Google Pixel 5a 5G vs Pixel 5
61
out of 100
VS
61
out of 100
Here we compared two smartphones: the 6.34-inch Google Pixel 5a 5G (with Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G) that was released on August 17, 2021, against the Google Pixel 5, which is powered by the same chip and came out 11 months before. On this page, you will find tests, full specs, strengths, and weaknesses of each of the devices.
Key differences
Reasons to consider the Google Pixel 5a 5G
- Shows 17% longer battery life (36:56 vs 31:36 hours)
- Has a 0.34 inch larger screen size
- Comes with 600 mAh larger battery capacity: 4680 vs 4080 mAh
- Delivers 24% higher peak brightness (869 against 702 nits)
- The phone is 11-months newer
- 11% faster in single-core GeekBench 6 test: 852 and 770 points
- Includes a 3.5 mm headphone audio jack port
Reasons to consider the Google Pixel 5
- Higher display refresh rate – 90 Hz
- Handles wireless charging up to 12W
- Waterproof body (IP68 classification)
- Has 33% more RAM: 8GB versus 6GB
- Reverse charging feature
- Weighs 32 grams less
Review
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
Value for money
Tests and specifications
Comparison table of technical specifications and testsDisplay
| Type | OLED | OLED |
| Size | 6.34 inches | 6 inches |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels | 1080 x 2340 pixels |
| Aspect ratio | 19.5:9 | 19.5:9 |
| PPI | 413 ppi | 432 ppi |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 90 Hz |
| Adaptive refresh rate | No | No |
| Max rated brightness | 500 nits | 700 nits |
| Max rated brightness in HDR | 800 nits | - |
| HDR support | Yes, HDR10 | Yes, HDR10+ |
| Screen protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 |
| Screen-to-body ratio | 85% | 85.9% |
| Display features |
- DCI-P3
- Always-On Display |
- Always-On Display |
| RGB color space | - | 97.4% |
| PWM | - | 367 Hz |
| Response time | - | 5 ms |
| Contrast | - | ∞ Infinity |
Peak brightness test (auto)
Design and build
| Height | 156.2 mm (6.15 inches) | 144.7 mm (5.7 inches) |
| Width | 73.2 mm (2.88 inches) | 70.4 mm (2.77 inches) |
| Thickness | 8.8 mm (0.35 inches) | 8 mm (0.31 inches) |
| Weight | 183 g (6.46 oz) | 151 g (5.33 oz) |
| Waterproof | IP67 | IP68 |
| Rear material | Metal | Metal |
| Frame material | Metal | Metal |
| Colors | Black | Black, Green |
| Fingerprint scanner | Yes, rear | Yes, rear |
Screen-to-body ratio
Performance
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G | Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G |
| Max clock | 2400 MHz | 2400 MHz |
| CPU cores | 8 (1 + 1 + 6) | 8 (1 + 1 + 6) |
| Architecture |
- 6 cores at 1.8 GHz: Kryo 475 Silver (Cortex-A55)
- 1 core at 2.2 GHz: Kryo 475 Gold (Cortex-A76) - 1 core at 2.4 GHz: Kryo 475 Prime (Cortex-A76) |
- 6 cores at 1.8 GHz: Kryo 475 Silver (Cortex-A55)
- 1 core at 2.2 GHz: Kryo 475 Gold (Cortex-A76) - 1 core at 2.4 GHz: Kryo 475 Prime (Cortex-A76) |
| Lithography process | 7 nanometers | 7 nanometers |
| Graphics | Adreno 620 | Adreno 620 |
| GPU shading units | 384 | 384 |
| GPU clock | 750 MHz | 750 MHz |
| FLOPS | ~576 GFLOPS | ~576 GFLOPS |
Benchmarks
Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)
Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)
AnTuTu Benchmark 10
| CPU | 132449 | 132677 |
| GPU | 88358 | 89779 |
| Memory | 88993 | 90554 |
| UX | 105793 | 106168 |
| Total score | 416301 | 420377 |
3DMark Wild Life Performance
| Max surface temperature | - | 38.6 °C |
| Stability | 99% | 89% |
| Graphics test | 9 FPS | 6 FPS |
| Graphics score | 1666 | 1084 |
PCMark 3.0
| Web score | 6246 | - |
| Video editing | 5774 | - |
| Photo editing | 19363 | - |
| Data manipulation | 7208 | - |
| Writing score | 11634 | - |
Memory
| RAM size | 6 GB | 8 GB |
| Memory type | LPDDR4X | LPDDR4X |
| Memory clock | 2133 MHz | 2133 MHz |
| Channels | 2 | 2 |
| Storage size | 128 GB | 128 GB |
