Covid

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Before now, there were people who argued passionately that Internet access was a luxury – an item on your list that wasn’t worth prioritizing. The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated how wrong that kind of thinking is.

Guess what happened every time a lockdown was implemented? In every city, every town, and every community where a lockdown was implemented, Internet usage spiked. Every single time. Mobile and telecoms carriers suddenly had more people spending time online than ever before. Networks became congested and operators had to scramble to boost capacity.

You see that thing that you fall back on when everything else falls apart? It is super important. As this Coronavirus pandemic ravages the world, humans are falling back on the Internet as a primary means of socialising and communicating. The internet is also fast becoming the primary means of shopping outside of petty purchases for more people than ever before.

Internet access is also providing the most effective means of delivering live updates for information from government and health authorities.

And if you are locked down away from your loved ones – spouse, children, parents, etc, video calls are fast becoming a default means of keeping in touch. For example, I use video calls more often these days in reaching out to my dad. Being able to see him and vice versa makes a whole world of difference to both of us. Sometimes, we have the entire family gather round and video-call with him.

What Of Business?

As businesses struggle and try to grapple with the economic implications of the virus outbreak on their operations, many that had hitherto run primarilly brick-and-mortar operations are restrategizing and exploring ways to stay active using Internet access. Local stores, consulting operations, graphic designers, schools, and training services are but a few of the numerous business concerns that are adapting to the situation on ground and deploying e-services.

How Important Is Internet Access?

In the modern world, Internet access is a basic need – as basic as roads and power supply. And more than ever before, the world depends on it now. This is not a time to sit back and told your arms in resignation. This is a time to evolve and adapt.

Everything has changed. For how long, we do not know. But it will be long enough to demand that you change and adapt with it.

What is meant by Internet access?

What do we mean by Internet access? It is access to the global network of connected devices via personal computers, laptops tablets, mobile phones, smartwatches, and others. Internet access makes it possible to send and receive email, download and upload files, use social media, send and receive instant messages, stream video and sudio content, among other uses.

How do I get Internet access at home?

Seeing as lockdowns are becoming the order of the day, this is a very valid question. Everyone needs to get connected to the Internet at home, so you can use the Internet on a desktop computer, laptop, or mobile device while at home.

Depending on the location of your residence, you might be able to connect via a number of options, including:

1. Cable service
2. Mobile network via 2G, 3G, 4G, or 5G (worried about 5G? Read How Dangerous is 5G Radiation? )
3. Wireless service

Cable is not as widely available as mobile and wireless services, though it is more reliable. Cable involves the presence of a cable connection to your location. If it isn’t available, your next bet is to find out which ISPs provide wireless Internet service to your area.

Internet access is not a luxury. It is a basic need. It is so basic that, in 2020, human society depends on it to survive. Imagine what this pandemic would have been like without real-time information going around. Imagine what a lockdown would mean without this powerful means of staying connected with family, friends, co-workers, clients, and indeed the rest of the world.

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Author:Mister Mobility

Digital Skills and Communication Coach | Mobile Phone Connoisseur since 2001 | Tech Blogging since 2004

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If you are looking to buy a budget flagship phone (for lack of a better word) this year, our iPhone SE 2020 vs Pixel 4a comparison is exactly what you need to open your eyes to what you’d get if you picked from Apple or Google.

The competiting devices come at below $400 each (base models), so they are fairly well matched in terms of price. The question is, Which of them delivers better value? I have spent time looking at the specifications of both, and it is fascinating to see myself lean heavily towards Apple’s iPhone SE 2020, though the Pixel 4a carried the day. Here’s why.

iPhone SE 2020 vs Pixel 4a Comparison Table

iPhone SE 2020 vs Pixel 4a comparison

Here is a quick comparison table that helps you compare the key features of both devices.

iPhone SE 2020 vs Pixel 4a: Design

If the iPhone SE 2020 had been released in 2019, its design would have been perfect for squaring up against Google’s Pixel 3a , but in 2020 Google has finally upgraded the design of the Pixel 4a and we have a bezel-less look with a punch-hole camera in a corner at the top.

Apple iPhone SE 2020 looks like it belongs in the past. Apple could have reduced the top and bottom bezels to give the SE 2020 a 5 or 5.2-inch display – and a more modern look. But then, they’d have to come up with a new expression for the fingerprint sensor for TouchID.

