Google Pixel 3a XL vs Pixel 7a: A Generational Leap?
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Pixel 7a is the clear winner, offering a vastly superior display, significantly faster performance thanks to the Tensor G2 chip, and a much-improved camera. While the 3a XL still holds up for basic tasks, the 7a provides a modern smartphone experience.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Google Pixel 3a XL | Google Pixel 7a |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71 | 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, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - GWKK3 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat11 600/75 Mbps | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | 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 | 2019, May 07. Released 2019, May 15 | 2023, May 10 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2023, May 10 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Asahi Dragontrail), plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 160.1 x 76.1 x 8.2 mm (6.30 x 3.00 x 0.32 in) | 152 x 72.9 x 9 mm (5.98 x 2.87 x 0.35 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 167 g (5.89 oz) | 193.5 g (6.84 oz) |
| - | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Asahi Dragontrail Glass | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2160 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~402 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~429 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.0 inches, 92.9 cm2 (~76.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.1 inches, 90.7 cm2 (~81.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED | OLED, HDR, 90Hz |
| Always-on display | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz 360 Gold & 6x1.7 GHz Kryo 360 Silver) | Octa-core (2x2.85 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.35 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SDM670 Snapdragon 670 (10 nm) | Google Tensor G2 (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 615 | Mali-G710 MP7 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 12 | Android 13, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgrades |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM | 128GB 8GB RAM |
| eMMC 5.1 | UFS 3.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | - | 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 | Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama |
| Single | 12.2 MP, f/1.8, 28mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS | - |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | 13 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS, NavIC |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 3.2 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 18W wired, PD2.0 | 18W wired, PD3.0 7.5W wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 3700 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 4385 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Just Black, Clearly White, Purple-ish | Charcoal, Snow, Sea, Coral |
| Models | G020C, G020G, G020F, G020A, G020B, G020D | GWKK3, GHL1X, G0DZQ, G82U8 |
| Price | About 290 EUR | € 179.90 / $ 150.00 / £ 170.00 / ₹ 25,980 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | Noise -90.8dB / Crosstalk -94.8dB | - |
| Battery life | Endurance rating 98h | - |
| Display | Contrast ratio: infinite | - |
| Loudspeaker | Voice 79dB / Noise 77dB / Ring 91dB | - |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 159110 (v7), 176612 (v8) GeekBench: 5176 (v4.4), 1307 (v5.1) GFXBench: 11fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | - |
Google Pixel 3a XL
- Affordable
- Compact size
- Clean Android experience
- Good call quality
- Outdated processor
- Dim display
- Slow charging
- Limited camera capabilities
Google Pixel 7a
- Powerful processor (Tensor G2)
- Bright and vibrant display
- Excellent camera
- Wireless charging
- Faster charging (PD3.0)
- Higher price
- Can get warm under heavy load
Display Comparison
The Pixel 7a's display is a massive upgrade. Its 1070 nits peak brightness blows the 3a XL's 451 nits out of the water, making it far more usable outdoors. The contrast ratio is excellent on the 7a, offering richer colors and deeper blacks. While the 3a XL's display is decent, it lacks the vibrancy and visibility of the 7a.
Camera Comparison
The Pixel 7a's camera is a major improvement. It features enhanced image processing, better low-light performance, and improved video recording capabilities. The 3a XL's camera is still capable of taking decent photos, but it lacks the detail and dynamic range of the 7a. The 7a also benefits from Google's computational photography prowess.
Performance
The Pixel 7a's Google Tensor G2 chip is a significant leap over the Snapdragon 670 in the 3a XL. Expect noticeably faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and better overall responsiveness. The 7a handles demanding games and applications with ease, while the 3a XL can feel sluggish at times.
Battery Life
While the 3a XL initially boasted a higher endurance rating (98h), real-world usage shows the 7a's battery is more efficient with its newer processor. The 7a also supports faster charging (PD3.0) and wireless charging, features absent in the 3a XL.
Buying Guide
The Pixel 3a XL is a good choice for users on a very tight budget who primarily need a reliable phone for calls, texts, and basic apps. The Pixel 7a is ideal for those seeking a modern smartphone with a great camera, smooth performance, and a vibrant display, even if it means spending a bit more.