| Storage type | UFS 2.1 | UFS 2.1 |
| Memory card | No | No |
Software
| Operating system | Android 11 (Can be upgraded to Android 13) | Android 11 (Can be upgraded to Android 13) |
| ROM | Stock Android | Stock Android |
| OS size | - | 16.6 GB |
Battery
| Capacity | 4680 mAh | 4080 mAh |
| Max charge power | 18 W | 18 W |
| Battery type | Li-Po | Li-Po |
| Replaceable | No | No |
| Wireless charging | No | Yes (12 W) |
| Reverse charging | No | Yes |
| Fast charging | Yes (42% in 30 min) | Yes (30% in 30 min) |
| Full charging time | 1:40 hr | 1:45 hr |
| Web browsing | 13:09 hr | 10:13 hr |
| Watching video | 17:31 hr | 15:02 hr |
| Gaming | 05:46 hr | 05:39 hr |
| Standby | 112 hr | 104 hr |
General battery life
Camera
| Matrix | 12.2 megapixels | 12.2 megapixels |
| Image resolution | 4290 x 2800 | 4290 x 2800 |
| Zoom | Digital | Digital |
| Flash | LED | LED |
| Stabilization | Optical | Optical |
| 8K video recording | No | No |
| 4K video recording | Up to 60FPS | Up to 60FPS |
| 1080p video recording | Up to 60FPS | Up to 60FPS |
| Slow motion | 240 FPS (1080p) | 240 FPS (1080p) |
| Angle of widest lens | 119° | 107° |
| Lenses | 2 (12.2 MP + 16 MP) | 2 (12.2 MP + 16 MP) |
| Wide (main) lens |
- 12.2 MP
- Aperture: f/1.7 - Focal length: 27 mm - Sensor: 1/2.55" (CMOS) - Phase autofocus (Dual Pixel) - Optical stabilization |
- 12.2 MP
- Aperture: f/1.7 - Focal length: 27 mm - Sensor: 1/2.55", Sony IMX363 (CMOS) - Phase autofocus (Dual Pixel) - Optical stabilization |
| Ultra-wide lens |
- 16 MP
- Aperture: f/2.2 - Focal length: 24 mm - Pixel size: 1 micron |
- 16 MP
- Aperture: f/2.2 - Focal length: 24 mm - Pixel size: 1 micron |
| Camera features |
- Bokeh mode
- Pro mode - RAW support |
- Bokeh mode
- Pro mode - RAW support |
| Samples | - | Photo samples of Google Pixel 5 from DxOMark |
| Megapixels | 8 megapixels | 8 megapixels |
| Image resolution | 3264 x 2448 | 3264 x 2448 |
| Aperture | f/2.0 | f/2.0 |
| Focal length | 24 mm | 24 mm |
| Pixel size | 1.12 microns | 1.12 microns |
| Sensor type | CMOS | CMOS |
| Sensor size | 1/4.0" | 1/4.0" |
| Video resolution | 1080p (Full HD) at 60 FPS | 1080p (Full HD) at 30 FPS |
DxOMark camera tests
Photo quality
Video quality
Generic camera score
Connectivity
| Wi-Fi standard | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac) | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac) |
| 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 version | 5 | 5 |
| Bluetooth features | LE, A2DP | LE, A2DP |
| USB type | USB Type-C | USB Type-C |
| USB version | 3.1 | 3.1 |
| USB features |
- Charging
- USB-Storage mode - OTG |
- Charging
- USB-Storage mode |
| GPS | GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo, QZSS |
| NFC * | Yes | Yes |
| Infrared port | No | No |
| Number of SIM * | 1 | 1 |
| Type of SIM card | Nano | Nano |
| Multi SIM mode | - | Standby |
| eSIM support * | Yes | Yes |
| Hybrid slot | No | No |
| LTE Cat * | 15 | 15 |
| 5G support | Yes | Yes |
Sound
| Speakers | Stereo | Stereo |
| Headphone audio jack | Yes | No |
| FM radio | No | No |
| Dolby Atmos | No | No |
Speakers test
Max loudness
Other
| Category | Mid-range | Flagship |
| Announced | August 2021 | September 2020 |
| Release date | October 2021 | October 2020 |
| SAR (head) | - | 0.96 W/kg |
| SAR (body) | - | 1.39 W/kg |
| Sensors |
- Barometer
- Proximity sensor - Gyroscope - Accelerometer - Ambient light sensor - Compass - Fingerprint |
- Barometer
- Proximity sensor - Gyroscope - Accelerometer - Ambient light sensor - Compass - Fingerprint |
| Bundled charger | Yes, 18 W | - |
*
Disclaimer!
NFC, GSM network support, and some other specs can be different depending on the country.
Conclusion
If the gaming and battery life are more important to you, then choose the Google Pixel 5a 5G . But if the display and camera are more of a priority – go for the Google Pixel 5 .
