This week Google officially pulled the plug on the Pixel 4a, the company’s most affordable Pixel to date, and the one that so many love. Looking to the future, though, the Pixel 4a may very well be the last truly “delightful” Google phone for a while, as the company’s next step appears to be on a different path.

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The Pixel 4a will certainly go down as a beloved Google phone. With stock running low for months, the writing has been on the wall for this affordable Pixel from 2020. The Google Store today delisted the Pixel 4a. 

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Last week and ahead of the Pixel 6 series set to come (hopefully) very soon, we asked you just what you think the “best” Google Pixel device has been so far. Well, the results were not too unsurprising overall but interesting nonetheless.

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The Google Pixel 6 and 6 Pro could very well be the best Pixel devices to date, but we’re still waiting to see them unveiled — and then get our greasy mitts on the duo when they launch (hopefully) soon.

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Google’s Pixel 4a is already a very secure smartphone, but those on the hunt for a security “hardened” experience have a new option. The new “NitroPhone 1” is a modified Pixel 4a running an Android-based optional system, but specifically the privacy-focused “GrapheneOS.”

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The Pixel 4a was announced just over a year ago and curiously remains on sale following yesterday’s Pixel 5a with 5G unveil. In fact, it’s the only phone from the Made by Google 2020 lineup to remain in stock in the official US store.

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Starting with the Pixel 3, Google has prepared special-use wallpapers for its phones that can be seen in renders and other promo materials, displaying the generation of the device in large type. But despite only being used for marketing purposes, the backgrounds have been highly sought after by fans. Some artists have gone so far as to create near-pixel-perfect copies in the absence of their official versions. Now, Google has made some of these promo wallpapers available to Pixel 4 and 4a users.

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Following the Pixel 5 and 4a 5G at the end of last month, Google Fi has stopped selling the $349 Pixel 4a today. It went out of stock earlier this week and has since been delisted. 

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In June, it emerged that international law enforcement operated a company that sold encrypted phones to criminals. A new report today details that the FBI and Australian Federal Police (AFP) used a Google Pixel 4a running custom software for this operation.

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A recent Instagram Story posted by the official Made by Google account has given us a glimpse of what a white Pixel 4a could have looked like in the flesh.

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Besides an ultrawide lens, the Pixel 5 and 4a 5G added HDR+ with Bracketing to improve image quality in shadows, among other benefits. Google today detailed the technology behind that new capability while also revealing that the Pixel 4 and 4a now use bracketing in Night Sight.

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I’ve used quite a few of the very best Android-powered smartphones over the past 18 months, but even after a brief stint I always feel the pull of the Google Pixel 4a.

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Over the past few days, some Google Pixel owners have been seeing an error message that says “SIM Manager keeps stopping,” especially on more recent Pixel models. Here’s how to fix it.

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For the past several years, Google has not provided meaningful details about the progress of its smartphone division beyond occasionally touting the popularity of its cheaper devices. A new report today sheds some light on the Pixel line, including the 4a, in India.

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The Pixel 5a is most definitely on the horizon, but until such a time as Google unveils the next affordable Android, the Pixel 4a is still a superb smartphone stuffed full of awesome features.

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Chrome OS’s upcoming Android “Phone Hub” may be getting the ability to mirror your phone’s screen as an exclusive feature for Google Pixel phones.

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Last month, Made by Google surprisingly launched its cheapest phone in a new color stateside. The Barely Blue Pixel 4a is now coming to Japan later this month.

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Google’s two budget “a” phones this year are universally praised and highly sought after. The Pixel 4a launched first in August, while the 4a 5G followed with the Pixel 5 this fall. With the holiday shopping season under way, a change to the Google Store reflects how the premium version of this year’s 4a series is getting much more prominent billing.

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We’re late into 2020, which means almost all Android OEMs have released their latest hardware — including Google. If you’re a Pixel enthusiast looking and sizing up the latest lineup, you’re probably wondering, “Which 2020 Pixel is the right device for me?”

