iPhone SE 4 and Google Pixel 9a: Both the iPhone SE 4 and Google Pixel 9a are set to make their mark in the smartphone market. Both the devices fall in the mid-range smartphone category and have been introduced specifically for users looking for a smartphone on a budget. While both the phones come with their respective brand specifications and features, comparing them makes it clear that there are several key differences between the two. Let us compare both the devices and see which of these phones can be better for you.
- Design and build quality
iPhone SE 4: The design of the iPhone SE 4 is similar to the iPhone 11 and iPhone XR. It has an aluminum frame and glass back, which gives it a premium look and feel. Its display is also given an IP67 rating for water and dust resistance, which can protect the phone from light water and dust.
Google Pixel 9a: The design of the Google Pixel 9a comes with a flat screen and plastic back. Gorilla Glass 3 is used in its back, which protects the screen from scratches. The body of the Pixel 9a is light and comfortable, but it does not feel as premium as the iPhone SE 4. It also has an IP67 rating, which ensures its water and dust resistance.
Comparison: The design of the iPhone SE 4 is more premium and attractive, while the design of the Pixel 9a is more simple and lightweight. But both have an IP67 rating, which protects them from water and dust.

- Display
iPhone SE 4: The iPhone SE 4 has a 4.7-inch Retina HD display, which offers 1334×750 pixel resolution and 326 PPI (pixels per inch) density. The color range and brightness of the display are good, and Apple’s True Tone feature provides users with a better visual experience.
Google Pixel 9a: The Google Pixel 9a has a 6.1-inch OLED display with a resolution of 2400×1080 pixels and 429 PPI. Being an OLED display, the colors of the Pixel 9a are more vibrant and deeper. Also, the Pixel 9a display offers better dark mode and contrast, which is more effective than the iPhone SE 4.
Comparison: The iPhone SE 4 has a smaller display size and a lower resolution than the Pixel 9a. Although the iPhone SE 4 display is good due to the color range and True Tone, the Pixel 9a’s OLED display is better in terms of color and contrast.
- Processor and performance
iPhone SE 4: The iPhone SE 4 is powered by the A15 Bionic chipset, which was used in the iPhone 13 series. This chipset is extremely fast and powerful, ideal for gaming, multitasking, and AI-based tasks. Along with this, 4GB RAM has been provided in iPhone SE 4.
Google Pixel 9a: The Google Pixel 9a is powered by the Google Tensor chipset, which is specially designed for AI and machine learning tasks. The Pixel 9a comes with 6GB of RAM, which makes multitasking seamless. However, the performance of the Tensor chipset is slightly less than the A15 Bionic, but it is enough for normal use.
Comparison: The A15 Bionic chipset offers better performance in the iPhone SE 4, especially in gaming and processing tasks. The Tensor chipset of the Google Pixel 9a is good at AI tasks, but lags behind the A15 Bionic in terms of entertainment and gaming.
- Camera
iPhone SE 4: The iPhone SE 4 has a single 12MP rear camera, which is great in photography. This camera comes with features like Smart HDR 4 and Portrait mode. There is also support for up to 4K 60fps for video recording. However, the iPhone SE 4 has only one camera, which is not common in mid-range smartphones.
Google Pixel 9a: The Google Pixel 9a has a 12.2MP rear camera and a 16MP front camera. Its camera uses Google’s smartphone camera technology, such as Night Sight, HDR+ and Portrait mode. Pixel phones are known for their camera performance, and the Pixel 9a also offers a great photography experience, especially in low-light conditions.
Comparison: The iPhone SE 4’s camera is great for taking good quality photos, but the Pixel 9a’s camera is a step ahead in smartphone photography, especially in low light. The Pixel 9a has better AI support and software integration, which improves the photography experience.
- Battery and Charging
iPhone SE 4: The iPhone SE 4 has a 1821mAh battery, which is enough to last a whole day due to the optimization of the iOS operating system. It supports 18W fast charging, and also supports wireless charging. Although the battery capacity is slightly less than other smartphones, it has a good backup due to iOS battery optimization.
Google Pixel 9a: The Pixel 9a has a 4680mAh battery, which is balanced with its large screen and OLED display. It supports 18W fast charging and charges via a USB-C port. The Google Pixel 9a has a higher battery capacity, ensuring a full day of use.
Comparison: The iPhone SE 4 has a lower battery capacity, but it offers good battery life due to its operating system. The Pixel 9a has a higher battery capacity, which gives it a longer battery life, especially when considering its large screen and OLED display.
- Software and Updates
iPhone SE 4: The iPhone SE 4 runs on the latest version of iOS and software updates provided by Apple are available for a long time. Apple gives software updates for its devices for 5-6 years, making the device feel new for a long time.
Google Pixel 9a: Google Pixel 9a runs on Android 13 and Google provides 3 years of OS updates and 5 years of security patches for its Pixel phones. These Pixel devices are known to get the latest version of Android quickly.
Comparison: Apple iPhone SE 4 gets long support of software updates, making it ideal for long-term use. Pixel 9a also comes with good software support, but it gets updates for a little less time than iPhone SE 4.
Both the smartphones are excellent in their own place. If you are looking for a premium design, better gaming performance, and long-term software updates, then iPhone SE 4 can be a better option for you. On the other hand, if you are looking for a great phone with great graphics, then you can buy the Pixel 9a.