Took the leap and... Bought a Pixel 4a to upgrade from my 3a. Should arrive on Thursday and I'll give updates on how everything goes. Why'd I go this route? I've LOVED my 1 & 3a, FANATICALLY - I could go on and on about that. But - Why didn't I make the big jump to the Pixel 6?
- I had a horrible time trying to set up the Pixel 5a w/5G that I bought from Google on my Verizon plan (Thankfully I could return it for a full refund). Word is that w/the non-5G 4a, the switch is as simple as just moving my Verizon SIM from the 3a to the new 4a. We will see.
- The Pixel 6 phones are ENORMOUS. I have dainty little paws & I decry the drift toward bigger and bigger phones. The 4a is actually slightly SMALLER than my 3a. Love it! Until they come out with a Pixel Mini, this is my best shot at a smaller phone for the next couple of years..
- Call me a Luddite, but I want to have a hand computer with a headphone jack for as long as I possibly can get one. The 5a is out (for reasons stated upthread), and word is the 6a won't have a 3.5 mm jack. Boooo. The 4a still has that glorious audio port...
- The 4a will get software and security updates through August 2023 (at least). I'm hoping that I can ride this new 4a through to the Pixel 8 line that will come out in late 2023. Maybe a Pixel mini by then? Or even a Pixel flip-style foldable? The 4a buys me time to get there.
I'm punting/trying to extend my current smartphone status quo for a bit longer. But I love my 3a! Kiddo is starting to freeze more often though (hard reboots still fix the issue, but for how long?), and updates end this May. Given all of the above, the 4a ends up as my next move.
