Google's Pixel 4a was a real surprise. We knew that the new iPhone SE 2020 was coming, but with its arrival, Google's next entry-level smartphone seems to have been rather unexciting.

The Pixel 4a should be the successor to the Pixel 3a The Pixel 4a should be the successor to the Pixel 3a The Pixel 3a was the best budget phone you could buy in nearly a year. The new Pixel 4a is supposed to cost $399, the same as the new iPhone SE, and will be a level up in terms of screen size, performance, and possibly camera quality.

But now that the iPhone SE has been announced, all of that may come to a head. Here's why.

The new iPhone SE has almost everything one could ask for in a budget smartphone. First, it has the same A13 Bionic processor found in the iPhone 11. And this processor should outperform the mid-range Snapdragon 730 CPU rumored to be in the Pixel 4a.

But A13 Bionic is not just about speed; A13 Bionic will give the iPhone SE photography capabilities that rival the Pixel 4a. This includes Smart HDR, which uses machine learning to more intelligently illuminate the subject in the frame. In addition, the iPhone SE's rear and front cameras have a portrait mode that allows users to take photos of people with a bokeh effect.

The new iPhone SE features a Touch ID button on the front that allows users to easily unlock the phone, use Apple Pay, enter passwords, and authorize purchases in the App Store. According to leaked images, the Pixel 4a will feature a fingerprint reader on the back of the device, but this is less convenient.

As for design, the iPhone SE has a 4.7-inch display, while the Pixel 4a's screen is rumored to be 5.8 inches. Both models should be quite easy to use with one hand, but there are many people who simply prefer smaller phones, and those people should like the compact iPhone SE very much.

Apple's new iPhone SE supports Qi wireless charging; according to 9to5Google, the Pixel 4a does not support wireless charging at all.

The iPhone SE also has some less obvious benefits, such as the quality of software in the Apple App Store compared to the less curated Google Play Store. apple Arcade is also a big plus, with access to hundreds of top games for $4.99/month. access to hundreds of top games for $4.99/month.

What about availability: the Pixel 3a is available on three of the four major carriers, but not on AT&T. The iPhone SE will be available on all major providers.

According to the Pixel 4a rumor, Google's next budget phone has several advantages. The biggest one for me is Google's Night Sight mode. the iPhone SE's camera does not have a night mode, which the iPhone 11 has. This means that I will have to rely on the iPhone SE's flash in dark places.

The Pixel 4a should have a 5.8-inch display with full HD resolution (2340 x 1080 pixels). In addition, we expect the Pixel 4a to use an OLED panel, which generally has wider viewing angles, deeper blacks, and more vibrant colors than the iPhone SE's LCD. We can only hope that this Pixel 4a's panel will be brighter and easier to see outside.

Another area where the Pixel 4a could have an advantage is battery life. the Pixel 3a lasted as long as 11 hours 59 minutes in our web surfing battery test. the iPhone 8 only lasted 9 hours 54 minutes, but we hope the new iPhone SE will be more efficient. We expect the new iPhone SE to be more efficient.

The Pixel 4a will likely not offer wireless charging, but like the Pixel 3a, it should offer 18W fast charging via USB-C. For the iPhone SE, an additional 18W charger will need to be purchased. Other Pixel 4a advantages should include Google Assistant (which beats Siri) and a headphone jack.

On paper, the Google Pixel 4a certainly scores some points over the new iPhone SE based on leaked information, especially when it comes to display and camera. However, the iPhone SE has so much to offer that the Pixel 4a will likely be an afterthought for most shoppers. Apple phones offer faster processors, very good cameras, wireless charging, and premium design at the same price as Google phones.