear = 12.2MP dual-pixel Front = 8MP 4K video
Battery	3,000mAh	3,700mAh
Material	Polycarbonate	Polycarbonate
Colour	Clearly White, Purple-ish, Just Black	Clearly White, Purple-ish, Just Black
Water resistance	No IP rating	No IP rating
Storage	4GB RAM 64GB storage, plus unlimited photos and videos with Google Photos	4GB RAM 64GB storage, plus unlimited photos and videos with Google Photos
Features	4G Operating on Android 9.0 Pixel Imprint for unlocking phone 3.5mm audio jack Fast charging compatibility Bluetooth 5.0	4G Operating on Android 9.0 Pixel Imprint for unlocking phone 3.5mm audio jack  Fast charging compatibility  Bluetooth 5.0

Whilst not too different from one another, the Google Pixel 3a and 3a XL were designed to be budget flagships, so you can have the satisfaction of a high-end phone, and all its amazing features, but with a cheaper price tag. The only major difference between the two models here is the 3a XL is slightly larger with a longer battery life. 

✔Decent screen sizes for both optimal viewing and portability 

✔Relatively cheap 

✔Unlimited photo storage with Google Photos

✔Option for either wireless audio (Bluetooth) or plug-in (3.5mm jack)

✘Not compatible with 5G

✘Not water resistant 

The Pixel 4 Range

The Pixel 4 range has more to offer, with 4 models available to pick up from the Google store. The 4 and 4XL were released in October 2019, whilst the 4a and 4a with 5G were released recently in September 2020.

	Pixel 4	Pixel 4 XL	Pixel 4a	Pixel 4a with 5G
Cost	From £699	From £829	From £349	From £499
Display	5.7 inches OLED display	6.3 inches OLED display	5.8 inches OLED display	6.2 inches OLED display
Size	H = 147.1mm W = 68.8mm	H = 160.4mm W = 75.1mm	H = 144mm W = 69.4mm	H = 153.9mm W = 74mm
Camera	Rear = 16MP and 12.2MP dual-pixel Front = 8MP wide-angle 4K video	Rear = 16MP and 12.2MP dual-pixel Front = 8MP wide-angle 4K video	Rear = 12.2MP dual-pixel Front = 8MP	Rear = 12.2MP dual-pixel and 16MP ultrawide Front = 8MP 4K video
Battery	2,800mAh	3,700mAh	3,140mAh	3,885mAh
Material	Gorilla glass and aluminium	Gorilla glass and aluminium	Gorilla glass and polycarbonate	Gorilla glass and polycarbonate
Colour	Just Black and Clearly White	Just Black and Clearly White	Just Black	Just Black
Water resistance	IP68	IP68	No IP rating	IP68
Storage	6GB RAM 64GB or 128GB, plus unlimited storage with Google Photos	6GB RAM 64GB or 128GB, plus unlimited storage with Google Photos	6GB RAM 128GB, plus unlimited storage with Google Photos	6GB RAM 128GB, plus unlimited storage with Google Photos
Features	Qi-certified wireless charging Fast charging Dual stereo speakers Operating on Android 10 Compatible with hearing aids 4G	Qi-certified wireless charging Fast charging Dual stereo speakers Operating on Android 10 Compatible with hearing aids 4G	4G Fast charging Pixel Imprint  Compatible with hearing aids	5G Fast charging Pixel Imprint Compatible with hearing aids

Your choice from the Pixel 4 range will depend largely upon what you want from your phone. For a long-lasting phone with larger screen sizes, the 4 XL and 4a with 5G are your best choices. But for more high-quality cameras, wireless charging compatibility, and storage choices, the 4 and 4 XL are better suited. The 4a, however, is the good middleman between them. 

✔Large screens with high resolution 

✔Range of prices to suit budget

✔Unlimited photo storage with Google Photos

✔Compatible with wireless charging 

✔Fairly large battery lives 

✘Only one model is compatible with 5G

✘Not all are water resistant 

The Pixel 5

The newest Pixel Google phone was released in September 2020. The 5 is the most powerful of all the models so far and comes pre-built with 5G compatibility and the newest Android 11. Take a look at its specs below. 

	Pixel 5
Cost	From £599
Display	6 inch flexible OLED display 1080 x 2340 resolution
Size	H = 144.7mm W = 70.4mm
Camera	Rear = 12.2MP dual-pixel and 16MP ultrawide Front = 8MP 4K video
Battery	4,080mAh
Material	Recycled aluminium and Gorilla glass
Colour	Just Black and Sorta Sage
Water resistance	IP68
Storage	8GB RAM 128GB storage, plus unlimited storage with Google Photos
Features	Qi-compatible wireless charging Fast charging Reverse wireless charging Battery share Pixel Imprint Bluetooth 5.0 Compatible with hearing aids Launched on Android 11

With advanced battery features, including Battery Share and reverse wireless charging, the long-lasting Pixel 5 will carry you throughout the day. Looking at the full Pixel range, the 5, along with the 4a with 5G, has the fastest processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G, for quick and efficient use. 

✔Large and flexible screen for easier viewing 

✔Fair price for features 

✔Unlimited photo storage with Google Photos

✔Compatible with 5G and wireless charging 

✔Large battery life - can last all day with average use 

✘Cameras could be more powerful 

Other smartphone choices

Do you know what feature is most important to you, but don’t know which handset will perform best? Check out our other comparisons and phone lists:

• Best camera phones
• Best waterproof phones 
• Phones with the best battery life 
• Best phones for music
• Best phones for under £200 

You can also compare what other brands have to offer with their flagship smartphones:

• Which iPhone is right for you?
• Which Samsung smartphone is right for you?
• Which Huawei phone should I get?

Let us know your favourite on Twitter!