Google Pixel 3a vs Pixel 3 XL

47 out of 100

52 out of 100

Here we compared two smartphones: the 5.6-inch Google Pixel 3a (with Qualcomm Snapdragon 670) that was released on May 7, 2019, against the Google Pixel 3 XL, which is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 and came out 8 months before. On this page, you will find tests, full specs, strengths, and weaknesses of each of the devices.

Differences
Review
Specs
Benchmarks
Battery life
Camera
Comments

Key differences

An overview of the main advantages of each smartphone

Reasons to consider the Google Pixel 3a

Weighs 37 grams less
Better grip in hands – the body is 6.6 mm narrower
Includes a 3.5 mm headphone audio jack port
The phone is 8-months newer

Reasons to consider the Google Pixel 3 XL

Waterproof body (IPX8 classification)
Has a 0.7 inch larger screen size
71% better performance in AnTuTu Benchmark (427K versus 250K)
Handles Qi wireless charging up to 10W
Comes with 430 mAh larger battery capacity: 3430 vs 3000 mAh
Thinner bezels – 8.39% more screen real estate
18% higher pixel density (522 vs 441 PPI)
9% faster in single-core GeekBench 6 test: 570 and 524 points
Ready for eSIM technology

Review

Evaluation of Google Pixel 3a and Pixel 3 XL crucial features

Display

Screen quality, color accuracy, brightness

Type	OLED	OLED
Size	5.6 inches	6.3 inches
Resolution	1080 x 2220 pixels	1440 x 2960 pixels
Aspect ratio	18.5:9	18.5:9
PPI	441 ppi	522 ppi
Refresh rate	60 Hz	60 Hz
Adaptive refresh rate	No	No
Max rated brightness	-	400 nits
HDR support	No	No
Screen protection	Dragontrail	Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Screen-to-body ratio	75%	83.39%
Display features	- Always-On Display	- DCI-P3 - Always-On Display

RGB color space	-	100%
PWM	-	250 Hz
Response time	-	15 ms
Contrast	-	∞ Infinity

Height	151.3 mm (5.96 inches)	158 mm (6.22 inches)
Width	70.1 mm (2.76 inches)	76.7 mm (3.02 inches)
Thickness	8.2 mm (0.32 inches)	7.9 mm (0.31 inches)
Weight	147 g (5.19 oz)	184 g (6.49 oz)
Waterproof	No	IPX8
Rear material	Plastic	Glass
Frame material	Plastic	Metal
Colors	White, Black, Purple	White, Black, Pink
Fingerprint scanner	Yes, rear	Yes, rear

Chipset	Qualcomm Snapdragon 670	Qualcomm Snapdragon 845
Max clock	2000 MHz	2500 MHz
CPU cores	8 (2 + 6)	8 (4 + 4)
Architecture	- 6 cores at 1.7 GHz: Kryo 360 Silver (Cortex-A55) - 2 cores at 2 GHz: Kryo 360 Gold (Cortex-A75)	- 4 cores at 1.8 GHz: Kryo 385 Silver (Cortex-A55) - 4 cores at 2.8 GHz: Kryo 385 Gold (Cortex-A75)
L3 cache	-	2 MB
Lithography process	10 nanometers	10 nanometers
Graphics	Adreno 615	Adreno 630
GPU shading units	256	512
GPU clock	700 MHz	710 MHz
FLOPS	~358.4 GFLOPS	~727 GFLOPS

CPU	83481	122802
GPU	37768	125452
Memory	61127	87997
UX	67796	90851
Total score	250565	427521

Max surface temperature	-	44.7 °C
Stability	99%	94%
Graphics test	3 FPS	9 FPS
Graphics score	665	1663

Web score	6083	6966
Video editing	5751	6543
Photo editing	12766	18274
Data manipulation	5778	6666
Writing score	7872	9751

RAM size	4 GB	4 GB
Memory type	LPDDR4X	LPDDR4X
Memory clock	1866 MHz	1866 MHz
Channels	2	2

