Asus Zenfone 7 vs Google Pixel 5a 5G: Power and Endurance Compared

The Asus Zenfone 7 and Google Pixel 5a 5G represent distinct approaches to the mid-range 5G smartphone market. The Zenfone 7, leveraging the Snapdragon 865, aims for near-flagship performance in a compact form factor. Conversely, the Pixel 5a 5G prioritizes battery life and Google’s renowned camera software, powered by the more efficient Snapdragon 765G. This comparison dissects these trade-offs to determine which device best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For users prioritizing raw performance and responsiveness, the Asus Zenfone 7 is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 865 chipset delivers significantly faster processing speeds. However, the Google Pixel 5a 5G excels in battery endurance, offering over double the usage time, making it ideal for heavy users who value longevity over peak power.

PHONES
Phone Names Asus Zenfone 7 Google Pixel 5a 5G
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 29, 38, 39, 40, 411, 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 bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 28, 38, 77, 78 SA/NSA1, 2, 5, 12, 25, 28, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat19 1800/150 Mbps, 5G 3.6 Gbps DLHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -CDMA2000 1xEV-DO
Launch
Announced2020, August 26. Released 2020, September 012021, August 17
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2021, August 26
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, aluminum back
Dimensions165.1 x 77.3 x 9.6 mm (6.5 x 3.04 x 0.38 in)156.2 x 73.2 x 8.8 mm (6.15 x 2.88 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + eSIM
Weight230 g (8.11 oz)183 g (6.46 oz)
 -IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 6Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~415 ppi density)
Size6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio)6.34 inches, 97.0 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper AMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+, 700 nits (HBM)OLED, HDR
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+)Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm)
GPUAdreno 650Adreno 620
OSAndroid 10, upgradable to Android 12, ZenUIAndroid 11, upgradable to Android 14
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (dedicated slot)No
Internal128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM
 UFS 3.1-
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, 119˚ (ultrawide), 1.0µm
FeaturesDual-LED flash, HDR, auto panorama (motorized rotation)LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama
Single5 MP, f/2.6, AF8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm
Triple64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.72", 0.8µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.4, 80mm (telephoto), PDAF, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 113˚, 17mm (ultrawide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF-
Video8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS, HDR4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesDual-LED flash, HDR, auto panorama (motorized rotation)HDR
SingleVGA8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm
TripleMotorized flip-up main camera module-
Video8K@30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 720p@480fps; gyro-EIS, HDR1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoYes
35mm jackNoYes
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio-
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX Adaptive5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-CUSB Type-C 3.1
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
Battery
Charging30W wired, PD3.0, 60% in 34 min, 100% in 93 min Reverse wired18W wired, PD2.0
Stand-byUp to 450 h (2G) / Up to 430 h (3G)-
Talk timeUp to 14 h 10 min (2G) / Up to 7 h 10 min (3G)-
TypeLi-Po 5000 mAhLi-Po 4680 mAh
Misc
ColorsAurora Black, Pastel WhiteMostly Black
ModelsZS670KS, ASUS_I002D, I002DG1F8F, G4S1M
PriceAbout 910 EUR$ 189.00 / C$ 249.99
SAR1.03 W/kg (head)     1.28 W/kg (body)     -
SAR EU0.52 W/kg (head)     -
Tests
Audio quality Noise -82.1dB / Crosstalk -80.7dB-
Battery lifeEndurance rating 42h Endurance rating 122h
Camera Photo / Video-
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) / 2.422:1 (sunlight) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker Voice 66dB / Noise 63dB / Ring 76dB-
Performance- AnTuTu: 291303 (v8) GeekBench: 1337 (v5.1) GFXBench: 19fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Asus Zenfone 7

  • Significantly faster processor for demanding tasks
  • Compact form factor for comfortable one-handed use
  • Faster 30W wired charging

  • Much shorter battery life compared to the Pixel 5a
  • Less detailed camera specifications

Google Pixel 5a 5G

  • Exceptional battery life for multi-day usage
  • Google’s excellent camera software and image processing
  • Guaranteed Android updates and a clean software experience

  • Less powerful processor for gaming and intensive applications
  • Slower 18W wired charging

Display Comparison

Both phones feature displays with an 'Infinite' nominal contrast ratio, suggesting excellent black levels. However, the Pixel 5a 5G boasts a measured peak brightness of 861 nits, significantly exceeding what we’d expect from the Zenfone 7 based on its contrast ratio specification. This translates to superior visibility in direct sunlight for the Pixel 5a. While neither manufacturer details refresh rates, the Pixel 5a’s higher brightness is a tangible advantage for outdoor use.

Camera Comparison

While both phones are capable cameras, their approaches differ. The Pixel 5a 5G leverages Google’s renowned computational photography algorithms, known for its excellent dynamic range and accurate color reproduction. The Zenfone 7’s camera specifications are less detailed in the provided data, but the Snapdragon 865’s image signal processor (ISP) is capable of handling complex image processing. The Pixel 5a’s strength lies in consistently delivering excellent photos in various conditions with minimal user effort, while the Zenfone 7 likely offers more manual control and potential for advanced users.

Performance

The Asus Zenfone 7’s Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G chipset, built on a 7nm+ process, represents a substantial performance leap over the Pixel 5a’s Snapdragon 765G (7nm). The 865 features a more powerful CPU configuration – an octa-core setup with a 2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 prime core versus the 765G’s 2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime. This difference is noticeable in demanding applications and benchmarks. The Zenfone 7 will handle graphically intensive games and multitasking with greater ease. However, the 765G’s efficiency contributes to the Pixel 5a’s superior battery life.

Battery Life

The disparity in battery endurance is striking. The Pixel 5a 5G achieves an impressive 122-hour endurance rating, dwarfing the Zenfone 7’s 42-hour rating. This is a direct result of the more efficient Snapdragon 765G chipset and likely a larger battery capacity (not specified in the data). While the Zenfone 7 supports faster 30W wired charging (60% in 34 minutes, 100% in 93 minutes) compared to the Pixel 5a’s 18W charging, the Pixel 5a’s longevity minimizes the need for frequent top-ups.

Buying Guide

Buy the Asus Zenfone 7 if you need a compact phone with flagship-level processing power for demanding tasks like gaming or video editing. Buy the Google Pixel 5a 5G if you prioritize exceptional battery life, a clean Android experience with guaranteed updates, and Google’s computational photography prowess, even if it means sacrificing some processing speed.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 865 in the Zenfone 7 get noticeably hotter during extended gaming sessions compared to the Pixel 5a 5G?
Yes, the Snapdragon 865 is a more powerful chip and generates more heat under sustained load. While the Zenfone 7 likely has thermal management systems in place, it's probable that users will experience some throttling or increased temperatures during prolonged gaming compared to the more efficient Snapdragon 765G in the Pixel 5a 5G.
❓ How does Google's software support differ between the Zenfone 7 and the Pixel 5a 5G?
The Pixel 5a 5G benefits from Google's direct software support, guaranteeing timely Android updates and feature drops for at least three years. Asus's software update policy for the Zenfone 7 is less predictable, and users may experience delays in receiving the latest Android versions. This is a significant advantage for Pixel 5a 5G owners concerned about long-term software support.
❓ Is the difference in charging speed between 18W and 30W significant in real-world use?
While 30W charging on the Zenfone 7 is faster on paper, the difference isn't massive. The Zenfone 7 reaches 60% in 34 minutes, and 100% in 93 minutes. The Pixel 5a 5G's slower 18W charging is less of a concern given its significantly longer battery life, reducing the frequency of needing to charge.