The smartphone market is vast, offering options for every budget and need. Today, we're pitting two very different contenders against each other: the budget-friendly Alcatel Flash Plus 2 and the mid-range powerhouse, the Google Pixel 4a 5G. Can the Flash Plus 2 compete with Google's offering?
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Google Pixel 4a 5G is the clear winner. Its superior chipset, camera, 5G connectivity, and software experience far outweigh the Flash Plus 2's lower price. While the Flash Plus 2 offers basic functionality, the Pixel 4a 5G delivers a premium experience.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 38, 40, 41 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 28, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78 Sub6, mmWave (market dependant) |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2016, May. Released 2016, May | 2020, September 30 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2020, November 05 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 152.6 x 76.4 x 8.2 mm (6.01 x 3.01 x 0.32 in) | 153.9 x 74 x 8.2 mm (Sub-6) or 8.5 mm (Sub-6 and mmWave) |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Micro-SIM, dual stand-by) | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 157g (5.54 oz) | 168 g (5G Sub-6); 171 g ( 5G Sub-6 and mmWave) (5.93 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~401 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~413 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.5 inches, 83.4 cm2 (~71.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.2 inches, 95.7 cm2 (~84.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | OLED, HDR |
| | - | Always-on display |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.0 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6755 Helio P10 (28 nm) | Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-T860MP2 | Adreno 620 |
| OS | Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | No |
| Internal | 16GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 3GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | UFS 2.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | - | 12.2 MP, f/1.7, 27mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS
16 MP, f/2.2, 107˚ (ultrawide), 1.0µm |
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama | LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.0, 1/3.1", 1.12µm, PDAF | - |
| Video | 1080p@60fps, 1080p@30fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash | HDR |
| Single | 5 MP | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm |
| Video | - | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | 24-bit/192kHz audio
| - |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.1, A2DP | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDS |
| Radio | Stereo FM radio, RDS | No |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | USB Type-C 3.1 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 10W wired | 18W wired, PD2.0 |
| Music play | Up to 54 h | - |
| Stand-by | Up to 528 h (2G) / Up to 405 h (3G) | - |
| Talk time | Up to 16 h (2G) / Up to 15 h (3G) | - |
| Type | Li-Ion 3000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 3885 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Venus Gold, Luna Silver | Just Black, Clearly White |
| Models | FL02 | GD1YQ, G025I, G025E, G025H, G6QU3 |
| Price | About 140 EUR | About 140 EUR |
alcatel Flash Plus 2
- Affordable
- Decent battery life for its size
- Lightweight
- Outdated chipset
- Low-resolution display
- Mediocre camera
- Slow charging
Google Pixel 4a 5G
- Excellent camera
- Powerful processor
- 5G connectivity
- Clean Android experience
- Good battery life
- Fast charging
- Plastic build
- No expandable storage
- 60Hz display (not adaptive)
Display Comparison
The Pixel 4a 5G boasts a 6.2-inch OLED display with a 60Hz refresh rate, offering vibrant colors and deep blacks. The Flash Plus 2 has a 5.5-inch IPS LCD display, which is adequate but lacks the Pixel's visual punch. The Pixel's larger size and OLED technology provide a significantly better viewing experience.
Camera Comparison
Google's Pixel 4a 5G is renowned for its exceptional camera, leveraging Google's computational photography expertise. It captures stunning photos with excellent dynamic range and detail. The Flash Plus 2's camera is serviceable but lacks the Pixel's image quality and features. The Pixel's camera is a major selling point.
Performance
Here's where the Pixel 4a 5G truly shines. The Snapdragon 765G is a vastly more powerful chipset than the Helio P10, resulting in smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better overall performance. The Pixel handles demanding games and applications with ease, while the Flash Plus 2 can struggle.
Battery Life
The Pixel 4a 5G has a 3885mAh battery, offering all-day battery life with moderate usage. The Flash Plus 2 has a smaller 2500mAh battery, which will likely require more frequent charging. The Pixel's charging speed (18W PD2.0) is also faster than the Flash Plus 2's 10W wired charging.
Buying Guide
The Alcatel Flash Plus 2 is for users on an extremely tight budget who primarily need a phone for basic calling, texting, and light app usage. The Google Pixel 4a 5G is ideal for those seeking a reliable, feature-rich phone with excellent camera capabilities, 5G connectivity, and a clean Android experience, even if it requires a slightly higher investment.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Alcatel Flash Plus 2 still worth buying in 2024?
Unless you're on an extremely limited budget and only need basic phone functionality, the Flash Plus 2 is outdated and not recommended. There are better budget options available.
❓ Does the Pixel 4a 5G have expandable storage?
No, the Pixel 4a 5G does not offer expandable storage via microSD card.
