The iPhone 12 mini is Apple's least expensive 5G smartphone, while Google offers both the Pixel 4a (5G) and the Pixel 5. Apple's true budget phone is the $399 iPhone SE, but it only supports LTE cellular networks. Here, the two cheapest 5G offerings from these two tech brands will be compared to see whether Apple or Google offers the best 5G budget phone overall.
Google's Pixel 4a (5G) is a great bargain that includes the advanced camera technology that Google introduced to the world several years ago. It is still amazing to see how much color and detail the Google Camera app can reveal in very low lighting. Of course, a smartphone is more than a camera and this model includes 5G support. Interested shoppers should be aware that there are multiple models and only the one that works with Verizon provides support for mmWave 5G. For the rest, the speed potential will be closer to that of a really good LTE signal. The Pixel 4a (5G) has a large 6.2-inch OLED screen with a punch hole camera, resulting in a good screen to body ratio. The 765G processor is also good, but not the fastest. The battery is large enough to last all day and according to Google, can even last as long as 48 hours when using Extreme Battery Saver mode. The back is plastic and there is no IP rating. At $499, the Pixel 4a (5G) offers great value, despite some limitations.
Apple's iPhone 12 mini doesn't hold back on anything other than size and weight. This is full 5G with support for mmWave and the more widely available Sub-6. Apple may even match Google's Pixel 4a (5G) camera tech this year, considering Apple spoke of the much improved Night Mode and Deep Fusion - its computational photography features. These appeared in the iPhone 11 and were nice, but couldn't match the stiff competition at the time. However, with another year to refine the algorithms and with the power of the A14 processor, a big improvement is expected. In addition, with an IP68 rating, the iPhone 12 mini is protected up to six meters and 30 minutes. Thanks to the use of a special ceramic crystal-infused glass and aluminum body, the build quality is excellent.
Comparing iPhone 12 mini & Pixel 4a 5G
The smallest phone available from Apple doesn't have the smallest display, since it is the size of the bezels that determines the overall size here. The iPhone 12 mini has a 5.4-inch XDR OLED screen which offers a wider dynamic range than Google's budget 5G phone. The battery is expected to give a full day of use, but in no way is it expected to last as long as the 48 hours Google claims with the Pixel 4a (5G). Build quality and speed are wins for Apple, but Google offers the lower price overall. The iPhone 12 mini starts at $699 and that's $200 more than the Pixel 4a (5G). Since Google includes 128 gigabytes of storage, it may be more fair to compare the 128-gigabyte iPhone, which results in the price rising to $799.
With a $300 difference, Google's phone offers a much lower 5G phone entrance fee, but with the limited Sub-6 variety for most carriers, it makes the choice more difficult. Since 5G allows super fast speeds, cloud storage shouldn't be a problem, so perhaps the easiest solution would be to pick the iPhone 12 mini. For anyone on the fence, and that can afford a $700 smartphone, the solid performance and maximum 5G potential, along with excellent build quality, seems to point to the iPhone 12 mini. However, if it stretches the wallet too thin, the Pixel 4a (5G) is not a phone to be dismissed easily, especially as it offers great value and takes some amazing photos.