Google Pixel 4a vs OnePlus Nord 5: A Deep Dive into Mid-Range Android
| Phones Images | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the OnePlus Nord 5 is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset provides a substantial performance leap over the Pixel 4a’s Snapdragon 730G, coupled with blazing-fast 80W charging. While the Pixel 4a excels in software and camera processing, the Nord 5’s overall package is more compelling.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Google Pixel 4a | OnePlus Nord 5 |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66, 71 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat12 600/75 Mbps | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, August 03 | 2025, July 08 |
| Status | Available. Released 2020, August 20 | Available. Released 2025, July 08 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 7i), glass back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 144 x 69.4 x 8.2 mm (5.67 x 2.73 x 0.32 in) | 163.4 x 77 x 8.1 mm (6.43 x 3.03 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 143 g (5.04 oz) | 211 g (7.44 oz) |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Corning Gorilla Glass 7i, Mohs level 6 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~443 ppi density) | 1272 x 2800 pixels (~450 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.81 inches, 83.2 cm2 (~83.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.83 inches, 113.3 cm2 (~90.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, HDR | Swift AMOLED, 1B colors, 144Hz, 3840Hz PWM, HDR10+, 800 nits (typ), 1400 nits (HBM), 1800 nits (peak) |
| Always-on display | - | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 470 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 470 Silver) | Octa-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X4 & 4x2.8 GHz Cortex-A720 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A520) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SDM730 Snapdragon 730G (8 nm) | Qualcomm SM8635 Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 618 | Adreno 735 |
| OS | Android 10, upgradable to Android 13 | Android 15, up to 4 major Android upgrades, OxygenOS 15 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM | 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM |
| UFS 2.1 | - | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | - | 50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.2, 15mm, 116˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm, AF |
| Features | LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama | LED flash, Ultra HDR, panorama |
| Single | 12.2 MP, f/1.7, 27mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS | - |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps; gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | Panorama |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm | 50 MP, f/2.0, 21mm (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps; gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | - |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD | 5.4, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, LHDC 5 |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS, NavIC |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1 | USB Type-C 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 18W wired, PD2.0 | 80W wired, 33W PPS, 18W PD, 100% in just 54 min 5W reverse wired Bypass charging |
| Type | Li-Po 3140 mAh | Market-dependent versions:· 5200 mAh (Europe)· 6800 mAh (Global) |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Just Black, Barely Blue | Phantom Grey, Dry Ice, Marble Sands |
| Models | G025J, GA02099, G025N | CPH2709 |
| Price | $ 139.99 / C$ 159.99 | £ 339.00 / € 294.97 / ₹ 31,998 |
| SAR | - | 1.18 W/kg (head) 0.90 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | Endurance rating 76h | - |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | - |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 268714 (v8) GeekBench: 6426 (v4.4), 1626 (v5.1) GFXBench: 17fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | - |
| EU LABEL | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery | - | 49:12h endurance, 1200 cycles |
| Energy | - | Class B |
| Free fall | - | Class C (90 falls) |
| Repairability | - | Class B |
Google Pixel 4a
- Exceptional software experience with timely updates
- Excellent computational photography
- Compact and pocketable design
- Outdated Snapdragon 730G chipset
- Slow charging speed (18W)
- Dimmer display compared to competitors
OnePlus Nord 5
- Powerful Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 processor
- Blazing-fast 80W charging
- Bright and vibrant display (1330 nits)
- OxygenOS may include bloatware
- Potentially less consistent camera processing than Pixel
- Larger form factor may not suit all users
Display Comparison
The OnePlus Nord 5 boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 1330 nits compared to the Pixel 4a’s 803 nits. This translates to vastly improved visibility outdoors under direct sunlight. While both offer an 'infinite' (nominal) contrast ratio, the Nord 5’s higher peak brightness is the defining factor. The Pixel 4a’s display is adequate, but the Nord 5 provides a more premium viewing experience, especially for media consumption. We lack PWM frequency data for both, but the Pixel 4a’s older panel tech may be more prone to flicker, potentially impacting users sensitive to it.
Camera Comparison
The Pixel 4a is renowned for its computational photography, leveraging Google’s image processing algorithms to produce excellent results, even with a relatively modest sensor. However, the Nord 5, while lacking detailed sensor specs in the provided data, benefits from the newer ISP within the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3. This allows for faster image processing and potentially better low-light performance. The Pixel 4a’s strength lies in its consistent image quality across various conditions, while the Nord 5 has the potential for greater dynamic range and detail, assuming a capable main sensor. We're ignoring the likely presence of low-resolution macro lenses on both devices as they offer minimal practical benefit.
Performance
The performance gap between these devices is substantial. The OnePlus Nord 5’s Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, built on a 4nm process, features a Cortex-X4 prime core clocked at 3.0 GHz, alongside A720 and A520 cores. This architecture is a generation ahead of the Pixel 4a’s Snapdragon 730G (8nm). The 4nm node offers superior thermal efficiency, meaning the Nord 5 is less likely to throttle under sustained load. While the Pixel 4a is capable for everyday tasks, the Nord 5 handles demanding games and multitasking with ease. The Nord 5’s LPDDR5x RAM further enhances performance, though the specific speed isn’t provided.
Battery Life
The OnePlus Nord 5’s battery endurance rating of 49:12h, with an active use score of 13:47h, surpasses the Pixel 4a’s 76h endurance rating. This is despite the lack of specific mAh information for the Nord 5. The Nord 5’s 80W wired charging is a game-changer, achieving a full charge in just 54 minutes, a stark contrast to the Pixel 4a’s 18W charging. The Nord 5 also supports 33W PPS, 18W PD, and even 5W reverse wired charging, offering greater versatility. While the Pixel 4a’s endurance is respectable, the Nord 5’s charging speed and potentially larger battery capacity provide a more convenient and reliable experience.
Buying Guide
Buy the Google Pixel 4a if you prioritize a clean, bloatware-free Android experience, exceptional computational photography, and a more compact form factor. You’ll appreciate its consistent software updates and Google’s AI features. Buy the OnePlus Nord 5 if you demand raw performance for gaming and demanding apps, need incredibly fast charging, and value a brighter, more vibrant display. It’s the better choice for power users and those who want a phone that will stay relevant for longer.