Intro
Google has the behavior of releasing a sort-of-budget model of its Pixel telephones halfway via the most recent mannequin’s lifecycle. The Pixel “a” collection sometimes include a less expensive construct possibly a special digicam sensor, however all of the Google brains inside, together with the identical Tensor chip that powers the large boys. This yr, it must be the Pixel 9a, with a Tensor G4, anticipated to launch in March.
iPhone SE 4 (2025) vs Pixel 9a anticipated variations:
| iPhone SE 4 | Pixel 9a |
|---|---|
| Flat sides, notch — like iPhone 14 with single digicam | Flat sides like Pixel 9, pill-shaped digicam too |
| 6.1-inch OLED display screen, 60 Hz | 6.3-inch OLED display screen, 120 Hz |
| Apple A18 chip, 8 GB RAM | Google Tensor G4 chip, 8 GB RAM |
| Single 48 MP digicam
12 MP entrance digicam |
48 MP fundamental digicam 13 MP ultrawide digicam 13 MP entrance digicam |
| 3,279 mAh battery | 5,000 mAh battery |
| USB C 20 W wired MagSafe |
USB C 18 W wired 7.5 W wi-fi |
*All specs primarily based on leaks and hypothesis
Desk of Contents:
Design and Dimension
Flat sides united
The Pixel will likely be barely bigger. It is mentioned its display screen will likely be 6.3 inches, versus the 6.1 inches of the iPhone SE 4. Side ratio may also matter when translating that diagonal size to precise gadget dimension, however these particulars are nonetheless a bit muddy.
Oh, additionally, the iPhone SE would be the first SE to have a USB-C port! Effectively… technically, it may find yourself being known as the iPhone 16E, so possibly the SE line will go down in hostory as being Lightning-equipped to the top. After all, no query, the Pixel 9a may also have a USB Kind-C port.
Show Variations
We already talked about show dimension expectations — the iPhone would have a 6.1-incher, the Pixel 9a a barely larger 6.3-inch display screen. They’re each anticipated to be OLED panels with an FHD+ decision (or one thing round it, seeing as iPhones all the time have unorthodox resolutions).
The iPhone will most positively rock a Face ID unlock sensor in its slightly massive notch cutout on the high of the display screen. And the Pixel 9a is anticipated to have an optical under-screen fingerprint scanner, as earlier than.
Efficiency and Software program
Tensor, please
The Pixel 9a, as talked about earlier than, is anticipated to rock the most recent Tensor chip — the Tensor G4. Google’s chipsets are, sadly, not powerhouses. They get overwhelmed out by each their modern Qualcomm Snapdragons and Apple A rivals. To not say that Pixel telephones do not run effectively — in fact they do, Google optimizes each the software program and the {hardware}. However if you’re a benchmark aficionado, they will not provide the bragging rights you might have considered trying.
Digital camera
Chopping corners, or simply being a minimalist
I’ve to say, I discover the concept for a single-camera iPhone to be type of alluring. Over the previous few years, we have had double- and triple-camera modules, every getting larger than the final. Samsung even went so far as to connect extra-large lens rings to make its digicam module seem even larger than it’s this yr round. Pixels’ digicam visors are additionally fairly chunky.
And, in spite of everything of this, Apple could come out with an iPhone SE 4 with a single 48 MP digicam on the again. If it makes use of the wonderful crop-in zoom that the iPhone 16 does, it might find yourself being the one factor most customers want.
The Pixel 9a is anticipated to return with a 48 MP fundamental sensor of its personal, and a 13 MP ultra-wide digicam. A slight downgrade from the mainline Pixel 9 collection, however we nonetheless anticipate glorious digicam efficiency right here. It is within the Pixel’s DNA. Hopefully, we do not get upset!
Battery Life and Charging
iPhones all the time skate with what’s “satisfactory”
The iPhone SE 4 is claimed to have a battery someplace round 3,279 mAh. The neighborhood usually criticizes iPhones for having a “small” battery, in comparison with contemporaries. Fact is, iOS does magic in terms of preserving battery life, and iPhones usually can final you a day and a half with little bother. Although, we get it — if they will accomplish that effectively with “smaller” batteries, think about what they will do with a standard 5,000 mAh cell!
The Pixel 9a goes to rock that standard capability, rumors say. A 5,000 mAh battery may be very a lot regular these days, and whereas some extra unique producers are attempting to push that envelope, a “price range” cellphone just like the Pixel 9a will comfortably keep on with it. And that is effective — 5,000 mAh is quite a lot of juice and we anticipate the Pixel 9a to supply the identical day-and-a-half endurance.
Specs Comparability
Here is what we all know concerning the iPhone SE 4 (2025) — a.okay.a. iPhone 16E — specs up to now, and what we all know concerning the Pixel 9a spec sheet. These are primarily based on leaks, so they’re positively topic to vary:
| iPhone SE 4 (2025) | Pixel 9a |
|---|---|
| Dimension, weight 5.78 x 2.81 x 0.31 inches (146.7 x 71.5 x 7.80 mm) 172 g |
Dimension, weight 6.09 x 2.88 x 0.35 inches (154.7 x 73.2 x 8.9mm) 186 g |
| Display 6.1″ OLED 60 Hz |
Display 6.3″ OLED 120 Hz |
| Processor Apple A18, 3 nm |
Processor Google Tensor G4, 4 nm |
| Variations: 8 / 128GB 8 / 256GB |
Variations: 8 / 128GB 8 / 256GB |
| Cameras: 48 MP fundamental 12 MP entrance |
Cameras: 48 MP fundamental 13 MP ultrawide 13 MP entrance |
| Battery: 3,279 mAh |
Battery: 5,000 mAh |
| Charging: USB-C 20 W wired MagSafe |
Charging: USB-C 18 W wired 7.5 W wi-fi |
Wishful pondering means that MagSafe spec on the iPhone SE 4 would permit for the brand new 25 W charging speeds, however we do not know that for certain but. That apart, it seems like a reasonably strong cellphone — relying on what its ultimate value could also be. The Pixel 9a will supply a bit extra digicam choices with that additional lens, and a barely bigger show. However the iPhone SE 4 seems like it would hit laborious with a greater processor. The considered it having a 60 Hz display screen but once more does make us wince, although.
Abstract
If each of those telephones find yourself being launched in March, anticipate one other couple of occasions speaking up AI (or press releases with a minimum of a few pages devoted to it). However will the telephones be precise AI powerhouses? No, not likely.