Storage size	64 GB	64, 128 GB
Storage type	UFS 2.1	UFS 2.1
Memory card	No	No

Operating system	Android 9.0 (Can be upgraded to Android 12)	Android 9.0 (Can be upgraded to Android 12)
ROM	-	Stock Android
OS size	-	13 GB

Capacity	3000 mAh	3430 mAh
Max charge power	18 W	18 W
Battery type	Li-Ion	Li-Ion
Replaceable	No	No
Wireless charging	No	Yes, Qi (10 W)
Reverse charging	No	No
Fast charging	Yes, Quick Charge 4.0 (50% in 30 min)	Yes, Quick Charge 4 (50% in 35 min)
Full charging time	1:20 hr	2:00 hr

Main camera
Matrix	12.2 megapixels	12.2 megapixels
Image resolution	4032 x 3024	4032 x 3024
Zoom	Digital	Digital
Flash	Dual LED	Dual LED
Stabilization	Optical	Optical
8K video recording	No	No
4K video recording	Up to 30FPS	Up to 60FPS
1080p video recording	Up to 120FPS	Up to 120FPS
Slow motion	240 FPS (720p)	240 FPS (720p)
Lenses	1 (12.2 MP)	1 (12.2 MP)
Wide (main) lens	- 12.2 MP - Aperture: f/1.8 - Focal length: 28 mm - Pixel size: 1.4 micron - Sensor: 1/2.55", Sony IMX363 (Exmor-RS CMOS) - Phase autofocus - Optical stabilization	- 12.2 MP - Aperture: f/1.8 - Focal length: 28 mm - Pixel size: 1.4 micron - Sensor: 1/2.55", Sony IMX363 (Exmor-RS CMOS) - Phase autofocus (Dual Pixel) - Optical stabilization
Camera features	- Bokeh mode - Pro mode - RAW support	- Bokeh mode - Pro mode - RAW support
Samples	Photo samples of Google Pixel 3a from DxOMark	-

Selfie camera
Megapixels	8 megapixels	8 megapixels
Image resolution	3264 x 2448	3264 x 2448
Aperture	f/2.0	f/1.8
Focal length	24 mm	28 mm
Pixel size	1.12 microns	1.4 microns
Sensor type	BSI CMOS	CMOS
Sensor size	1/2.8"	1/3.2"
Video resolution	1080p (Full HD) at 30 FPS	1080p (Full HD) at 30 FPS

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 Direct - Wi-Fi Hotspot	- Dual Band - Wi-Fi Direct - Wi-Fi Hotspot
Bluetooth version	5	5
Bluetooth features	LE, A2DP	LE, A2DP
USB type	USB Type-C	USB Type-C
USB version	2	3.1
USB features	- Charging - USB-Storage mode - OTG	- Charging - USB-Storage mode - OTG
GPS	GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo	GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, Galileo
NFC *	Yes	Yes
Infrared port	No	No

Number of SIM *	1	1
Type of SIM card	Nano	Nano
Multi SIM mode	Standby	Standby
eSIM support *	No	Yes
Hybrid slot	No	No
LTE Cat *	11	16
5G support	No	No

Speakers	Stereo	Stereo
Headphone audio jack	Yes	No
FM radio	No	No
Dolby Atmos	No	No

Category	Mid-range	Flagship
Announced	May 2019	October 2018
Release date	May 2019	November 2018
SAR (head)	0.39 W/kg	1.39 W/kg
SAR (body)	0.9 W/kg	1.4 W/kg
Sensors	- Barometer - Proximity sensor - Gyroscope - Accelerometer - Compass - Fingerprint	- Hall-effect sensor - Barometer - Proximity sensor - Gyroscope - Accelerometer - Ambient light sensor - Compass - Fingerprint

Google Pixel 3a vs Pixel 3 XL

Google Pixel 3a vs Pixel 3 XL

Key differences

Review

Value for money

Tests and specifications

Display

Design and build

Performance

Benchmarks

Memory

Software

Battery

Camera

Connectivity

Sound

Other

Conclusion