Google Pixel 9 Pro XL vs Pixel 8a

Source: Date:

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL vs Pixel 8a

84 out of 100
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
VS
75 out of 100
Google Pixel 8a

Here we compared two smartphones: the 6.8-inch Google Pixel 9 Pro XL (with Google Tensor G4) that was released on August 13, 2024, against the Google Pixel 8a, which is powered by Google Tensor G3 and came out 4 months before. On this page, you will find tests, full specs, strengths, and weaknesses of each of the devices.

Key differences

An overview of the main advantages of each smartphone
Reasons to consider the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
  • The rear camera has a 5x optical zoom
  • Has a 0.7 inch larger screen size
  • Has 2x more RAM: 16GB versus 8GB
  • Better camera quality (According to DxOMark rating)
  • Delivers 57% higher peak brightness (2383 against 1518 nits)
  • Shows 11% longer battery life (21:55 vs 19:43 hours)
  • Waterproof body (IP68 classification)
  • Comes with 568 mAh larger battery capacity: 5060 vs 4492 mAh
  • Compatible with the latest Wi-Fi 7 wireless networks
  • Thinner bezels – 8.2% more screen real estate
  • More recent OS version: Android 15 versus 14
  • Supports higher wattage charging (37W versus 18W)
  • 13% higher pixel density (486 vs 430 PPI)
Reasons to consider the Google Pixel 8a
  • CPU with a higher amount of cores (+1)
  • Weighs 33 grams less

Review

Evaluation of Google Pixel 9 Pro XL and Pixel 8a crucial features
Display
Screen quality, color accuracy, brightness
Camera
Photo and video recording quality
Performance
CPU and memory performance (apps, system)
Gaming
Capabilities for playing modern games
Battery
Battery life, charging type and speed
Connectivity
Networks, ports, data transmission
NanoReview Score
Final comparison evaluation
Choose the importance of each parameter to more accurately identify the smartphone that best meets your particular needs.

Tests and specifications

Comparison table of technical specifications and tests

Display

TypeOLEDOLED
Size6.8 inches6.1 inches
Resolution1344 x 2992 pixels1080 x 2400 pixels
Aspect ratio20:920:9
PPI486 ppi430 ppi
Refresh rate120 Hz120 Hz
Adaptive refresh rateYes (1-120 Hz)Yes (60-120 Hz)
Max rated brightness3000 nits2000 nits
Max rated brightness in HDR2000 nits1400 nits
HDR supportYes, HDR10+Yes, HDR10
Screen protectionGorilla Glass Victus 2Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Screen-to-body ratio89.5%81.3%
Display features - DCI-P3
- Always-On Display
- DCI-P3
- Always-On Display
Display tests
RGB color space99%99.1%
PWM240 Hz120 Hz
Response time2 ms2 ms
Contrast∞ Infinity∞ Infinity
Peak brightness test (auto)
2383 nits
1518 nits

Design and build

Height162.8 mm (6.41 inches)152.1 mm (5.99 inches)
Width76.6 mm (3.02 inches)72.7 mm (2.86 inches)
Thickness8.5 mm (0.33 inches)8.9 mm (0.35 inches)
Weight221 g (7.8 oz)188 g (6.63 oz)
WaterproofIP68IP67
Advanced coolingVapor chamber -
Rear materialGlassPlastic
Frame materialMetalMetal
ColorsWhite, Black, Gray, PinkWhite, Black, Blue, Green
Fingerprint scannerYes, in-displayYes, in-display
Screen-to-body ratio

Performance

Tests of Google Pixel 9 Pro XL and Google Pixel 8a in the benchmarks
SoC
ChipsetGoogle Tensor G4Google Tensor G3
Max clock3100 MHz3000 MHz
CPU cores8 (1 + 3 + 4)9 (1 + 4 + 4)
Architecture- 4 cores at 1.92 GHz: Cortex-A520
- 3 cores at 2.6 GHz: Cortex-A720
- 1 core at 3.1 GHz: Cortex-X4
- 4 cores at 1.7 GHz: Cortex-A510
- 4 cores at 2.37 GHz: Cortex-A715
- 1 core at 2.91 GHz: Cortex-X3
ManufacturingSamsungSamsung
Lithography process4 nanometers4 nanometers
Neural processor (NPU)YesYes
GraphicsMali-G715 MP7Mali-G715 MP7
GPU shading units896896
GPU clock940 MHz890 MHz
FLOPS~1792 GFLOPS~1594.8 GFLOPS

Benchmarks

Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)
Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)
AnTuTu Benchmark 10
1292858
1223695
CPU395641368321
GPU448762432077
Memory213528218319
UX235197204978
Total score12928581223695
Samples[2 tests][3 tests]

Memory

RAM
RAM size16 GB8 GB
Memory typeLPDDR5LPDDR5
Memory clock - 3200 MHz
Channels44
Storage
Storage size128, 256, 512, 1024 GB128, 256 GB
Storage typeUFS 3.1UFS 3.1
Memory cardNoNo