Google wins the design round.

iPhone SE 2020 vs Pixel 4a: Display

What we have here is the age-old LCD versus OLED fight. iPhone SE 2020 has a 4.7-inch Retina display, which is LCD. GooglePixel 4a has a 5.81-inch OLED display. OLED delivers better/deeper blacks and depth and just out-punches LCD in many ways.

Once again, this round goes to Google.

iPhone SE 2020 vs Pixel 4a: Aluminium vs Plastic

Google has a bad reputation of using plastic for its Pixel devices and the available information says this is the same with the Pixel 4a. Unfortunately, that leaves it at the mercy of Apple iPhone SE 2020, which has an aluminium body with IP67 water/resistance. In plain English, the iPhone has a better build, feels better in the hand, and will survive splashes of water. The Pixel 4a is not even close.

iPhone SE 2020 wins the build quality section hands down.

iPhone SE 2020 vs Pixel 4a: A13 Bionic vs Snadragon 730G

What of raw processing power and performance? Apple has thrown in the most powerful processor in the smartphone world right now – the A13 Bionic. This is the same processor in the top iPhone model, iPhone 11 Pro Max .

On the other hand, as is Google’s practice, the Pixel 4a gets a non-flagship processor. This time, that is Snapdragon 730G. On a normal day, the current top Snapdragon chipset, SD865, does not hold up to Apple’s A13 Bionic. With an SD730G chipset, the Pixel 4a offers performance that is far behind what the SE 2020 does.

Plus, the AI capabilities of the A13 Bionic means better processing of everything, including audio, video and photos.

Once again, Apple wins this round hands down.

iPhone SE 2020 vs Pixel 4a: Photography and Video

Google Pixel phones have been known for their outstanding camera capabilities, and their budget models tend to follow closely in their stead. The Pixel 4a is expected to follow too. But Apple’s budget models have delivered stellar photography as well. We will have to wait to see what both models deliver this time.

Note though that if you want the best smartphone camera in the market, you won’t get it from either brand any more. Huawei, Xiaomi and OPPO are the brands to look at. Those Chinese brands have taken smartphone photography to the next level and left both Google and Apple straggling.

This round is inconclusive, as we have to wait for the two phones to be released and tested to provide a verdict on their cameras.

iPhone SE 2020 vs Pixel 4a: Battery Capacity

If there is one feature that has consistently let Apple iPhones down over the years, it is battery capacity. Apple has a ridiculous reputation for fitting their smartphones with appalling batteries. The SE 2020 continues that trend with its small 1821mAh battery. In its defence, that isn’t horrible when you consider the tiny 4.7-inch screen size. Still, the iPhone 8 had the same screen size and battery capacity and did not deliver sterling battery life. So, be ready to deal with that if you choose the iPhone SE 2020.

In the other corner, Google Pixel 4a is likely to pack a battery with about 3,140mAh capacity. That is massive compared to the iPhone SE’s battery, but so also is the 5.8-inch display. In all, I would feel more comfortable with the Pixel’s battery.

This round belongs to Google.

iPhone SE 2020 vs Pixel 4a: Conclusions

In concluding this iPhone SE 2020 vs Pixel 4a face-off, at first look, Apple’s gladiator looks like better value to me than Google’s Pixel 4a. It is much more powerful, has better build quality, offers wireless charging, and like all Apple products, it has better after-market value.

Still, that small battery in the iPhone SE may put you off, and you might prefer the OLED display and the “liberty” of Android OS.

And then, there is a marked difference in price when you compare the 128 GB variant of the iPhone SE 2020 with the Pixel 4a. A $100 difference.

Apple iPhone SE (2020) white

I would have loved to have the iPhone SE 2020 as my first iPhone after years of staying away from Apple’s ecosystem. The only other times I have used an iPhone were in 2010 ( iPhone 3GS ) and 2016 (iPhone 5c). But if I had to choose on the premise of value-for-money, Google Pixel 4a would be my choice. What will yours be?

Author:Mister Mobility

Digital Skills and Communication Coach | Mobile Phone Connoisseur since 2001 | Tech Blogging since 2004