Budget Pixel packs a punch

Users will be snap happy with the camera on new Google Android phone

IF YOU’RE after a budget smartphone, you won’t find much better than the new Pixel 4a.

This latest Android handset from the team at Google comes packed with star qualities, including being able to shoot images of the night sky via its incredible camera.

At just £349, it’s also half the price of a Galaxy S20 or iPhone 11 but you still get a 5.8in OLED display, fast fingerprint scanner and powerful Qualcomm processor.

There’s also that superb single-lens camera, which is the same rear snapper as featured on the more expensive Pixel 4.

This camera is a cracker and is probably the standout reason for buying the 4a, with its ability to produce images good enough for any family album.

There’s even a DSLR-style Portrait Mode and Night Mode, which allows you to shoot images in the dark without a flash.

And as this phone is made by Google, it’s always going to be one of the first to get the latest Android updates and new features.

The device gets a big thumbs up from us but there is one hugely frustrating problem with it – Google had intended to announce its low-cost smartphone in May but the plan was scrapped due to the Covid crisis.

With large-scale international gatherings out of the window for the foreseeable future, Google unveiled the Pixel 4a with a paltry blog post on August 3.

In the UK, you’ll need to wait until September 10 to pre-order the handset and it won’t land on store shelves until October 1.

By that time, there could be big updates from firms such as Samsung and OnePlus.

Apple will have also released its new phones by then so whether the Pixel 4a will still hold the accolades for having one of the best cameras for its price when it drops through your letterbox on October 1 is open to question.

With the Google Pixel 5 and 5G-enabled Pixel 4a on the horizon, you might want to wait to find out for yourself.