Google Pixel 5a 5G vs Pixel 4 XL: A Detailed Comparison
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Pixel 4 XL boasts a more powerful processor and a slightly better camera, but the Pixel 5a 5G offers significantly longer battery life and a brighter display. For budget-conscious users prioritizing battery, the 5a 5G wins; for performance and a flagship feel, the 4 XL remains a compelling option.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Google Pixel 5a 5G | Google Pixel 4 XL |
| 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 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 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 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66, 71 - Global |
| 5G bands | 1, 2, 5, 12, 25, 28, 41, 66, 71, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 | - |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat18 1200/150 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE |
| CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66, 71 - USA | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2021, August 17 | 2019, October 15 |
| Status | Available. Released 2021, August 26 | Available. Released 2019, October 22 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, aluminum back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 156.2 x 73.2 x 8.8 mm (6.15 x 2.88 x 0.35 in) | 160.4 x 75.1 x 8.2 mm (6.31 x 2.96 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | 183 g (6.46 oz) | 193 g (6.81 oz) |
| IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~415 ppi density) | 1440 x 3040 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~537 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.34 inches, 97.0 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.3 inches, 98.0 cm2 (~81.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, HDR | P-OLED, 90Hz, HDR |
| Always-on display | Always-on display | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.4 GHz Kryo 475 Prime & 1x2.2 GHz Kryo 475 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 475 Silver) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7250 Snapdragon 765G 5G (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 620 | Adreno 640 |
| OS | Android 11, upgradable to Android 14 | Android 10, upgradable to Android 13 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM |
| - | UFS 2.1 | |
| 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 | 12.2 MP, f/1.7, 27mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 16 MP, f/2.4, 50mm (telephoto), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 2x optical zoom |
| Features | LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama | Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm | - |
| Video | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps; gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS) |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1.12µm | 8 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide), 1.22µm, no AF TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) |
| Video | 1080p@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 | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1 | USB Type-C 3.1 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 18W wired, PD2.0 | 18W wired, PD2.0 Wireless |
| Type | Li-Po 4680 mAh | Li-Po 3700 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Mostly Black | Clearly White, Just Black, Oh So Orange |
| Models | G1F8F, G4S1M | G020P, G020, GA01181-US, GA01182-US, GA01180-US |
| Price | $ 189.00 / C$ 249.99 | About 180 EUR |
| Pricing | ||
|---|---|---|
| 128GB 6GB RAM | - | $ 364.52 |
| 64GB 6GB RAM | - | $ 274.99 |
| RENEWED | - | $ 149.00 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | - | Noise -93.9 / Crosstalk -94.1 |
| Battery life | Endurance rating 122h | Endurance rating 73h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) | - |
| Loudspeaker | - | Voice 80dB / Noise 78dB / Ring 88dB |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 291303 (v8) GeekBench: 1337 (v5.1) GFXBench: 19fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 323305 (v7), 403267 (v8) GeekBench: 10171 (v4.4), 2267 (v5.1) GFXBench: 21fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Google Pixel 5a 5G
- Excellent battery life
- Bright display
- 5G connectivity
- Clean Android experience
- Good camera
- Less powerful processor
- No 90Hz refresh rate
- Plastic build
Google Pixel 4 XL
- Powerful Snapdragon 855 processor
- 90Hz refresh rate display
- Slightly better camera versatility (telephoto lens)
- Flagship feel
- Shorter battery life
- Older model
- Potential for software update limitations
Display Comparison
The Pixel 5a 5G features a 6.1-inch OLED display with a measured peak brightness of 861 nits, offering excellent visibility even in direct sunlight. The Pixel 4 XL has a 6.3-inch OLED display. While both offer vibrant colors and deep blacks, the 5a 5G's higher brightness gives it a slight edge in outdoor usability. The Pixel 4 XL's display also has a 90Hz refresh rate, providing smoother scrolling and animations, a feature absent in the 5a 5G.
Camera Comparison
Both Pixels are known for their exceptional camera performance. The Pixel 4 XL has a dual-camera system with a primary and telephoto lens, offering greater versatility. The Pixel 5a 5G has a dual-camera system with a primary and ultrawide lens. Both phones capture excellent photos in various lighting conditions, thanks to Google's computational photography prowess. The 4 XL's telephoto lens provides a distinct advantage for zoomed shots.
Performance
The Pixel 4 XL's Snapdragon 855 chipset provides significantly more processing power than the Pixel 5a 5G's Snapdragon 765G. This translates to faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and better performance in demanding games. While the 5a 5G is perfectly capable for everyday tasks, the 4 XL offers a noticeably snappier experience.
Battery Life
The Pixel 5a 5G shines in the battery department, boasting an endurance rating of 122 hours, significantly outperforming the Pixel 4 XL's 73 hours. This means the 5a 5G can easily last a full day and a half, even with moderate usage, while the 4 XL may require a midday top-up.
Buying Guide
The Google Pixel 5a 5G is ideal for users seeking a reliable, budget-friendly phone with excellent camera performance and outstanding battery life. It's perfect for everyday use and those who value 5G connectivity. The Google Pixel 4 XL is a better choice for users who prioritize raw performance, a slightly more advanced camera system, and don't mind a shorter battery life. It's a good option for those who want a flagship experience at a reduced price.