Software

Operating systemAndroid 14 (Can be upgraded to Android 15)Android 14
ROMStock AndroidStock Android
OS size - 18.4 GB

Battery

Capacity5060 mAh4492 mAh
Max charge power37 W18 W
Battery typeLi-PoLi-Po
ReplaceableNoNo
Wireless chargingYes (12 W)Yes (7.5 W)
Reverse chargingYes, (wireless)No
Fast chargingYes (67% in 30 min)Yes (33% in 30 min)
Full charging time1:18 hr2:09 hr
Battery life tests
Web browsing11:42 hr08:15 hr
Watching video10:46 hr13:00 hr
Gaming05:57 hr04:54 hr
Standby92 hr86 hr
General battery life
21:55 hr
19:43 hr

Main camera

Matrix50 megapixels64 megapixels
Image resolution8160 x 61449000 x 7000
ZoomOptical, 5xDigital
FlashDual LEDDual LED
StabilizationOpticalOptical
8K video recordingUp to 30FPSNo
4K video recordingUp to 60FPSUp to 60FPS
1080p video recordingUp to 60FPSUp to 60FPS
Slow motion240 FPS (1080p)240 FPS (1080p)
Angle of widest lens123°120°
Lenses1) Standard: 50 MP
2) Telephoto: 48 MP
3) Ultrawide: 48 MP
1) Standard: 64 MP
2) Ultrawide: 13 MP
Camera features - Bokeh mode
- Pro mode
- RAW support
- Bokeh mode
- Pro mode
- RAW support
Standard lens
Image resolution50 MP64 MP
Aperturef/1.7f/1.9
Focal length25 mm26 mm
SensorSamsung GN1Sony IMX787
Sensor size1/1.31"1/1.73"
Pixel size1.2 micron0.8 micron
AutofocusLaser autofocusPhase autofocus (Dual Pixel)
StabilizationOpticalOptical
Telephoto lens
Image resolution48 MP -
Aperturef/2.8 -
Focal length113 mm -
SensorSamsung S5KGM5 -
Sensor size1/2.55" -
Pixel size0.7 micron -
StabilizationOptical -
Ultra-wide lens
Image resolution48 MP13 MP
Aperturef/1.7f/2.2
SensorSamsung S5KGM5Sony IMX712
Sensor size1/2.55"1/3.06"
Pixel size0.7 micron1.12 micron
StabilizationDigitalDigital

DxOMark main camera tests

Photo quality
Video quality
Generic main camera score
Bokeh7560
Preview8671
Zoom155126
SamplesPhoto samples of Google Pixel 9 Pro XL from DxOMarkPhoto samples of Google Pixel 8a from DxOMark

Selfie camera

Megapixels42 megapixels13 megapixels
Image resolution3648 x 27364032 x 3024
Aperturef/2.2 -
Focal length17 mm -
Sensor size1/2.51" -
AutofocusPhase autofocus -
StabilizationDigital -
Video resolution2160p (4K) at 60 FPS2160p (4K) at 30 FPS
Depth sensor (TOF 3D)NoNo

Connectivity

Wi-Fi standardWi-Fi 7 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be)Wi-Fi 6E (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax)
Wi-Fi features - Dual Band
- Wi-Fi MiMO
- Wi-Fi Direct
- Wi-Fi Hotspot
- Wi-Fi Display
- Dual Band
- Wi-Fi MiMO
- Wi-Fi Direct
- Wi-Fi Hotspot
- Wi-Fi Display
Bluetooth version5.35.3
Bluetooth featuresLELE
USB typeUSB Type-CUSB Type-C
USB version3.23.2
USB features - Charging
- USB-Storage mode
- OTG
- Charging
- USB-Storage mode
- OTG
DisplayPortYesYes
GPSGPS, GLONASS, GalileoGPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS
NFC*YesYes
Infrared portNoNo
Network
Number of SIM*11
Type of SIM cardNanoNano
eSIM support*YesYes
Hybrid slotNoNo
LTE Cat* - 20
5G supportYesYes

Sound

SpeakersStereoStereo
Headphone audio jackNoNo
FM radioNoNo
Dolby AtmosNoNo
Speakers test
Max loudness

Other

CategoryFlagshipMid-range
AnnouncedAugust 2024May 2024
Release dateAugust 2024May 2024
Launch price$1099$499
SAR (head)0.99 W/kg -
SAR (body)1.4 W/kg -
Sensors - Barometer
- Proximity sensor
- Gyroscope
- Accelerometer
- Ambient light sensor
- Compass
- Fingerprint
- Barometer
- Proximity sensor
- Gyroscope
- Accelerometer
- Ambient light sensor
- Compass
- Fingerprint
Bundled chargerNot includedNot included
*Disclaimer! NFC, GSM network support, and some other specs can be different depending on the country.
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