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Apple iPhone SE (2nd generation) vs Google Pixel 4a

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

AppleiPhone SE (2nd generation)GooglePixel 4a
Overview
ReleasedApril 2020August 2020
Display
Screen size4.7″5.81″
Resolution1334 × 7502340 × 1080
Sharpness326 pixels per inch444 pixels per inch
PanelLCDOLED
Refresh rate60 Hz60 Hz
Peak brightness625 nits–
Display typeRetina HD display; 4.7-inch (diagonal) widescreen LCD Multi-Touch display with IPS technologyFull-screen OLED with hole-punch camera; 19.5:9 aspect ratio
Pixel density326 ppi443 ppi
Always-on display–Always-on display; Now Playing
Brightness detail625 nits max brightness (typical)–
Screen protectionFingerprint-resistant oleophobic coatingCorning Gorilla Glass 3
Display featuresTrue Tone; wide colour display (P3); Haptic Touch; 1400:1 contrast ratio (typical); Display Zoom; ReachabilityHDR support; greater than 100,000:1 contrast ratio; true black; 24-bit colour; 60 Hz refresh identified by Notebookcheck
Performance
ChipA13 BionicQualcomm Snapdragon 730G
Memory3 GB6 GB
Storage64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB128 GB
CPU6-core CPU with 2 performance and 4 efficiency cores; 3 GB of RAM (GSMArena)64-bit octa-core CPU; 2.2 GHz + 1.8 GHz; Titan M security module
GPU4-core GPUAdreno 618
Storage type–6 GB LPDDR4x RAM; UFS 2.0 storage identified by Notebookcheck; no microSD slot
AI engine8-core Neural Engine–
Cameras
Main camera12 MP12.2 MP
Ultra wide cameraNoneNone
Telephoto cameraNoneNone
Optical zoomNoneNone
Front camera7 MP8 MP
Main camera12MP Wide, ƒ/1.8 aperture, optical image stabilisation, six-element lens, LED True Tone flash with Slow Sync, sapphire crystal lens coverDual-pixel phase-detection autofocus; f/1.7; 1.4 μm pixels; 77° field of view; optical and electronic image stabilisation
Front camera7MP, ƒ/2.2 aperture, Retina Flashf/2.0; 1.12 μm pixels; fixed focus; 84° field of view
ZoomDigital zoom up to 5x (photos) and 3x (video)–
Video recording4K at 24, 25, 30 or 60 fps; 1080p at 25, 30 or 60 fps; 720p at 30 fps; extended dynamic range up to 30 fps; optical image stabilisation for video; slo-mo 1080p at 120 or 240 fps; QuickTake; stereo recordingRear 4K at 30 fps; 1080p at 30/60/120 fps; 720p at 30/60/240 fps
Front video1080p HD at 25 or 30 fps1080p, 720p or 480p at 30 fps
Camera featuresNext-generation Smart HDR; Portrait mode with advanced bokeh and Depth Control and six Portrait Lighting effects on both cameras; Live Photos; panorama (up to 63MP)HDR+ with dual exposure controls; Portrait Mode; Top Shot; Night Sight with astrophotography; fused video stabilisation
Battery and charging
Battery1,821 mAh3,140 mAh
Wired charging–Up to 18 W
Video playback (maker's claim)Up to 13 hours–
Wireless chargingYes (wattage not published)None
Battery life detailVideo playback up to 13 hours (8 hours streamed); audio playback up to 40 hours; 6.96 Wh (iFixit); 1,821 mAh (GSMArena)Original typical capacity 3,140 mAh; Google's Android 13 update from 8 January 2025 reduces available capacity and charging performance on affected Pixel 4a units, not all units; related support programme ended 8 January 2026
Wired chargingUp to 50% in 30 minutes with an 18W adapter or higher (sold separately)Original rating up to 18 W using supplied USB-PD 2.0 adaptor; charging performance reduced on units affected by Google's January 2025 battery update
Wireless chargingWorks with Qi chargers–
Design
TypeStandardStandard
Weight148 g143 g
Thickness7.3 mm8.2 mm
Height × width138.4 × 67.3 mm144 × 69.4 mm
Water and dust resistanceIP67–
MaterialsAerospace-grade aluminium and glass with an all-black frontSoft-touch polycarbonate unibody
ColoursBlack, White, (PRODUCT)REDJust Black in the UK; Barely Blue also sold in the US and Japan
ButtonsHome/Touch ID sensor; volume up/down; ring/silent; side buttonPower button and volume controls
Water resistance detailIP67 (maximum depth of 1 metre up to 30 minutes) under IEC standard 60529–
BiometricsTouch ID fingerprint sensor built into the Home buttonPixel Imprint rear fingerprint sensor
SensorsTouch ID fingerprint sensor; barometer; three-axis gyro; accelerometer; proximity sensor; ambient light sensorProximity and ambient light; accelerometer; gyrometer; magnetometer; barometer; Android Sensor Hub
SpeakersStereo playbackStereo speakers
Microphones–Two microphones with noise suppression
Software
Operating systemiOSAndroid
Software at launchiOS 13Android 10
Software updates–No longer receives regular Android version or security updates according to Google's current support policy; original promise was at least three years; separate battery-related Android 13 update issued in January 2025
AI features–Google Assistant; Recorder with on-device English transcription and Google Docs sharing; Live Caption for audio, video and calls at launch in English
Safety features–Personal Safety app with emergency sharing and car crash detection; language, country and network restrictions apply
In the box–UK package includes 18 W USB-C power adaptor, USB-C to USB-C cable (1 m, USB 2.0), Quick Switch adaptor, SIM tool and quick start guide; earbuds included only in certain other regions
Connectivity
Mobile networkGigabit-class LTE with 2x2 MIMO and LAA; VoLTE; Wi-Fi callingUK G025N supports LTE Cat 12 download up to 600 Mbps and Cat 5 upload up to 75 Mbps; no 5G; first sold in the US on 20 August 2020
SIMDual SIM (nano-SIM and eSIM)One nano-SIM and eSIM in selected markets, including the UK; operator dependent
Wi-FiWi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) with 2x2 MIMODual-band 2.4/5 GHz 802.11a/b/g/n/ac; 2x2 MIMO
BluetoothBluetooth 5.0Bluetooth 5.0 + LE; A2DP; aptX, aptX HD, LDAC and AAC
NFCNFC with reader mode; Express Cards with power reserveNFC; Google Cast; FeliCa on Japanese G025M
USBLightning connector; video mirroring and video out up to 1080p through the Lightning Digital AV Adapter and Lightning to VGA Adapter (sold separately)USB-C 3.1 Gen 1; 3.5 mm headphone jack; supplied cable runs at USB 2.0
PositioningBuilt-in GPS/GNSS; digital compass; Wi-Fi; cellular; iBeacon microlocationGPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS and BeiDou outside the US

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