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How far does your budget stretch when it comes to picking up a new phone? If you want something cheaper, and with the “true” Google experience how do you decide between the affordably-focused Pixel 4a and Pixel 4a 5G? Let’s lay out all the cards and help you discern which is the right Pixel to potentially purchase.

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We knew it existed at one point, but it never came to launch. This month, though, Google unexpectedly launched its truly excellent Pixel 4a in “Barely Blue.” Also unexpected? How this phone feels in your hand.

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In this line of work, which is clearly not reflective of the general populace, the phone one uses is more or less pre-determined by what’s newest. My daily driver history since 2016 has been set by Google’s annual hardware cadence. This strategy, or the lack of one, has served me well in that I don’t have to actively choose a phone. That is, until the Pixel 4a and its new Barely Blue color.

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Much like the potential upgrade path from the Pixel 4 series to the Pixel 5, suggesting that someone shoul09d “upgrade” from the Pixel 3a to the Pixel 4a is a bit silly. Despite maybe being a little overdue, we’re here to examine whether this might be something to consider for those shopping for a new smartphone on a budget.

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When Google announced its latest mid-range phone in August, pandemic-related constraints meant the device was only available in “Just Black.” The Pixel 4a is now available in “Barely Blue.”

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Coinciding with the launch of the Pixel 5, the Google Camera app got an update to version 8.0, bringing a clean redesign to the app. Today, Google Camera 8.1 has begun rolling out, bringing that same design to older Pixel phones.

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After adding Samsung devices to its online store, Google Fi is now launching a Phone subscription program. The Pixel 4a is the first device available, with buyers saving “$133 over two years.”

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One of the Google Pixel 5 features that got a lot of acclaim in early reviews was Portrait Light, the ability to adjust the light source of a photo after it’s been taken. Now, before that phone is even released in the United States, the feature is already rolling out to older Pixel phones.

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This month’s security patch is the very first release after Android 11 and — as is typical — includes a slew of bug fixes. The October update addresses two key Pixel 4a issues, while all other devices also benefit.

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It’s September 30th and while there’s no formal in-person Made by Google event this year, the time for the Launch Night In livestream has finally arrived. 9to5Google’s Google Event Live Blog + News Hub will be updated regularly throughout the day with the latest announcements from Google. The event kicks off at 11 am PT/2 PM ET, so read on for quick links to our roundup coverage over the last few weeks, tweets from the ground (our homes), and all the latest news as it develops…

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The Pixel 4a launch in August also introduced a new “Eclipse” background. Ahead of new phones being announced this week, Google is rolling out a Pixel Live Wallpaper update that adds “Pinball” for the Pixel 4a and presumably Pixel 5.

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Below we go hands-on with the ultra-sleek and super-thin MNML case lineup for the ultra-affordable Google Pixel 4a. 9to5Google readers can grab a MNML case now for $10 OFF with our code 9TO5GOOGLE for a limited time.

Check out our hands-on video with the superb MNML Pixel 4a case lineup:

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Ahead of the launch of the Pixel 4a, there were rumors of a blue colorway for the mid-range phone. While the Google Pixel 4a has so far only been released in black, we now have our best look yet at Pixel 4a in blue, thanks to an official 3D model.

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Just a few weeks after launch, the tinkerers and smartphone tweakers can now get a custom ROM fix for the Google Pixel 4a.

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Google’s latest mid-range phone is officially just over a week old, and by all accounts it’s shaping up to be another Pixel 3a-level success. A Pixel 4a teardown today reveals that another shared similarity is the construction.

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Since 2017, the Google Camera app has been home to fun AR stickers that let you liven up photos and videos. Later rebranded to Playground, Google is dropping support for these Playmoji characters on future Pixel devices, starting with the Pixel 4a. 

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In addition to posting the factory images, the Pixel 4a can now be enrolled in the Android 11 Beta. This was promised at the start of August, and comes as the upcoming version of Android is nearing a public launch. 

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The Pixel 4a started arriving on people’s doorsteps even before the official August 20 launch. However, Google waited until today to make the Pixel 4a factory images available.

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