Asus Zenfone 9 vs Google Pixel 7a: The Ultimate Showdown
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Zenfone 9 boasts superior performance and a brighter display, while the Pixel 7a shines with its exceptional camera and clean Android experience. For raw power and a smaller form factor, the Zenfone 9 wins. For photography enthusiasts on a budget, the Pixel 7a is the clear choice.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Asus Zenfone 9 | Google Pixel 7a |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42 - A version | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71 - GWKK3, G0DZQ |
| 5G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 28, 38, 77, 78 - A version | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GWKK3 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat20 2000/211 Mbps, 5G 4.5/0.9 Gbps | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78 - C version | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GHL1X, G82U8 | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022, July 28 | 2023, May 10 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, September 15 | Available. Released 2023, May 10 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), plastic back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 146.5 x 68.1 x 9.1 mm (5.77 x 2.68 x 0.36 in) | 152 x 72.9 x 9 mm (5.98 x 2.87 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 169 g (5.96 oz) | 193.5 g (6.84 oz) |
| IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~445 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~429 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.9 inches, 84.4 cm2 (~84.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.1 inches, 90.7 cm2 (~81.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1100 nits (peak) | OLED, HDR, 90Hz |
| Always-on display | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510) | Octa-core (2x2.85 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.35 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm) | Google Tensor G2 (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 730 | Mali-G710 MP7 |
| OS | Android 12, upgradable to Android 14 | Android 13, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgrades |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 16GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM |
| UFS 3.1 | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 50 MP, f/1.9, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, multi-directional PDAF, gimbal OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 14mm, 113° (ultrawide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF | 64 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.73", 0.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 13 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama |
| Video | 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps; gyro-EIS, HDR | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | - | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 12 MP, f/2.5, 28mm (standard), 1/2.93", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF | 13 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1.12µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 24-bit/192kHz audio | - | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5) | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS, NavIC |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C, OTG | USB Type-C 3.2 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 30W wired, PD3.0, PPS, QC4 5W reverse wired | 18W wired, PD3.0 7.5W wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 4300 mAh | Li-Po 4385 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Starry Blue, Moonlight White, Sunset Red, Midnight Black | Charcoal, Snow, Sea, Coral |
| Models | AI2202-1A006EU, AI2202, AI2202_B | GWKK3, GHL1X, G0DZQ, G82U8 |
| Price | £ 619.99 | € 179.90 / $ 150.00 / £ 170.00 / ₹ 25,980 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 108h | - |
| Camera | Photo / Video | - |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | - |
| Loudspeaker | -26.7 LUFS (Good) | - |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 1083092 (v9) GeekBench: 4338 (v5.1) GFXBench: 89fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | - |
Asus Zenfone 9
- Exceptional Performance
- Bright Display
- Compact Size
- Long Battery Life
- Fast Charging (30W)
- Software Experience Less Polished
- Camera Not as Strong as Pixel 7a
- No Wireless Charging
Google Pixel 7a
- Excellent Camera
- Clean Android Experience
- Seamless Google Integration
- Wireless Charging
- Competitive Price
- Slower Performance than Zenfone 9
- Shorter Battery Life
- Slower Charging (18W)
Display Comparison
The Zenfone 9 takes the lead in display brightness, measuring 831 nits compared to the Pixel 7a's 1070 nits. While the Pixel 7a's brightness is impressive, the Zenfone 9's contrast ratio (infinite, nominal) suggests potentially better image quality. Both offer vibrant colors and smooth visuals, but the Zenfone 9's brightness advantage is noticeable in outdoor conditions.
Camera Comparison
This is where the Pixel 7a truly shines. Google's computational photography is renowned, and the Pixel 7a delivers exceptional image quality, particularly in challenging lighting conditions. While the Zenfone 9's camera is capable, it doesn't match the Pixel 7a's consistency and overall image processing prowess. The Pixel 7a also benefits from Google's software features like Magic Eraser.
Performance
The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 in the Zenfone 9 is a performance beast, significantly outperforming the Google Tensor G2 in the Pixel 7a. Expect faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance on the Zenfone 9. The Pixel 7a is still capable, but it won't match the Zenfone 9's raw power.
Battery Life
The Zenfone 9's endurance rating of 108h is significantly higher than the Pixel 7a's 76h, indicating substantially longer battery life. This translates to more usage between charges, a significant advantage for users who are on the go.
Buying Guide
The Asus Zenfone 9 is ideal for users who prioritize performance, a compact design, and don't mind a slightly less polished software experience. The Google Pixel 7a is perfect for those who value a fantastic camera, a clean Android interface, and seamless Google integration, all at a competitive price.